List of claimants from Vilnius
Name | Biography |
Aizenberg, Vera | 15.7.1926 Wilna/Litauen, geb Glebmann. 41 Ghetto Wilna, 9/43 KZ Vaivara/Viivikonna, KZ Vaivara/Ereda, KZ Vaivara/Lagedi, KZ Stutthof, KZ Neuengamme/Hamburg-Ochsenzoll, KZ Bergen-Belsen, USA |
Beilin, Riwa | 25.12.1923 (1924?) Drujan/Polen. Schülerin. 7/41 Judenkennzeichen, 8/41 Ghetto Wilna, 9/43 HKP562, 6/44 Flucht, 7/44 Befreiung gefunden in Liste der im HKP652 inhaftierten |
Charmac, Jakob | 4.7.1903 Swiencieny (Wilna)/Litauen. 9/1941 Ghetto Wilna (Heeresdienststelle 13); 11/1943-2/1944 KZ KZ Vaivara/Viivikonna („Fifikone #3“), KZ Vaivara/Ereda („Erda“), KZ Vaivara/Lagedi („Legede“), 8/1944 KZ Stutthof, 10/1944 KZ Neuengamme (4 Tage), 11/1944 KZ Neuengamme/Georgsheim, 12/1944 KZ Neuengamme, 3/1945 KZ Neuengamme/Uelzen („ Ilsen“); 20.4.1945 Schiff „Kap Arkona“; 1.5.1945 Schiff „Athen“, 3.5.45 Befreiung |
Charmac, Shlomo | 1928 Swinczan/Polen; 9/1941-1.9.1943 Ghetto Wilna, 1.9.1943-2/1944 KZ Vaivara/Viivikonna,2/1944-7/1944 KZ Vaivara/Ereda, 7/1944-10/1944 KZ Stutthof, 4 Tage KZ Neuengamme, 11/1944-24.12.1944 KZ Neuengamme/Georgsheim (Aurich), 12/1944-3/1945 KZ Neuengamme, 3/1945-20.4.1945 KZ Neuengamme/Uelzen („Ilsen“), 20.4.1945-Ende 4/1945 Schiff Kap Arkona, 1.5.1945-3.5.1945 Schiff Athena, Neustadt. |
Grilches, Gitel | 7.1.1907 Wilna/Litauen, geb. Friedberg, 1941 Zwangsarbeit am Bahnhof, 1943 Waiwara I, Frühjahr 1944 Kivioli II, Spätsommer 1944 Stutthof, August 1944 Masuriczyk/Danzig,11/1944-10.3.1945 Chinow (Befr). 1946 DP Lager Heidenheim, 1948 Israel Waiwara: Vaivara Anm.: angaben aus Bescheid Entschädigung Freiheitsschaden |
Grodzinski, Samuel | 25.6.1906 Wilna/Litauen. Sommer 1941 Judenstern Wilna, September 1941-9/1943 Ghetto Wilna, 9/1943-8/1944 ZAL Ziezmariai („Zezmoris“), Flucht Zyzmory/Ziezmariai: ECG. Vol. 2/Part B S. 1156: Im Sommer 1942 wurde ein Zwangsarbeitslager eingerichtet |
Jewerowicz, Malka | 5.5.1891 Podbrozie/Polen, 1938-1941 Podbrozie, 8/1941-26.9.1941 Ghetto Podbrozie, Flucht nach Wilna, 10/1941-10/1943 Ghetto Wilna, 10/1943-7/1944 illegal, 1946-1949 DP Goldkopf, 1949 DP Ulm, 1949-1951 DP Föhrenwald, USA |
K., Moshe | 9.5.1941 Wilna/Litauen, 1943 HKP562 Wilna |
Katz, Efraim | 28.12.1926 Wilna/Litauen, Ghetto Wilna, Kivioli (Estland), Stutthof, Dautmergen (Aussenlager Natzweiler-Struthof) |
Kienski, Jakob | 5.1.1888 Wilna/Litauen; -39 Wilna, 9/1941-Winter 1943 Ghetto Wilna, Winter 1943-1944 illegal |
Kochmann, Lea | 1898 Wilna/Litauen, geb. Chodash, verw. Menaker. 6.9.41-9/42 Ghetto Wilna, 9/1942-12/1942 KZ Vaivara/Goldfields („Goldfilf“), 12/1942-1/1943 KZ Vaivara/Ereda („Erreda“), 1/1943 3/1943 KZ Vaivara/Jewe („Jewa“), 3/1943-6/1943 KZ Vaivara/Lagedi, 6/1943-9/1943 KZ Vaivara/Viivikonna („Fifigone“), 9/1943-3/1944 KZ Vaivara, 3/44-9/44 KZ Stutthof, 9/44-4/45 KZ Bergen-Belsen, DP Eschwege, Israel, US |
