The days of celebrations for me have long past so I rush to put down in the computer the memories and the life experiences that I've been through and remember. I am also sure that there is a spark of eternity in every human being. The building of a home, the planting of a shrub, a child, the drying of a tear will leave a mark on time. As our forefathers said every river flows to the sea. I start this data base document, with my own birth certificate.

My fathers signature on the handwritten Birth Certificate of mine brought tears to my eyes. I broke down completely when I've come across my parents wedding certificate. The only photograph I have of my father is from the Dobrzyn- Golub Yizkor book which I've copied from the book and is in this database under pictures of his birth certificate. I have not been able to find any other birth certificates of my brothers and sisters. The first born in our family were my twin sisters. The younger born sister, was killed by a lorry loaded with sugar, in front of the house we lived in, and was about to enter our yard with the load, that belonged to our uncle Boruch Kufeld (Idek's Father). My older brother Kalman at 15 years of age, 2 years older then myself, was shot together with about 270 other Jews. It was only 2 weeks into the war on the 14th September 1939 that they were forcefully taken away. They were taken out from the synagogue and many prayer houses in Dobrzyn, and driven to Bydgoszcz (Bromberg) where they were all shot in groups of 30-40

Putting the few documents that I've been able to recover in Poland in order, will show how big our tragedy was. What has happened is incomprehensible. Whilst our roots in Dobrzyn go back for many many generations, the part that I am recording in this Dobrzyn hyperlink section is only the brief period from the outbreak of war 1 September 1939 until the 11 November 1939 when the remainder of the Jewish population was forcefully expelled from there. In those 10 weeks of the beginning of the war, the killings, the gruesome and brutal atrocities that took place, the cruelty that the Germans were capable of inflicting, in such a short period of time, is probably unbelievable for people that have not been through it. I lived there until the 11^th of November 1939 when the last remnants of Jews from Golub and Dobrzyn were forcefully evacuated. The 6 million figure, a figure of men, women and children that have perished in the Holocaust is beyond understanding. But when one sees it in the few documents that I have about our little town Dobrzyn and Golub, that figure of 6 million becomes much much larger. The documents that I have  only just recently recovered, have stirred up something in me and urged me on to record my experiences. I must be the only survivor from Dobrzyn that was there during the terrible 10 weeks. There is a lot more that I must write. Amongst the documents, I have 2 copies of letters of testimony and 2  lists of victims from Dobrzyn that were given to the Ringelblum archives in theWarsaw Ghetto in May 1941 by 2 witnesses. I have translated them from Yiddish into English for the St Kilda Hebrew Congregation on the occasion when I donated a rescued from after the Holocaust, a Torah mantle, Finials, Breastplate, Crown and pointer. All of the Torah dress and ornaments was from some place in Poland and was being hawked around in various flea market's by Polish Judaica peddlars. I bought it and brought it with me home and Erev Yom-Kippur 1998 I presented it all to our shule " The St. Kilda Hebrew Congregation" where it belongs. Copies of the documents will remain in the sanctum of the Ark, whilst the "Keilim" ( the Torah dress and ornaments) will be used for the service whenever Yizkor is recited, to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust..

2 copies of letters recorded by the Ringelblum Archives in Warsaw Poland by 2 eye witnesses from Dobrzyn and Golub now called Golub-Dobrzyn. The second letter was signed of " to be continued" and was never finished.

I don’t delude myself and I am sure that the writers of the 2 letters did not survive to finish their story.

The dates are one letter is 2 May 1941, the second letter is the 11 May 1941

Following are the translations from Yiddish:

Dobrzyn on the Drvenza-Golub Pomerania

On the 6th September 1939 our town was occupied and straight away robberies of grocery and drapery stores began. 2 days after the occupation all businesses and houses without difference, were compulsorily requisitioned.

On Rosh-Hashana an order was issued that all men from 15 to 60 years of age to report to the market square. The order came with a threat that any man not reporting to the market square would be shot. Separately the Germans went from house to house dragging the men out from the Synagogue and prayer houses in their prayer shawls and in their yom-tov dress. They were loaded on to lorries and transported to Bydgoszcz (Bromberg), together about 230 men, among them some sick, paralysed and some suffering from tuberculosis. They were forced into horse stables and kept on the stable manure, maltreated, beaten and taken afterwards in an unknown direction. (K.L. Jasniec direction?) From that time on, no trace at all was ever found of them. In Dobrzyn searches were carried out and the best of what appealed to the Germans was taken away. People were taken into custody and monies extracted for their release. During the searches young girls between 18 and 20 years of age were forced to undress completely and forcing all present to leave the home. Whoever refused the order was terribly beaten. The Jewish Council was ordered to bring every day 50 young people for heavy work on the bridge and to cart away all the requisitioned Jewish goods from the stores. This work was undertaken by the local V.D. (Volksdeutsche). The 25th October the most honoured citizen of our town, the chemist Riesenfeld was arrested by the Gestapo as the leader of the Polish Jewry and all trace of him has disappeared.

