Wave of Deportation from Ludwigshafen, Ludwigshafen a. Rhein (Pfalz), Bavaria, Germany to Gurs, Camp, France on 22/10/1940

In his postwar testimony, the former president of the Jewish community of Mannheim, Eugen Neter recalled that, around mid-October, rumours spread in the city about an imminent operation that would target the local Jews, but that his inquiries did not lead to any clarification. Neter stated that he became convinced that there were indeed plans for the Jews in his area when Jewish workers notified him on October 21 that they had been handed their papers by order of the political authorities. Meanwhile, all civil servants in the Palatinate (and likely also in Baden) who had been assigned to assist with the deportations received a letter with guidelines. This letter likely originated from Eichmann’s department as it is very similar to letters issued for later deportations from the Reich. It defined who was eligible for deportation and who would be excluded; it stated how and where the Jews would be assembled, and it outlined the tasks of the assigned police officers. The letter detailed what the deportees would be allowed to bring with them: luggage weighing up to 50kg, a full set of clothing, a woolen blanket, provisions for several days, tableware, up to 100 Reichsmarks in cash and all personal documents. It also stated that they had to submit any valuables that exceeded the allowed 100 Reichsmarks, how the German personnel on site had to secure these valuables, how the vacated apartment was supposed to be secured and sealed, and it also urged the personnel on site to treat the deportees “correctly”. The deportation was carried out on October 22 and 23, 1940 during the 6th and 7th day of the Sukkot festival (Tabernacles). Beginning in the early morning hours, members of the Secret State Police and uniformed policemen appeared at the doors of apartments, old age homes, and hospitals and notified the Jewish residents that they were about to be deported. The deportees were told what they would be allowed to take with them and were given between 15 minutes and 2 hours to pack. They were usually not given any additional information, so the large majority of deportees were unaware of their destination. Most of the arrested Jews were completely surprised by the raid. Dozens committed suicide out of desperation....