Rubinoff, Hermann | 13.10.1910 Wilna/Litauen, + 1972, 8.7.1941 Ghetto Wllna, Kivioli, Stutthof, Dautmergen, Frommern |
Segalowicz, Josef | 8.12.1917 Wilna/Litauen. 1941 Judenstern,(A: Flugplatz), Ghetto Wilna, bei Liquidation KZ Vaivara/Ereda, 1944 KZ Stutthof, Winter 1944/1945 KZ Stutthof/Burggraben, „Schiffsbucht Zichau“ (?), 1945 Befreiung |
Shumel, Daniel | 6.9.41-9.3.43 Ghetto Wilna, 3/43-3.9.43 KZ Vaivara/Ereda, -9/44 KZ Stutthof, 10/44-4/45 KZ Natzweiler/Dautmergen, 13.4.45-5/45 KZ Dachau Korrekturen nach Arolsen-unterlagen: 23.8.1944 Stutthof, 29.9.1944 Natzweiler, # 35332, nach Dautmergen Frommern dann Dachau (ITS), 13.4.1945 Dachau Zugangsbuch #35332 Daniel Szumiliski (H?ftlingsnummernbuch Natzweiler) erscheint bei David S. Schreibstubenkarte Dachau. |
Weiss, Lala | 30.05.1922 Wilno/Litauen, geb. Raczkowski. 1929-1935 Elementarschule, 1935-1939 Gymansium, 6/1941 Judenstern, Zwangsarbeit (Feld), 9/1941 Ghetto Wilna, 10/1943 Flucht und versteckt in Werki, 7/1944 Befreiung, 1946 Warschau, DP Hessisch-Lichtenau (Vereinshaus), 20.1.1949 Kanada, 9/1950 USA. |
Winogrodzki, Schoschana | 30.5.1931 Wilna/Litauen, geb. Schiff. Ghetto Wilna, KZ Riga-Kaiserwald, 1946-1947 DP Berlin-Schlachtensee, 1947-1949 Paris? |
Wolpianski, Sara | 15.2.1921 Wilna/Litauen. Ghetto Wilna/versteckt in Wilna; |
Before the Persecution
Lala Weiss, née Raczkowski, born on 22 May 1922 in Vilnius
I was born on 22 May 1922 as the daughter of Sigmund Raczkowski and his wife Paulina, née Gruenberg, in Wilno, Poland. As my father was a Christian, I am half-Jewish by birth, but of Jewish religious affiliation. At the beginning of the war I was a pupil at the grammar school in Wilno and lived with my parents at Kijowska 4-12."
Source: affidavit
"Before the outbreak of persecution, I lived with my parents and my brother in Wilno. I was a strong, healthy young girl and I can remember missing anything. My family also enjoyed the best of health. My father was a lawyer and we lived in the best economic circumstances. I was a pupil at grammar school. Further education was not possible for me after the outbreak of the Second World War."
Source: affidavit
Hermann Rubinoff, born on 13 October 1910 in Vilnius
He was born on 13 October 1910 in Vilnius. His father had a liquor store. He had 6 children. All of them survived except Kl. a brother who lives in Chicago and a sister who now lives in Israel. The parents, 2 brothers and a sister were killed in the persecution, as were Kl.'s first wife and his daughter.
Kl. went through primary school and grammar school in Vilnius, then became an apprentice electrician, was employed for a short time and became self-employed in 1932. He married in 1933 and had a daughter.
Vilnius was occupied by the Russians in 1939 and Kl. had to carry out electrical work for them.
