Chapter 6

On January 18 I was awakened from a shallow sleep by loud banging at my door. It was still gray outside so I figured it must still be early. It’s the Germans I thought and then, taking courage, I sprang out of bed and asked, "Who’s there?"

"Get up. It is a blockade. There are Germans in the street!"

In shock I opened the door, my heart beating at a violent speed.

"Where is the shelter" he asked me. "I don’t know" I replied. He looked at me blankly and then grabbed my arm, leading me outside to where others were obviously seeking shelter. We followed until we were in the courtyard. Then we went down into the cellar and reached the camouflaged entrance. The man who had awoken me remained at the entrance pushing people in one by one, so I helped him. With everyone in the vicinity in the dark and humid cellar we closed the entrance.

Soon the sound of the Germans filled the streets as did the screams of those Jews who had been taken totally by surprise, shot or sent directly to Treblinka. Both the Germans and the Jewish fighters fired shots. I later found that the Jewish fighters had been secretly smuggling arms into the ghetto for many months.

This action continued for five days in which many of the Jewish fighters fell, but they had resisted; something new in the history of the ghetto. This unexpected attack by the previously passive Jews shocked the Germans who didn’t even attempt to raid the shelters in fear of being on the defensive in the dark surroundings. Therefore most of the fighting occurred on the streets while we, in the shelter, waited and waited and hoped.

Long after the ‘aktion’ had ended, many of us still thought that despite the low percentage of apprehended Jews the Germans intended to deport all the Jews remaining in Warsaw.

Nevertheless, everything began to change as a result of our impressive resistance. We had broken through a psychological barrier, and a glimmer of hope began to shine in our lives. Maybe, we thought, there would be a slight chance of survival.

Jewish fighters made up of different groups, had obtained weapons from SS men who had turned and fled under attack, therefore becoming stronger. The mood of resistance was shared by most of the Jews. Some continued to believe that any demonstration of resistance, not to mention an armed struggle, would provoke a murderous German onslaught. I didn’t share their views. I was ready for attack.

A sudden burst of activity overtook the ghetto as "Bunkermania" spread throughout. The preparation of sophisticated and well-equipped bunkers became our goal and it consumed our days as we worked constantly to ensure everything necessary for remaining in hiding. The bakers worked hard at supplying enough bread and the women worked kneading dough, to make noodles. Being a carpenter, I played a big part in the execution of the camouflage and interior arrangements of the hideouts of which many were new excavations in the courtyards. Elaborate arrangements were instituted within the bunker, including the installation of pumps to ensure a supply of water. In my bunker wooden bunk beds were installed while enough food was stored to last for months.

In this throb of activity, we were further strengthened when news of Germany’s defeat at Stalingrad and the collapse of the axis forces in the Middle East reached us via word of mouth.

The days passed and soon I became leader of my bunker, which contained many hard working youth, thirsty for weapons. We took two-hour shifts guarding the entrance of our shelter nightly. I tried to join the Jewish fighter group but at first I was not admitted. After realizing that I determined, and after a stringent investigation was conducted of my worth, Anielewicz finally welcomed me. He was the one who had led the January resistance.

Until April, with help from the Polish Underground, the many different groups of fighters received arms, ammunition and explosive materials. But there were times when nothing would arrive in the ghetto. There were obviously reasons for this but youth like me were not told for security reasons. My days were filed with a spirit of vengeance whilst I worked in the new workshops which had been created to produce explosive bottles.

On April 17 the Polish Underground informed the Jewish Underground by phone, not only of the day, but the hour of the new German Operation. It was to begin at around five thirty on the morning of the 19^th. Just two days away. We were prepared but we underestimated the German fighting power.