Transport from Dortmund, Dortmund (Arnsberg), Westphalia, Germany to Zamosc, Zamosc, Lublin, Poland on 27/04/1942

On March 25, 1942, the Gestapo in Dortmund informed Schramm, the Landrat (county administrator) of Brilon of the plan to deport Jews from Arnsberg to the General Government. Several days later, the plan was put into effect with a large transport launched by the Dortmund Gestapo on April 30. Although some historians date this transport to April 27-29,  when the Jews were removed from the Arnsberg area, our records show that the transport itself departed from Dortmund on the morning of April 30.

On April 27, Arthur Goldschmidt  from Berleburg wrote to his sisters in Amsterdam: “My time, too, has now come […]  They are coming this evening to pick us up for deportation  to the East […] I cannot write much, because  I am distraught. You can surely sympathize with our situation here. Stay united, and always remain together”.

In preparation for this transport, the Bielefeld branch of the Reich Association of Jews in Germany (Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland) sent instructions for the journey: “We have been informed by the Gestapo headquarters in Dortmund-Hoerde that a second transport to the East for a work assignment has been planned for the near future.  Therefore, the previously published instructions have been changed.” The deportees were allowed to take personal luggage weighing up to 30kg, food for six days, 50 Reichsmarks, eating and cooking implements, and a straw mattress. The instructions went on to describe the necessities: “Do not forget to take water supplies for the journey because, based on the information we received from those who took part in earlier transports, complaints of thirst are common. If you have jars […] or canteens, fill them and take them with you […] The 50 Reichsmarks must be transferred to our account at the Bielefeld branch of the Deutsche Bank […] or handed over in cash to our contact person.” The deportees were told that their money  would be converted into Polish currency (Zloty) and that they  would receive it  when  they arrived in Poland....