Source: Expert report by Dr Pineas 1969
Rosa Schoschana Winogrodski, née Schiff, born on 30 May 1931 in Vilnius
Before the war, I lived with my family in Vilnius. My father had a gallantry and ready-to-wear shop there in Trockestr, had 8 tailors and 3 employees, and earned about 2000 Zl. a month. We lived in a nice 4-room flat, always had help in the house and lived very well.
Before the war, I was a healthy and lively child, playful, knew of no difficulties, did a lot of sport, went on excursions and lived very well.
So it's no wonder that I became seriously ill when the Germans occupied my homeland and I had to go through so much.
Source: affidavit
Alter Feinstein, born on 15 September 1931 in Vilnius
Before the war, I was a strong and healthy boy. I was a schoolboy, played sports and led a carefree life. My father had a cutlery shop in Vilnius, at 3 Rusnicka Street, which also employed 4-5 people. He also owned 2 tenement houses, at No. 8 Stefan Street and No. 3 Kwistowa Street. His income was very high, but I can't give any figures.
Source: affidavit, 1 March 1967
Lea Gittelman, born on 28 December 1910 in Vilnius as Lea Darguszainska
Before the war I lived in Vilnius. I had a tailor's shop there, where I employed 3 female workers. I earned about 600 Zl, but in 1940_41 about 2500-3000 roubles.
In 1939 I married the engineer David Gittelman. At that time he earned about 350 Zl. but in 1940_41 2000-2500 roubles.
I was a very healthy woman before the war. I did a lot of sport, was a member of the "Maccabi" sports club, and did a lot of athletics and enjoyed rowing. As I took part in meetings, I was medically examined every six months and found to be healthy.
Daniel Shumel, born on 10 July 1921 in Vilnius
I lived in Wilno before the war. I lived with my parents. We were doing very well economically. My father had his own locksmith's shop at Thassua Ulica no. 14 and also employed a labourer. I went to school until 1933 and then I joined our locksmith's shop as an apprentice, which my brother had taken over in the meantime as my father had died in 1932. After three years of training, my brother took me on as a partner in the locksmith's shop. We had a very good income. I was completely healthy at the time.
Source: affidavit by David Shumel, probably 1964
I know Mr Daniel Shumel (formerly Szumeliski) from the pre-war period in Vilnius. I know that he was a completely healthy person at the time. I also know that he was a locksmith and ran a workshop together with his brother, which they had taken over from their late father. He led a good and comfortable life.
Source: Testimony of Edda Lichtenstein
History of the Vilnius Ghetto
Date - Event - Source | ||
---|---|---|
24 June 1941 | Start of the German occupation. 60,000 Jews were living in Vilnius | |
July 1941 | Murder of 10,000 Jews by Einsatzkommando 9 and Lithuanian auxiliary troops in Ponary | ECG, VOL. II/B, p. 182 ff |
4 July 1941 | Establishment of a Judenrat | |
8 July 1941 | Obligation to wear the "Jewish star", curfews, issue of work passes | wikipedia |
August 1941 | Einsatzkommando 3 takes over Vilnius. According to the report of 1 December 1941 by SS-Standartenführer Karl Jäger, 21,105 Jews were murdered in August, September and October, 70% of them women and children. Example: 4 October 1941 432 men, 1115 women, 436 children, a total of 1903 | ECG, VOL. II/B, p. 182 ff , Jäger Report |
August 1941 | German civil administration is established | |
31 August 1941 | "Great provocation": staged attack on German soldiers. Afterwards evacuation of the neighbourhood designated for the ghetto by non-Jews/murder of Jewish families living in the area of the previous ghetto. | |
6 - 7 September 1941 | Institution of a ghetto divided into two parts: 40000 inmates in an area where 4000 people had previously lived. Allowed 1-2 square metres per person. 29000 in the "large ghetto", 11000 in the "small ghetto"</td | ECG, VOL. II/B, p. 1148 ff wikipedia |
