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12-hour Work Day Set for 45,000 in ‘reservation’

November 24, 1939
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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More than 45,000 Jews have been removed to the “Jewish reservation” in the Lublin district of Poland from various Reich territories since Oct. 17 and present Nazi plans call for increasing this number to about 530,000 according to reports received here today.

The 45,000, most of whom hail from Bohemia-Moravia, German Poland and Vienna, are to be joined by 150,000 from the Protectorate, 65,000 from Vienna, 30,000 from Posen and West Prussia and 240,000 from the Reich proper, the reports said.

Inhabitants of the “reservation” live under the orders of Dr. Walther Frank, Nazi Governor for German Poland. Men under 70 years of age are at the State’s orders for such work as road-building and swamp draining, while women under 45 must labor in the fields. The work day is 12 hours, with a half-hour free for lunch.

Jewish communities are forced to finance and organize the migration, under Government orders. Forbidden to carry more than 30 Reichsmarks each, the Jews travel by stages. They make preliminary halts at transfer camps, one of which is at Nisko, on the San River southeast of Lublin.

Jewish male residents of the Maerisch-Ostrau area in the Protectorate were the first to enter the “reservation.” They gathered at the municipal riding school in accordance with instructions from Salo Kramer, Jewish community leader.

The instructions said: “In the interests of all I order: “(1) Jews will gather between 7 and 7:30 o’clock at the latest; (2) Jews will present themselves in the school in alphabetical order. It is forbidden to talk; (3) It is necessary to maintain strict discipline; (4) Word as to who leaves for the camp first will be given only at this school. Each Jew must have food enough to last him two or three days. Each must have his personal documents with him. Wives will inform police of their husbands’ departure on the day it occurs. Men will bid their relatives farewell at home before leaving.”

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