AT RISK OF LIFE AND LIMB

AT RISK OF LIFE AND LIMB

May 23rd

Belzec Durchgangslager

Attention: Reich Security Main Office

Urgent -stop -camp infiltrated -stop -ukrainian guards responsible -stop - advise action -stop

May 23rd

Office of Obergruppenfuhrer Heydrich RHSA, Berlin

Commandant-interrogate immediately-stop-report direct -stop-highest priority -stop

May 23rd

Belzec Durchgangslager

Attention: Obergruppenfuhrer Heydrich

Orders obeyed-stop -guards admit complicity -stop -infiltrator Polish -stop -name Jan Karski -stop -observed conditions -stop -photographs taken -stop -advise -stop

May 23rd

Office of Obergruppenfuhrer Heydrich RHSA, Berlin Execute guards -stop -repeat -stop -EXECUTE!

Office of Obergruppenfuhrer Heydrich, RHSA, Berlin

Attention: Direktor Muller, Gestapo

Urgent -stop -request all records one Jan Karski -stop -manhunt in place -stop- highest priority -stop

Jan Karski, camera disposed of, microfilm secreted anally, strode along the platform nervously. He had avoided attempting to take a train from a station local to the Belzec camp knowing that the Ukrainian guards he had bribed with brandy, chocolate and a few Reichsmarks were certain to have given the game away sooner rather than later. Instead, he had hiked through the countryside to Lwow, closer to the Czech border and, now, dressed in peasant clothes and armed with a 3rd class ticket, he awaited the Warsaw night train, already an hour late.

The platform was unexpectedly quiet with just a smattering of people standing around patiently, all wooden benching having long been used as firewood in this time of fuel shortages and, to Karski’s over taut mind, he stood out like a sore thumb despite his disguise. He knew that, once the Ukrainians cracked under torture, there was no way that the Germans could allow him to escape with the information he had gathered and a dragnet would be formed to hunt him down. Yet, he also knew, the information, especially the photographic evidence, that he had gathered had to be shown to the world. The memories of all that he had witnessed and documented in that terrible place caused him to shudder involuntarily even though it was not a cold night.

Transcript of recorded phone conversation between Reichsfuhrer SS Heinrich Himmler and Direktor RSHA Reinhard Heydrich -May 24th

“Yes, according to Muller, we know this man. He fought for the Polish 5th Regiment and was captured by the Bolsheviks but escaped and masqueraded as a private, thus evading the massacre of Polish officers at Katyn. He adopted several aliases and was working as a courier for the Polish resistance. The Gestapo arrested him in July of last year. He was interrogated, rather too forcefully, I fear, requiring a stay in hospital and, of course, he escaped...”

“Reinhard, you understand that this man must be captured. We cannot allow him to divulge anything of what is happening to these wretched Jews. I am relying on you to handle this personally”.

“Have no fear, I have put measures in place. Not even a cat will manage to get through the net I have erected in, around, over and under Eastern Europe”.

“Cats, Reinhard, have nine lives. Let’s hope that your cat has used all of his up”.

Excerpt from the diary of Jan Garrigue Masaryk, Czech diplomat.
May 25th
Today, a most remarkable thing occurred as I was travelling to
Warsaw on my mission.  A man, dressed as a peasant, came,
uninvited, into my sleeping compartment and hurriedly pulled down
the blinds. There was something about him that made me unafraid
though I could see from his countenance that he was much agitated,
sweat dripping from his brow.  He addressed me as Excellency so,
obviously, knew who I was.  He begged me to allow him just thirty
minutes of my time, after which, he promised, he would disappear.
What could I do but grant his wish?
He then proceeded to tell me that there were soldiers on the train
searching each compartment, the object of their hunt, he, himself.
Only I, with my diplomatic immunity, could help him evade capture.
Speaking perfect Czech, though with a strong Polish accent, he

told me that he had managed to infiltrate the German concentration camp at Belzec and had witnessed atrocities that would haunt his sleep for ever more. Starvation, shootings, beatings, disease, of all these, he spoke. I was, naturally, alarmed to hear this knowing only too well that there are a large number of these type of camps distributed across the East. But, these were nothing to what he then spoke of and, even now, I can barely bring myself to believe that the horrors of which he advised could really be happening. He spoke of mass gassings of innocent people, their bodies being burned in crematoriums built especially for the disposal of these bodies. According to this man who gave his name as Jan Karski, a representative of the Polish Government in exile, thousands of Jewish people, from all over the East, were, every day, being transported to their deaths in this manner.