General | A report by the Judenrat from October 1941 states that the daily ration for each ghetto inmate was 100 grams of potatoes, 50 grams of cabbage, 30 grams of carrots and 20 grams of turnips - products that were normally used as animal feed. A distinction was made between inmates with/without a work permit</td | ECG |
September 1941 | Closure of the ghetto | |
Mid-October 1941 | Distribution of labour coupons, | Memorial |
General | The prisoners who were fit for work had to perform forced labour, especially outside the ghetto: in factories and on building sites, in peat quarries, in railway and road construction or in offices of the German occupation administration. A system of colour-changing work permits served as an instrument for the increasing decimation of the number of ghetto inhabitants. Anyone found during "actions" without a valid work permit could expect to be deported to Paneriai.</td | memorial |
24 October 1941 | Jews without work permits were segregated and 3,781 people were shot in Ponar from 25 to 27 October ("Gelbe Scheine Aktion": Jews without work permits were murdered) | |
Mid-October 1941 | Liquidation of the small ghetto, the remaining 6000-8000 inhabitants are murdered in Ponary | |
January 1942 to March 1943 | No "actions" | |
February 1942 | In February 1942, there were probably about 17,200 Jews in the ghetto: 14,200 legals, receiving bread rations, and about 3,000 illegals, many of whom were gradually legalised during 1942. | ECG |
6.8./24.8./2.10./4.10.1943 | 7126 Jews are deported to Estonian concentration camps | |
16 September 1943 | 1500(?) Jews arrive at the camp in Subaciaus Street to work in HKP 562 - labourers plus relatives | |
22/24 September 1943 | 1600 Jews to Estonia, 1400/1700 Jews to Riga-Kaiserwald. Liquidation of the ghetto | |
2-7 July 1944 | Liquidation of HKP, Kailis fur factory, murder of most of the inmates. 250 of the 562 inmates of the HKP survive | |
ECG: Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos |
Sources
- GhettoWilna: https://www.zukunft-braucht-erinnerung.de/das-ghetto-in-wilna/
- Ghetto Wilna: https://www.gedenkorte-europa.eu/de_de/s2-1.html
- Aktionen: https://www.gedenkorte-europa.eu/de_de/article-aktionen.html
- Arbeitsscheine: https://www.gedenkorte-europa.eu/de_de/article-arbeitsscheine.html
- Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos (ECG)
Experiences in the Vilna ghetto
Lala Weiss
I stayed in the Wilno ghetto until shortly before it was liquidated. I managed to escape on 20 September 1943 and went into hiding with my brother until my liberation."
Source: affidavit by Lala Weiss, 1957
In the summer of 1941, my homeland was occupied by the Nazis. The first shock was when my father was arrested and dragged away. I never saw him again. Together with my mother and my brother, I was sent to the Wilno ghetto. Here I lived in the most terrible conditions. I had to do the heaviest road construction or field work every day. We were harassed at work, we went hungry and trembled every moment before being deported. My mother was seriously ill and she was dragged away in 1942. As the conditions got worse and worse, I managed to escape the ghetto, and together with my brother I hid in the neighbourhood of Wilno, in the village of Werki.
Source: affidavit by Lala Weiss, around 1968
Hermann Rubinoff
Vilnius was occupied by the Germans in the summer of 1941. Kl. had to carry out heavy forced labour on the railway and was beaten a lot.
In September 1941 Kl. was not transferred to the ghetto, but was imprisoned with other Jews. He lived in a crowded room and was severely beaten many times.
He managed to get out of the prison and into the ghetto thanks to his skilled labour diploma; those who remained in the prison had been killed.
Because the ghetto was overcrowded, Kl. had to sleep outside with his mother, wife and child. They were only given a room on the floor in October. The food was completely inadequate. In the early days, a series of selections took place, during which Kl. went into hiding several times. Finally, Kl. was separated from his relatives along with his brother. The latter were killed.
Kl. and his brother were deported to Estonia on a 4-day railway journey without any food.
