Transport XVII from Caserne Dossin (Malines-Mechelen), Camp, Belgium to Auschwitz Birkenau, Extermination Camp, Poland on 31/10/1942

After the departure of the 10th transport on September 15, 10,000 Jews had been deported from Belgium. In August Eichmann had increased the number of foreign Jews residing in Belgium to be deported from 10,000 to 20,000. This order was directed at Jews who had come from countries that were occupied by Germany as well as German Jews who were now considered stateless. Belgian Jews, as well as Jews in mixed marriages were still exempt from the deportations. In a letter dated September 25, Reeder instructed Ehlers how to meet Eichmann’s quota of 20,000. Among other things, Reeder announced an operation to arrest all remaining foreign Jews and send them to the East. Reeder warned to conduct the operation without the assistance of the Belgian police and as discreetly as possible in order to offset any sympathy or protest by the Belgian population....