He said that it was his sworn duty to inform the Western powers of
these atrocities and told me that he had, secreted on his person,
microfilm evidence that would support all of his claims.
I was astonished by all that he imparted, aghast that he might
actually be speaking the truth.  But, as a career diplomat, I
advised him, my duty was to my country and Czechoslovakia was very
much a part of the German Reich now.  However, I gave my word that
I would pass on all that he had told me to my superior, Edvard
Benes, the Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia.
Nevertheless, I acknowledged the sincerity and bravery of this
young man and I said that he would never escape scrutiny, dressed
as he was in the simple clothes of a Polish farmer and suggested
that he borrow some of my clothes, he being of similar stature to
myself, and that I would assist him to bypass security at Warsaw
Central Station, posing as my assistant.  Thankful, he agreed to
my plan and the difference in appearance was truly amazing once he
had changed into good quality clothing and shaved, using my own
razor.
My heart was in my mouth as we exited the train with soldiers and
police everywhere, it seemed, stopping everybody and examining
papers.  But the station master and porters recognised me and gave
me first class treatment as usual and the officials at the gate
also knew me from my several visits to Warsaw and we passed
through without fuss.  As I boarded my taxi, I turned to offer a
lift to this brave young man but he had disappeared, along with my
fine clothes.  As soon as I return to Prague, I shall inform
Edvard of all that has occurred.

Headline from Warsaw Times May 25th 1942

ACHTUNG! REWARD OF ONE MILLION DEUTSCHMARKS OFFERED TO THE PERSON WHO CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST OF THE MAN, JAN KARSKI, aka JAN PIASECKI, aka JAN ZNAMIEROWSKI. AGE -26. HEIGHT -180cm. HAIR -DARK. THIS MAN IS DANGEROUS AND AN ENEMY OF THE REICH. DO NOT APPROACH. ANYBODY FOUND HARBOURING THIS MAN WILL FACE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES.

Jan followed his resistance contact through the ghetto. For the moment, thanks to the assistance of the Czech Foreign Minister, Masaryk, he had evaded detection but he knew that he was far from being safe. The young man led the way up the stairs of a tenement, filth lining the steps. As they had crept through the alleyways to reach this building, they had passed many corpses lying dead on the wet cobbles, mainly elderly people, men and women, succumbing, finally, to the awful conditions that prevailed; food being almost impossible to source, disease rampant.

In an apartment at the top of the block, the young man gestured for Karski to enter and he found two men awaiting him, Petr Lebowski, a young man Jan knew from previous courier trips on behalf of the resistance and an elderly, surly looking gentleman, obviously, from his appearance, a Rabbi, Jan guessed.

“I never thought I would see you again”, Lebowski opened.

“Nor I, you, if I’m completely honest”, Jan answered.

“And looking so prosperous as well. Are we keeping you from an important date?”

Jan laughed, the tension he had been living with for the last few days dissipating temporarily, shaking hands with Petr who then introduced him to the stranger.

“This is Chief Rabbi, Abraham Kowolski. He sits on the Judenraete. We are both keen to hear what you have to say”.

Having acknowledged the Rabbi, the three men sat and Jan detailed everything he had witnessed inside Belzec. As he spoke, Petr Lebowski grew visibly angrier until, finally, he rose and kicked over his chair.

“The bastards! I swear on my mother’s life, they shall answer for their crimes. Each day, their lists grow longer. Murdering swine!”

The Rabbi, however, seemed less willing to accept Jan’s word for what was happening to the people being rounded up, each day.

“How can we be sure that what you say is true?” He queried. “You hardly look like someone who has spent time in one of these relocation camps”.

“Relocation camps? Is that what you tell the people whose names your council draws up; who you decide must be transported? The only relocating taking place is to the afterlife. These camps may be called transit camps but they are extermination camps. Why would I lie, for pity’s sake?”

Petr held out a calming hand towards his former resistance colleague and gave the Rabbi a reproachful look.

“Jan, your description is front page in all of the city newspapers; your aliases, too. They have been searching houses, stopping all vehicles. They have even made it virtually impossible for members of the resistance to move in or out of this godforsaken place. I’m not sure that we can even help you get away from Warsaw”.

The Rabbi intervened, determined to have his say.

“The Germans, who I must say, have been most reasonable in their dealings with the Council, to date, are threatening severe consequences to those who assist you. It’s my firm belief that our best policy is to work with the Germans, not cause any issues. I’m afraid that I cannot, in all honesty, accept what you say...”

“Then you are a madman, Rabbi”, Petr spat out. “This man is beyond reproach and I would stake my life that what he says is true”.

“Petr, I cannot force people to believe my word. But I have film that proves everything and I must get it out of Poland if there is to be any hope of ending this slaughter”.

“There is one possible way, Jan. But I’m not sure you will be up for it in those fine clothes you wear”.

“Do you think I care about clothes? These aren’t even mine. Do you think I give a damn about my life? Only a madman would deliberately enter hell and photograph the experience. I know I am a hunted man and the odds are against me but I know what I have seen with my own eyes and, if there is even the slightest chance that I can get to London and Washington and tell what is happening, then I have to try”.