Source: Expert report by Dr Pineas, 1969
Gitel Grilches, born on 7 Jan. 1907 in Vilnius/Lithuania as Gitel Friedberg, wid. Nison
Before the war, I lived in Vilnius with my husband and children at Stefanastr.21. Shortly after the Germans marched into Vilnius in July 1941, my husband was dragged out of the flat by the Gestapo and I haven't seen him since. I myself had to leave my flat in July 1941 and move to the WILNO GHETTO, where I had to live in Osmianskastr.8 in a room with many other people. The ghetto consisted of only a few streets fenced in with barbed wire, strictly guarded by Germans and Lithuanians. I had to wear the yellow Star of David on my chest and back as a Jewish badge and was subject to a Judenrat appointed by the Germans, whose chairman was called Gens.- I worked under duress at the railway station doing various transport jobs.- When the ghetto was liquidated in August 1943, I lost two children who were taken away from me and never returned.- I myself was waggoned in and taken to ZAL Waiwara.
Source: affidavit
I was in the Vilna ghetto with him, where we both worked on the railway. We went to work under armed guard and we were also guarded at work and wore a yellow badge in the shape of a "Star of David" on our clothes.
Since the establishment of the ghetto in 1941, I was inside the ghetto together with Josef Segalowicz, until they began to transfer people from the ghetto to the camps before its liquidation. I was transferred to the concentration camp in Riga in September 1943, which was called "Reiswanwald" (?).
Testimony of Chaim Srolowicz, 1972
Note: Reiswanwald == Kaiserwald
Vera Aizenberg
In July 1941, the German troops came to Wilno. I was dragged into forced labour and was beaten several times by the Germans and Ludwieners. The Germans immediately built a ghetto in Wilno and in September 1941 I was sent to the ghetto, where I had to do all kinds of forced labour every day. I was beaten a lot and never got enough to eat. Up to 20 people were crammed into one room. I did the hardest work for the soldiers and the Gestapo. I had to wash clothes and scrub floors. I dragged stones as the Germans were building roads and I dug trenches for those who had been shot. At the end of September 1943 I came to Estonia but from there I went straight on to Viivikonna.
Source: affidavit
Jakob Kienski
The persecution began immediately after the outbreak of the German-Russian war. In September 1941, I was driven into the ghetto where I was exposed to all the horrors and terrors from the very beginning. My whole family - my daughter, my wife, my four younger brothers and their families - were shot in September. [It was in the village of Niemieci b. Wilhno (a suburb of Wilna). This was a terrible shock for me, from which I never recovered. I myself was made to do various forced labour in the ghetto. Despite my age, I had to saw wood and carry wood. We were often mistreated and every day it was a question of whether we would not be murdered. One day, when I didn't work fast enough for a guard, he beat me up until I was unconscious. A friend who worked with me was also abused and died in front of me. I haven't heard well since that day.
I tried to escape in 1942 but was discovered. It was a miracle that I survived. As far as I remember, it was in the winter of 1943 (note: probably a spelling mistake). As punishment for this, I was beaten first. Scars on my back still bear witness to these beatings today. I probably only stayed alive because the guards who discovered my escape were completely drunk. They made fun of me by taking away my clothes, then they ordered me to run and as I ran they shot after me. I wasn't hit, but I fell over and stayed down. The guards left in their full drunkenness and I stayed alive. Of course, I also had to suffer from hunger, dirt and the usual diseases and infections in the ghetto. In 1943 when the ghetto began to be liquidated, I was able to make contact with a business friend shortly beforehand. It was the farmer Lipinski in the village of Ragnony near Vilnius. At the risk of my life, he managed to intercept me on my way to work and bring me safely to Ragony. I lived in hiding with him until my liberation. At first I was in a barn and later in the cellar. These months were also torture. [Every day I had to expect to be discovered. My rescuer could only give me very little and always cold food. After all, he was also exposed to mortal danger.
Lea Kochman
The Nazis came in the summer of 1941 and that was the beginning of my ordeal. The first place they dragged me to was the Wilno ghetto. I lived here under the most oppressive conditions. I had to starve and work hard. I was in constant fear of being deported. My family was taken away and killed. I often worked with illnesses for fear of being recognised.
Source: Affidavit
Malka Jewerowicz
Before the outbreak of the persecution, I lived in Podbrodzie with my husband Szmul Jewerowicz, whom I had married in 1925, my son and my daughter.
My home was occupied by the Russians in 1939 and the Nazis came in the summer of 1941. We were immediately subjected to all kinds of persecution. The most terrible thing happened to me when a little later my husband and my two children, my mother and four of my siblings were taken away from Podbrodzie, where they were shot right in the neighbourhood. This was a terrible shock for me. I hid for some time and saw no possibility of surviving. I made my way to Vilnius. In the ghetto I had to endure all the torments of this camp.
