The main forces were detailed about 1100 hours to comb out, mop up, and destroy two large blocks of buildings, containing the former firms Toebbens, Schulz and Co., and others. After these blocks had been completely cordoned off, we requested the Jews who were still within the buildings to come forward voluntarily. By this measure, we caught 456 Jews for evacuation. Not until the blocks of buildings were well aflame and were about to collapse did a further considerable number of Jews emerge, forced to do so by the flames and the smoke. Time and again the Jews try to escape even through burning buildings. Innumerable Jews whom we saw on the roofs during the conflagration perished in the flames. Others emerged from the upper stories in the last possible moment and were only able to escape death in the flames by jumping down. Today we caught a total of 2,283 Jews, of whom 204 were shot and innumerable Jews were destroyed in dug-outs and in the flames. The sum total of Jews caught rises to 44,089.
As is learned from depositions made by the Jews, today we caught part of the governing body of the so-called "Party." One member of the committee which leads the gang will be used tomorrow for mopping up some more fortified dug-outs with armed Jews inside. When the armament enterprises were evacuated, we again observed that the goods carted away were by no means valuable military equipment, as had been pretended, but trifles, like used furniture and other requisitioned items. We took appropriate measures against this at once.
The scouting parties who patrolled during the night in the former Ghetto again reported movements of the Jews in the burned out and destroyed streets and courtyards. In order to be better able to take the Jews by surprise, the scouting parties at night tie rags and other stuff round their shoes. In skirmishes between the scouting parties and Jews, 30 Jews were shot.
We captured 1 carbine, 3 pistols, and some ammunition. During the conflagration a considerable amount of stored ammunition exploded.
| Our strength, used in the operation: | ||
| German police | 4/101 | |
| Security Police | 2/14 | |
| Engineering Em Service | 1/6 | |
| Engineers | 2/41 | |
| Waffen SS | 11/407 | |
| Cordoning forces: | ||
| Day | Night | |
| Waffen SS | 25 | 1/300 |
| German Police | 2/87 | 1/11 |
| Trawniki | 200 |
Our losses: None.
Termination of operation: 2330 hours. Will be continued on 5 May 1943, 1000 hours.
The SS and Police Fuehrer in
the District of Warsaw.
Signed: Stroop
SS Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police.
Certified copy:
SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.
Copy
Teletype message
From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw
Warsaw, 5 May 1943.