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Vienna, June
1, 1942
Memorandum
on the visit to the Reich Security Main Office, Reich Ministry
of the Interior, Department IV B 4, on Friday, May 29, 1942,
at 10:30 A.M. and to SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Eichmann on
Saturday, May 30, 1942, at 12:00 noon at the same office.
1.
In accordance with an order received I reported to the Reich
Security Main Office, Dept. IV B 4, on May 29, 1942, together
with Dr. Benjamin Israel Murmelstein, the six members of the
Presidium of the Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Berlin:
Baeck, Eppstein, Henschel, Kozower, Kreindler and Lilienthal,
as well as the two representatives of the Jewish Community of
Prague: Janovic and Friedmann. There we were informed that in
connection with a sabotage attack on the exhibition "The
Soviet Paradise" in Berlin, in which five Jews had been
actively involved, 500 Jews had been arrested in Berlin and of
these 250 had been shot and 250 sent to a camp. We were
further informed that additional measures of this kind were to
be expected in the event of any other act of sabotage in which
Jews took part.
An
instruction was given that this position was to be made known
to the Jews in a suitable manner in order to make clear to
them what the result of such acts would be.
2.
During the visit to SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Eichmann I
reported on the situation in Vienna, the position [reached] by
the emigration transports, the probable number of Jews over
65, who were to be taken to Theresienstadt for permanent
residence, as well as on financial questions.
SS
Obersturmbannfuehrer Eichmann informed me that the
total evacuation of the Jews was planned from the Altreich
[Germany before 1938], the Ostmark [Austria] and the
Protectorate. Jews under 65 years old would emigrate to the
East, and those over 65, as well as some groups of those under
65, such as men seriously disabled in the War, and those who
received medals in the World War, etc., would be sent to
Theresienstadt for permanent residence.
In
accordance with the Regulation of February 16, 1942, the
Czechs living in Theresienstadt must leave the locality by May
31, 1942, so that the entire area of the city will be
available for the Jews. After this a start will be made on
transporting the Jews designated for permanent residence
there. The administration of the city is to be carried out
independently by the Council of Jewish Elders (Judenaeltestenrat).
In addition to the old people, several thousand young people
are to remain there in order to carry out necessary work in
the city and countryside (about 640 (?) acres of land are
available) and to look after the old people.
Institutions
necessary for the maintenance of the Jews are also to be set
up or, where possible, existing institutions will be enlarged.
According to the instructions of the Council of Elders the
Jews will be accommodated partly in the existing large
barracks, or privately in the houses. A part will be catered
for in communal kitchens, and a part privately. In addition to
personal luggage of up to 50 kgs. per person, a large quantity
of equipment and furniture for apartments and dormitories, as
well as tools, are to be sent to Theresienstadt. The number of
items of this type will be decided on each occasion by the
Central Office for Jewish Emigration in Vienna, in accordance
with the freight cars available.
Special
importance will be accorded to the provision and maintenance
of sanitary installations. Good doctors and nurses will go to
Theresienstadt to look after the health of the Jews and, in
particular, to prevent epidemics. This will also to a large
extent be the task of the Council of Elders.
The
financial maintenance of the Jewish population settled in
Theresienstadt will be provided by the funds of the three
organizations, the Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Berlin,
and the Jewish Communities of Vienna and Prague. These
organizations in general have considerable funds at their
disposal.
The
budget will be decided in accordance with requirements for
certain periods at a time, and the necessary sum made
available to the Council of Elders in Theresienstadt. The
capacity of Theresienstadt to accommodate Jews is quite large.
When I was asked how many Jews from Vienna might be considered
for Theresienstadt, I named a figure of about 12,000 persons;
SS Obersturmbannfuehrer Eichmann declared that the
number of Jews from Vienna could be settled there.
I
pointed out that a total evacuation of Jews from Vienna was
scarcely possible, because as a result of the large-scale
emigration and the unusually high age of the remaining
population there is a disproportionate number of aged and sick
persons, who must be considered as incapable of travelling. In
any case a fairly large number of Jews will remain in Vienna
owing to the exclusion from deportation of [members of] Jewish
mixed marriages.
I
also asked that a part of the Jews designated for emigration,
particularly the children at present in youth and childrens
homes, who are under my care as guardian of orphans, should be
sent to Warsaw with the personnel looking after them, because
I could then be sure that they will receive the proper care
and attention in a large Jewish center.
SS
Obersturmbannfuehrer Eichmann declared that the
destination for emigration was decided together with
departments of the Wehrmacht, and that it was not possible to
say in advance where the transports would go; he would see
what could be done in this matter.
signed
Dr. Josef Israel Loewenherz
General
Director and Head
of
the Jewish Community, Vienna
Yad
Vashem Archives, TR-3/1156.
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