The 8th of November 1939, 35 of the wealthiest families received an order to report to the market square with 35 kilogram of luggage per person. The luggage was taken away on a truck and the families were separated. The children were taken away, leaving some of the parents behind. The children were taken in an unknown direction and until today their tracks are lost.

3 days before this all Golub Jews were arrested. On the 9th of November 1939 at 8 am in the morning about 1500 Germans, some in civilian clothes, ordered that all Jews must leave their homes within 10 minutes and report to the market square. Having all of the population in the market, the "Landrat" Germans ordered that a contribution of 50,000 Zloty’s must be paid. Holding 4 Jews responsible, and promising that after the contribution was settled, everyone will be free to leave wherever they wish to go. The poor town collected 23,000 Zloty’s and 2 baskets of silver candlesticks, gold wedding rings, and various other stuff. After photographing the loot the order was given that the Jews must leave the town immediately and all the old and sick were forced out of town, forbidding even the farmers to use their carts for travel.

The howling and cries on the road are impossible to describe. People left everything behind that they carried with them not having the strength to carry it further. The town had 600 families, altogether 3000 people, and all of them were forced out of the town, being beaten with whips in the process.

2 May 1941

Dobrzyn on the Drvenza and Golub Pomerania

About 2 days before Rosh-Hashana our town was occupied. When it was earlier overrun nobody was affected in town. The biggest part of the population ran away to the neighbouring towns and villages so that there was only a small Jewish population left. But most of them returned to their homes by erev Rosh-Hashana.

The first day of Rosh –Hashana all the prayer houses were surrounded. All private homes were searched, and all men from 14 years up to 65 years of age that were in town were taken away. Approximately 270 men in all were taken, loaded on trucks, and taken to Bydgoszcz (Bromberg). They were kept in stables under the worst conditions for 2 weeks. From there they were sent away again to somewhere unknown and the unfortunate families until today don’t know what has happened to them, in spite of great efforts that were made to find out about their whereabouts. All efforts to find traces of them, or any sign of life, were without success.

Shortly after this episode an 18 year old young man was shot in the street while returning from the baker with a loaf of bread. The reason for the shooting is unknown. After that many searches took place and various materials and goods from stores were requisitioned and taken away. The shops had to close. Searches for money then started and women in particular were treated in a very dirty way. Forced labour was introduced for the young people which had to be regulated by the Jewish Elders.

People were being arrested in town. Among them was the local chemist, a communal Zionist Public figure who took part in every Zionist Congress and was in our town among others one of the most outstanding citizens. He was held in the highest regard and looked up to by all philanthropic institutions to which he was always the biggest contributor. Unfortunately, until this day no trace has been found of his whereabouts or of what ever happened to him.

On the 8th of November 1939, 35 families consisting of 107 people received a written order to report with their families on the 9th of November 1939 with luggage of no more then 150 kilograms per family, for the purpose of being evacuated to an unknown destination. All property mobile or immobile had to be written down and recorded of what is left behind, and a copy had to be lodged with the Mayor of the town. All the families duly reported on time before the City Hall, altogether 107 persons (amongst them women, small children, and the old and sick). For whatever reason only 70 persons were sent away and 37 people were left behind. Where the 70 persons and their luggage were taken to is unknown until today. Great and various efforts were made to find out where they were taken to. No sign was ever received from them. On the 10th of November the whole Jewish community was called before the City Hall and was told that in a few hours the remainder of the community must leave the town and can move only in the direction of Warsaw. The community was forced to pay a contribution like gold and silver and most of the people were kept in place and not allowed to return home again. Everybody, including the wealthiest people in our town left their homes with a small hand carried parcel. Being forcefully expelled all of them left on foot. On the way out, there were several deaths. Some very sick people were left behind in town. What has happened to them is unknown. But what we heard was nothing good.