Source: affidavit
Notes:
Ghetto list: Pabrade- [Lith] ghetto (Podbrodzie [Pol], Padbrade [Ger], Podbrodz [Yid], Maloye Podbrodze) existed from July 1941 to 28 September 1941
See also entry "Podbrodzie" on sztetl.org.pl
"Only 100 Jews from Pabradė survived the war. The final extermination of the local community took place at the turn of September and October 1941, when Nazi policemen assisted by Belarusians transported the elderly and children to a military training field in Švenčionėliai (Polish: Nowe Święciany) and ordered the young and healthy to arrive there on foot. Ca. 100–250 people in total were assembled at the site. Some managed to hide in nearby villages and escape the deportation to Švenčionėliai. On 9 October, all the people displaced from Pabradė, together with Jews from neighbouring towns in the Švenčionys area, were shot."
Anmerkungen:
- Ghettoliste: Ghetto Pabrade— [Lith] (Podbrodzie [Pol], Padbrade [Ger], Podbrodz [Yid], Maloye Podbrodze) exisierte von Juli 1941 bis 28. September 1941
- Siehe auch Eintrag „Podbrodzie“ auf sztetl.org.pl
An der Ausrottung der ortsansässigen Juden nahmen die einheimischen Weißrussen teil. An den ersten Tagen im Juli 1941 nahmen sie die erste Gruppe der kommunistischen Funktionäre und Juden fest und erschossen sie. Dasselbe wiederholte sich am 15. Juli 1941 - in der Nacht nahmen sie 67 Juden (Frauen und Männer) fest und überführten sie, um sie in der Nähe von der Mühle zu erschießen. Während dieses Festnehmens versuchten die Männer die Wächter aufzuhalten und griffen sie an, aber nur einem von ihnen gelang es zu fliehen.
Nur 100 Juden aus Pabradė (Podbrodzie) überlebten den Krieg. Die endgültige Vernichtung der ortsansässigen Gemeinde fand um die Wende vom September und Oktober 1941 statt. Dann überführten die nationalsozialistischen Polizisten mit Hilfe der Weißrussen die Alten und Kinder (die jungen und gesunden Personen mussten zu Fuß kommen) auf das Übungsgelände in Švenčionėliai (Nowe Święciany) - insgesamt 100-250 Personen. Einigen ortsansässigen Juden gelang es sich in den umliegenden Dörfern vor der Überführung nach Švenčionėliai (Nowe Święciany) zu schützen. Am 9. Oktober wurden alle Überführten zusammen mit den Juden aus den umliegenden Kleinstädten der Rajongemeinde Švenčionys (Święciany) erschossen.
Living in hiding ("Illegality")
Lala Weiss
I stayed in the Wilno ghetto until shortly before it was liquidated. I managed to escape on 20 September 1943 and hid with my brother until my liberation. We fled to a farmer near Wilno who lived in the village of Werki. We lived hidden in his barn, where we had dug a pit in the barn floor and covered it with wooden planks. The farmer had piled hay over it. At irregular intervals he handed us food down into the pit. We were practically trapped in the barn as we were never allowed to leave it. We lived in undoubtedly inhumane conditions. We were liberated by the Russians at the end of July 1944.
Source: affidavit
Malka Jewerowicz
Hoping that my children were still alive - I was not an eyewitness to their deaths - I fled in September 1943 and hid in the village of Worsziany and the neighbourhood of Worsziany until my liberation. We lived under the greatest privations. Our hiding place was without air and light, we had no sanitary facilities and hardly anything to eat.
We lived in constant fear of death. We had to leave our hiding place in January 1944 because suspicions had already been aroused.
When I was liberated, I was only a shadow of a human being.
