On May 5, 1942, a second transport of "Western Jews," who had previously been deported to the Łódź ghetto, left for the Chełmno death camp (Kulmhof). According the documents from the ghetto's Jewish self-administration archive there were 909 deportees on this transport.[1] However, the slightly higher figure of 914 Jewish deportees appears on an invoice for the transport submitted by the Reichsbahn Verkehrsamt (Transportation Authority of the German national railway) to the Gestapo Litzmannstadt. This number seems more likely. The total cost for this transport was 2,805.50 reichsmarks, including the fare for thirteen guards from the Schupo (Schutzpolizei—uniformed regular police force) in the only second-class passenger wagon as far Koło, where other guards took over, and their return trip from Koło to Widzew.[2]
The deportation summons for Emmy Ettinger (also Etlinger, née Löwenstein, b. 7.10.1884), who was deported from Frankfurt am Main to Łódź on October 20, 1941, is preserved in the Archiwum Państwowe w Łodzi (National Polish Archive).[3] Emmy Ettinger was deported with another transport to Chełmno, probably on May 13, 1942,[4] after being granted a medical exemption from this transport by the ghetto's medical commission on May 5.[5] Helena Oberndörfer, sixty-six years old (b. 14.3.1866), likewise from Frankfurt am Main, also received an exemption from this transport because she was completely deaf and totally emaciated. The commission suggested that she be moved to the old people's home, and she was declared unsuitable for deportation.[6] Helena Oberndörfer died shortly afterwards in the ghetto, on May 27, 1942.[7]
The summons sent to Emmy Ettinger reveals that on May 3, at 12 A.M., the deportees were to assemble and register at 7 Szklana St. (Trödler), near the ghetto's central prison, and that they were allowed to bring with them 12.5 kg of luggage. Anyone who failed to report would lose their luggage allowance. Furniture borrowed from the Jewish community and house keys were to be handed over to the janitor, and food cards were to be brought with them.[8] ...