Stephen Shooster Tarnow ghetto.
The End of the Tarnow Ghetto
On Thursday, the last week of August 1943, the Gestapo surrounded the Tarnow ghetto. In the distance, I saw machine guns mounted on trucks and troops on roofs of the apartments outside the ghetto. Between 5:00 and 6:00 AM, the Jewish police gave orders to all the people to assemble in the Appelplatz (Market Square). The ghetto drivers, myself included, prepared our horses and carriages and stood ready for or-
Official Ordnungdienst Stamp permission to cross a specific street corner
ders. We waited about an hour before the Gestapo entered the ghetto. I saw new faces dressed sharply with stern condescending looks. Standing directly before me was the feared Hauptsturmfuhrer of Krakow, Amon Leopold Goth. Near him, I saw my friend Roman Blauner and his flatbed carriage designed to move furniture, Goth was with his elite team. Eight carriages were lined up across from them with their drivers. I was among them. The streets were mostly cleared by the time they en- tered. Commandant Blache walked towards us taking Goth and his staff to show him the fine horses. As they approached he said, “These are our ghetto drivers, they have been individually selected.” First, he pointed to Sol and with slight derision said, “They are owned by this Jew, but we use them as we wish.” Goth pointed to Sol Westreich and said with indignation, “You must go to the Appelplatz. Leave now.” Sol meekly left. That was the last time I ever saw him. Goth then looked at the first driver and said, “Take me to the Appelplatz.” Before they left, Commandant Blache identified me to Goth saying, “This is Junge, my per- sonal driver.” Goth directed his staff, “Leave him.” I remained unflinching until they moved. It seemed like an eternity before they took their attention from me. Finally, I breathed. The remainder of the drivers including me were taken to a holding area by the wood mill. Then they locked the gates and posted Special Police. I remember their blue uni- forms, hats with brass eagles, and insignia (S. P.). We were being held to clean up the ghetto once the deportation was completed. The police were posted to make sure that no others would join us or avoid the deportation. I am haunted by this event to this day, over 60 years later. I heard fear and panic spreading everywhere. The Jewish police
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