Pola Rubinski, née Zelinger
- Born on 15 April 1926 in Modrzejow (suburb of Sosnowitz) as Perla Zelinger
- April 1940 Forced labour in Modrzejow
- From the beginning of 1942 forced labour in the coal mines of Modrzejow/Nifka
- End of 1942 Move to a closed ghetto
- was in Groß Rosen concentration camp/sub camp Ludwigsdorf from March 1943 to May 1945
- was subsequently in the Zeilsheim Displaced Persons Camp
- emigrated to Israel
Before the War
I lived in Modrzejow, Poland, until my deportation. My father had a thriving shoe shop there, where he employed two people, and we had a large house with many tenants. His total income was at least 1200 zlotys a month. We lived in a four-room flat that was well furnished, always had help around the house, and in summer we went to holiday resorts. I was always a very healthy child and girl before the war.
Source: Unless otherwise stated: Konrad Kittl files, Pola Rubinski affidavit
Begin of the persecution
In September 1939, my home town was occupied by the Germans and my time of suffering began.
Source: Affidavit 22 November 1958
Im September 1939 wurde mein Heimatort von den Deutschen besetzt, und meine Leidenszeit begann.
Quelle: Eidesstattliche Erklärung 22.11.1958
Immediately after the Germans marched in, food and clothing ration cards were issued for the population of Modrzejow, but we Jews did not receive any clothing ration cards, only food ration cards and barely a quarter of what the rest of the population received. From April 1940 onwards, I had to do various forced labour jobs for the Germans in Modrzejow, including cleaning work in the German commandant's office, shovelling snow, gardening in the commandant's garden, etc. I was made to do forced labour by the Germans. I was taken for forced labour by the German police. The order came from the special representative, whose name I no longer remember.
Source: affidavit 2.5.1955, supplement to statements from 6.4.1954/4.8.1954
We had to wear a white armband with a blue Star of David, and later a yellow star on our chest and back. We were not allowed to go out from 7 o'clock in the evening until 6 o'clock in the morning, otherwise we would be shot at. At the end of 1942, all Jews were sent to Zeschengasse, this ghetto was fenced in and strictly guarded by the German Schutzpolizei. Leaving was punishable by death.
Source: Affidavit of the witness Fanny Mayer 2 May 1955
I came to Modrzejow from my hometown of Nifka at the beginning of 1940 because the Germans were "resettling" the Jews from my hometown. I met the plaintiff there. ... I lived in Modrzejow in the same street as the plaintiff. This street was declared a Jewish quarter at the beginning of 1941 and we were not allowed to leave this quarter and were escorted out of this Jewish quarter for forced labour and back there after performing forced labour, by Schupo and Volksdeutsche. At the end of 1942, this Jewish quarter in Modrzejow was completely separated from the surrounding area by barbed wire and turned into a closed ghetto, leaving which was punishable by death; this closed ghetto was guarded by S.S. From that time on, we were completely cut off from the environment and various attacks threatened us with the death penalty if we left this now closed ghetto.
Source Affidavit of the witness Itka Mandelmann, née Anilewicz, 27 February 1955
1941 Coalmines Modrzejow/Nizwa
In the coal mines, I had to pour sand onto the coal wagons. The coal wagons were pushed on a small railway, and I also had to load and unload wood onto the wagons. I had to work 6 days a week and 8 hours a day. On the seventh day, Sunday, I also worked, but not in the coal mines, but in the power station, doing clean-up work. If you were unfit for work, you were threatened with being sent to Auschwitz, so nobody dared to declare themselves unfit for work. The wages were so low that you could buy about one loaf of bread a month on the black market.
Source: affidavit 2.5.1955, supplement to statements from 6.4.1954/4.8.1954
I had to work in the coal mines as early as 1941, the applicant joined me at the beginning of 1942.
Source: Affidavit by Fanny Mayer dated 2 May 1955
The Jews of Modrzejów, like all the Jews in the Katowice region, from October 1940 came under the jurisdiction of Albrecht Schmelt’s Organisation Schmelt, which was responsible for the deportation of Jews to labor camps and their assignment to factories and workshops. The first transport of 140 Jews from Modrzejów to the labor camps took place in October 1940. ... In addition, a small group of young Jews was sent to work in the Niwka mine.
Quelle: Eintrag Modrzejow in [1]
1943 Ludwigsdorf
In 1943, I was sent to Ludwigsdorf concentration camp, where I had to work in the munitions factory.
Every day I had to walk more than an hour in the morning and evening to and from work, and I also had to stand roll call in all weathers. ....
Source: Affidavit 22 November 1958
"On February 27, 1943, the German police surrounded the Jewish ghetto quarter. Those selected for labor were sent to the Dulag, a transit camp in Sosnowiec, from where they were distributed to other camps in the Reich
Quelle: Eintrag Modrzejow in [1]
| Forced labour camps for Jews in Silesia | |
|---|---|
| Place | Ludwikowice Kłodzkie / Ludwigsdorf |
| Area | Prussia (Province of Lower Silesia) |
| Opening | March 1943 (first mention) |
| Closing | Before the beginning of April 1944, the forced labour camp for Jews was taken over by the concentration camp Groß Rosen/"Kommando Wüstegiersdorf" as a "sub-camp" |
| Prisons | |
| Gender | Women |
| Employment of the prisoners at | Dynamit AG; Mölke Werke |
| Type of work | Labour in the munitions factory |
| Source: deutschland-ein-denkmal.de | |
| Subcamp of the Groß-Rosen concentration camp, subcamp of Wüstegiersdorf | |
|---|---|
| Location | Ludwikowice Kłodzkie / Ludwigsdorf |
| Area | Prussia (Province of Lower Silesia) |
| Opening | 16.05.1944 (first mention), previously a forced labour camp for Jews |
| Closing | Liberation on 08/09 May 1945 |
| Prisons | |
| Gender | Women |
| Employment of the prisoners at | Mölke Werke; Dynamit AG |
| Type of work | Labour in the armaments factory |
| Source: deutschland-ein-denkmal.de | |
After the Liberation
After the liberation I was sent to the Zeilsheim DP camp, where I was treated by Dr Arozker, to whom I also went for treatment when she arrived in the country.
Source: Affidavit 22 November 1958
Pola Rubinski emigrated to Israel at an unknown date.
Notes
Further Sources
[1] Modrezejow, The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CAMPS AND GHETTOS, 1933–1945 Volume II, Part A, S. 155f
Office for Compensation
München 1958/Darmstadt
Notes
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Picture Credits
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Zusätzliche Quellen
[1] The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CAMPS AND GHETTOS, 1933–1945 Volume II, Part A, S. 155f