Murder story of Oszmiana Jews in the Tałminowo Area

"A week ago, [SS-Hauptscharfuehrer Martin] Weiss of the SD came to us in the name of the SD with an order that we were to travel to Oszmiana. There were about 4,000 Jews in the Oszmiana Ghetto, and it was not possible to keep so many persons there. For that reason, the ghetto would have to be made smaller – by picking out the people who did not suit the Germans, to take them away and shoot them. The first to go should be children and women whose husbands were taken away last year by the "snatchers". The next to be taken would be women and families with a large number of children. When we received this order, we replied: "Zum Befehl" ["At your command!"]. Mr. Dessler and the Jewish police went to Oszmiana. After two or three days, the Jewish police observed and reported to the Gebietskommissar [in Vilna] that, first of all, the women whose men had been taken away last year were now working and could not be taken away, and, secondly, that there were no families with four or five children. The largest families had two children. So that would not work, either (I forgot to say that no fewer than 1,500 persons had to be taken away). We said that we could not supply such a number. We started to bargain. When Mr. Dessler arrived with the report from Oszmiana, the number dropped to 800. When I went to Oszmiana with Weiss, the number dropped once again, to 600. In reality, the situation was different. We argued about the 600 and, in the meantime, the question of the removal of women and children was dropped. There remained the question of the elderly people. In reality, 406 old people were gathered in Oszmiana. These individuals were handed over. [...] The Jewish police saved those who had to live. Those who had little time left to live were taken away, and may the aged among the Jews forgive us. [...] If five million people have already gone, it is our duty to save the strong and the young... When the Rabbi in Oszmiana was told that the number of persons required was not complete and that five elderly Jews were hiding in a maline [hiding place], he said that the maline should be opened."