The Nazi authorities in the district of Bialystok have decided to intern in one huge ghetto all the 250,000 Jews of the district who did not succeed in leaving the territory prior to its occupation by the Nazi armies, it was reliably reported here today.
The ghetto into which all the Jews will be driven has already been established in the city of Bialystok with the 50,000 Jews of that city serving as the nucleus. The rigid regulations applied to the 400,000 Jews in the Warsaw ghetto will also be applied to the 250,000 Jews in the ghetto of Bialystok.
Simultaneously, it was reported here today that the German military commandant in Bialystok summoned the Jewish leaders there and informed them that Jews will henceforth be held responsible for all acts hindering German war efforts. He claimed that sabotage committed hitherto in the city was “mainly the work of the Jews” and added that “if Jews want to escape reprisals they must help the Germans guard the railways, bridges, roads and tunnels.” The Nazi radio stations boastingly reported that “hundreds of Jewish guerrillas have been shot in the Minsk districts.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