Source: affidavit
Ponary/Paneriai
Date!Event | |
---|---|
From 1939 | Occupation by the Red Army. Construction of a military base with underground fuel depots by the Red Army near Ponary |
From July 941 to July 1944 | Occupation of the unfinished facility by German troops. Mass shootings of around 70,000 Jews, Poles and prisoners of war; by the end of December 1941, three quarters of the Jews of Vilnius had been murdered. Units of the Wehrmacht, SS, Einsatzkommandos 3 and 9 and Lithuanian militias (Ypatingasis būrys) were involved in the massacre. At the end of 1941, the number of people murdered totalled 47,447</td |
September 1943 | Exhumation and cremation of the bodies as part of "Aktion 1005" |
Abnormal | Different figures |
Quellen:
Heereskraftfahrpark 562
Moshe K., geboren 1941
In the above matter [...] In 1941 the home town of Wilno was occupied by the Germans, in September 1941 the client and his parents were sent to the Wilno ghetto and from there in September 1943 to the forced labour camp HKP Wilno. In March 1944, a child action was carried out in the HKP Wilno, the child was smuggled out of the forced labour camp and taken to a Christian farmer named Lapin in Wilno. After the liberation in July 1944, the father picked up the child again. "The child was terribly neglected and had a rash all over its body, it was terribly emaciated. It was hidden in the cellar of the house where it lay on straw. Mr Lapin told me that he had to keep the child in the cellar. The child had become ill, but he could not dare to take it to a doctor."
Source: Extract from the Konrad Kittl file 1966 with statements from prison compensation proceedings from 1954?
Lea Gittelman
We were also in H.K. Vilnius together. A daughter had been born to her in the ghetto in 1942. In 1944 there was a large-scale paediatric operation here in the H.K.P. and she lived in constant fear for her child. However, Dr Feigenberg succeeded in putting her to sleep artificially and smuggling her out of the detention centre.
Testimony of Lea Nemser, 1961?
HKP 562 -Description
...
Date!Event | |
---|---|
June 1941 | Establishment of the Heereskraftfahrpark (HKP) 562, headed by Major Plagge, 250 German Wehrmacht personnel, several hundred Jewish and Polish forced labourers, Russian prisoners of war. Tasks: Repairs |
16 September 1943 | Establishment of a camp in Subaciaus-Strasse at the instigation of Major Karl Plagge. Rescue of the Jewish forced labourers from deportation/liqidation during the liquidation of the ghetto a week later; in addition, the relatives of the forced labourers are taken from the ghetto to two houses in Subaciaus Street. Approx. 1200 detainees |
General | Major Plagge orders the detainees to be treated with respect, does nothing against food smuggling |
27 March 1944 | Children's action - the vast majority of children are deported, murder of children in Paneriai. |
1 July 1944 | Plagge warns the detainees of the imminent dissolution of the HKP, enabling detainees to hide in partially prepared hiding places ("malines"). |
3 July 1944 | Liquidation of the HKP, about 250 Jews survived in hiding thanks to warnings from Major Plagge. The rest were murdered |
Source: |
Biography of Karl Plagge
Date - Event | ||
---|---|---|
10 July 1897 | Karl Plagge is born in Darmstadt | |
1916-1919 | War service and imprisonment. Contracted polio | |
1919-1924 | Studies mechanical engineering at the TU Darmstadt | |
1931-1939 | Member of the NSDAP | |
1939 | drafted into the Wehrmacht | |
1941 | Head of the Heereskraftfahrpark 562 in Vilnius Karl Plagge issues large numbers of work passes to Jews to save them and their families (wife and max. 2 children) from being murdered. Has workshops set up to turn the prisoners into labourers vital to the war effort.</td | |
1944 | Closing of the HKP, march of the unit to the west. | |
1947 | Denazification process, Karl Plagge is categorised as a "follower". | |
19 July 1957i | Karl Plagge dies in Darmstadt | |
22 July 2004 | Karl Plagge is named "Righteous Among the Nations" Source: Yad Vashem. | |
Note: | Two different dates for honouring on wikipedia pages: 2004/2005 | |
Sources
- Yad Vashem, "Righteous Among the Nations" database, with a description of the reasons why Plagge was honoured.
- Karl Plagge on wikipedia German/English
- HKP entry Wikipedia (English), (German)
- deathcamps.org
- Lecture by Prof Dr Wolfram Wette
- Search for Major Plagge, with documents and transcriptions of interviews (English)