Wording from posters displaying a photograph (taken at the time of his arrest and torture by the Gestapo in Slovakia, 1940) of Jan Karski and liberally pasted to walls throughout Warsaw, both inside and outside of the ghetto.

WANTED. DEAD OR ALIVE

Jan Karski, aka Jan Piasecki, aka Jan Znamierowski Believed to be in Warsaw

Reward of ONE MILLION DEUTSCHMARKS for any information leading to his arrest of this man

BEWARE any person found to be aiding this criminal will face deportation and severe consequences

Article from Oneg Shabbat Bulletin 1st June 1942, the handwritten

chronicle distributed to Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Attention, brethren, the process of mass murder of Jews is developing quickly. Aside from Chelmo and Belzec, another extermination site was installed at Sobibor, 36 kilimetres away (...) under the guise of exploiting the Jewish labour force, the most horrible crime in history is being committed. A very brave man, a Christian, has provided us with an eye witness account of the atrocities being perpetrated.

Excerpt from the rebuttal of this bulletin spoken by Chief Rabbi, Abraham Kowolski in the Great Synagogue on Tlomackie Street when he addressed a large clandestine gathering of Jews on the Sabbath in the building, now being used as a furniture warehouse for materials confiscated from Jews, and which, in less than a year from this day, will be razed to the ground by the Nazis.

“Do not fear. God will guide us. I have met with this man who claims to have witnessed such atrocities and, frankly, I did not believe a word of what he had to say. The Judenraete and, also, the Bund, urge calm. If we adhere to the demands of the Germans, we will be treated righteously. Of that, I have no doubt...”

It was the dogs that alerted Petr and Jan. Then, the sound of many pairs of jackboots on the cobbled streets as the manhunt reached the centre of the ghetto. Jan immediately made to escape by rushing down the staircase but Petr caught him by the arm and, silently, pointed upwards. Jan followed, behind him he could hear the barks of the German shepherd dogs, the ominous sounds of doors in apartments being kicked open.

At the top of the building, Petr pushed open a door and exited onto the roof. Positioned to the side were two large crates filled with sand and Petr gestured to Jan to assist him in pushing them up against the door. With much effort, this was accomplished, Jan realising that the crates had been pre-arranged for any such emergency evacuation. Confident that the roof-top door would now withstand any battering from the other side, Petr rushed to the rear of the building and began to climb down the metal ladder fixed to the brick wall, Jan following. The two ran across this lower roof and leapt the short gaps between buildings until, at last, the sounds of Germans and dogs began to fade behind them.

Descending the stone steps of another building, finally, Petr exited onto an alleyway, Jan following blindly. After making their way cautiously through the streets with darkness closing in on all sides, they heard the sounds of shots in the distance. Petr paused momentarily.

“The bastards. They are taking out their frustration on innocents. Don’t worry, our day will come”.

At an intersection, Petr crouched in the shadows. Then, taking a metal tool from his pocket, he hurried to the centre of the crossroads and stooped low above a metal manhole. As Jan watched, Petr inserted his tool down the side of the drain cover and levered it up. With Jan’s help, they pushed the heavy lid to one side, revealing a gaping, dark chasm, an iron ladder just visible, attached to the sewer wall.

“Okay, this is where we part, my friend. Climb down. Somebody will meet you. I feel sorry for your fine suit, the sewage can reach as high as your neck in parts. You are not a Jew but you have risked your life for the Jewish people and I thank you”.

“But, what of you?”

“I cannot go. My place is here. We are planning to fight back against these murderers of innocent people. You will see; the world will know that not all Jews went silently to their deaths. Now, go!”

Jan Karski, choking back tears, climbed down into the black void. Within seconds, he was in complete darkness as the manhole cover was replaced above him and his right foot splashed down into the stink of the Warsaw sewer. As he turned, the cold water creeping up the legs of his fine suit, a torch light approached him and a young Jewish man approached, gesturing for Jan to follow.

ENDNOTE

Jan Karski, having risked his life to report on the fate of Jews in Eastern Europe, did, eventually, manage to escape from Poland. His words were transcribed and published in a document issued by the Polish Government in Exile and titled:

THE MASS EXTERMINATION OF JEWS IN GERMAN OCCUPIED POLAND.

He travelled to London and requested an appointment with the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, but, told that Churchill was too busy to meet with him, was, instead, passed off to the Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden.

Karski then travelled to America and, after great persistence, was granted a meeting with President Franklin D Roosevelt.

The following are excerpts from an interview that Karski gave to USC Shoah Foundation:

“There is no doubt that this was not the most important topic on Eden’s agenda and he displayed a lack of interest in the subject of a people so far away”.



“As for Roosevelt, he listened to what I had to say for one hour. Then he thanked me and I was ushered out. He did not ask me one question about the Jewish people”.