“As I have already informed you, the link to Wilhelm was a young man who mastered this hurdle of the job to our satisfaction. I have to emphasise that Wilhelm proved himself well and has firmly held to his promise.
Within the cooperation, Wilhelm now presented the following proposal:
Wilhelm is willing to speak with his supreme boss under whose remit falls the issue of prisoners in Poland, so that the Europe-wide question is adapted and/or the action is halted.
Apart from that, everything has to be done to alleviate the adverse fate of the friends in Poland and to be able to establish connection with them.
It is a major offer. On our par, the same prerequisite should be secured as at Wilhelm’s end and the commitment should be on monthly basis. Apart from Kadmon.
I am perfectly aware that this hurdle is well beyond my remit. Yet, given the offer and our connection, it is my duty to present you with the proposal. We are still under the impression of the reports from the Schlichim that make blood freeze in our veins. Over a million of friends have been expelled to Poland; we don’t know where. Additional hundreds of thousands lost their lives to starvation, disease and cold. And yet the innumerable others, speaking of many, many tens of thousands, have become victims of violent actions. Reports say that dead bodies are processed chemically. The same information comes from the prisoners who managed to return here, under most adventurous circumstances. We also received similar reports in writing through the Schlichim. 120 are often crammed in cattle carts that would normally contain 40 people. The entire cart floor is covered with caustic lime to the level of about 10 centimetres. Gasses develop as people have to relieve themselves while standing and the excrements mix with the lime. It is with the effect of those gasses during the transport that mortality raises unusually fast. It is believed that the expelled people from Poland are located behind the Bug river, though we have had yet no sign of life from there. Our Schlichim try to keep asking our friends in order to find in situ whether they are alive and whether we are to send them any aid. There are still some people in specific places on the territory of Poland, yet they are on the brink of starvation; many are scattered in groups through the woods, living in caves and camping under open sky. Alas, it is not possible to say how much longer these unfortunate souls can endure the suffering.
From all this you will understand that we have to present the aforementioned proposal in all circumstances, for every single friend who arrives in Poland, is destined for death. If there were a single chance to prevent this mass murder, we have to discuss the proposal at all cost.
I am therefore making it your responsibility now to seriously explore the relevant decision and to try to get the proposal implemented. (…)”
c. 11 May 1943