It can be said that our town was different from all the others, in that, that we
left (naked in borvess) naked and barefooted, and without any money to
live. Most of the people from Dobrzyn, about 800 persons, live in Warsaw
now in very bad and terrible conditions. The people from Dobrzyn that were once
the most dignified and most respectable people from our town are now
starving from hunger. From our town approximately 400 people were taken
away that we don't know until this day what has ever happened to them. The
last news we had from our town is that the smaller Jewish homes were
demolished and the fence around the cemetery and all the places of worship
were torn down. That is the last information we have had till today. We
plead, and it is in the interest of all the Jewish people to intervene
energetically, and find out what happened to all the first, and the second
group of the above mentioned 400 people and where they have disappeared to.
The cries of help from the left behind and distressed families are terrible
in Warsaw.
To be continued 11th May 1941

14/9/ September 1939 Dobrzyn on the Drvenza and Golub
 

1 Sztolcman Chiel (Aronek's Father)  2 Nowalski Szyja  3 Topol David  4 Kwiat Lajb  5 Flusberg Alje  6 Zaklikowski Luzer  7 Czarnolaski Nusen  8 Robak Chuna  9 Lewkowicz Chaim Josef  10 Gold Mordka  11 Kurczak Mordcha  12 Kozak Mojshe  13 Blauzajd Menashe  14 Wygdorasz Nusen  15 Szperling Wolf  16 Smuzyk Iser  17 Perkal Nuta  18 Knopf Szyja  19 Gurfinkiel Mojsze  20 Goldberg Majer  21 Lipka Zanwel  22 Lipka David  23 Zylberberg (ironmonger)  24 Frajlich (crockery shop)  25 Dzialdow Icek  26 Gurfinkel (fancy goods shop)  27 Kirszenbaum Chaskiel  28 Nowalski Abram Icek  29 Szajnbart Aron  30 Cudkiewicz Gershon (Briesen)  31 Cudkiewicz Moniek (Briesen)  32 Pzastkowski Mojsze (Briesen)  33 Pzastkowski David (Briesen)  34 Rodzynek Mojsze  35 Felczer from Ciechocinek  36 Kufeld Izrael  37 Lipski Ojzer  38 Kaczor Szewa  39 Kozak Abram  40 Sztetyn Ber

41 Sztetyn young boy  42 Sztetyn his brother  43 Szajnbart David  44 Kohn Ojzer  45 Pulwer Hersz  46 Lipsztadt Lajb  47 Makowski Abram  48 Pinczewski Pinkus (Briesen)  49 Florman Menasze  50 Szlachter (deaf)  51 Szlachter (his son)  52 Szlachter Josef Mendel  53 Szlachter Alje Ber  54 Szlachter (son)  55 Szlachter (son)  56 Ryzowa Abram  57 Ryzowa (son)  58 Nusbaum Zalman  59 Rotman Josef  60 Freiman (briesen)  61 Goldman Abram  62 Berkman Izrael Hersz  63 Berkman (son)  64 Skornik Jochanan  65 Burtka (shoemaker)  66 Burtka (son)  67 Kufeld Alje Beryl  68 Gutman Bienek  69 Plotniarz Szaja  70 Kwinter Chaskiel  71 Berkman Mojsze  72 Abramowicz Shulem  73 Poljer (baker)  74 Rujna (boy)  75 Rozental Szyja  76 Altyna Gedalje  77 Sowa Pinkus  78 Lipszyc Szoel Lajb  79 Lipszyc (son)  80 Lipszyc (son)  81 Minski Baruch  82 Olsztajn Abram

(second page)

83 Kaczor Abram  84 Kaufman Abram  85 Gasior Mojsze Icie  86 Alterowicz Icek Lajb  87 Cetel tailor  88 Zak shoemaker  89 Cudkiewicz Abram Hersz  90 Bramzon Luzer  91 Bramzon son  92 Arfa Kalman barber  93 Arfa Kalman butcher  94 Felczer at Russaks Ciechocinek  95 Rokman Yosef  96 Rokman brother  97 Klein Mojsze Iser  98 Meinke Aron  99 Altman Lajb  100 Moszkiewicz Jakub  101 Holc Chiel  102 Piechotka Lajb  103 Piechotka brother  104 Lichtensztein Maurycy  105 Lipka Rachmiel  106 Watchmaker Goldberg son in law  107 Makowski Ephraim’s son  108 Kohn Mordcha  109 Horowicz Gecel  110 Horowicz son  111 Horowicz son  112 Szwarckop Ajzyk  113 Kadecki Jakob  114 Kadecki Symcha  115 Kadecki Lajb  116 Groner tailor  117 Frajlich bootmaker  118 Chomont Aron  119 Krajanek Gerszon  120 Krajanek son  121 Berkowicz barber  122 Hendel deli shop  123 Hendel Lejzor

124 Piaskowski Szymon  125 Hirszberg Burech  126 Podrygal David  127 Plockier Bynem  128 Arnow Benjamin  129 Arnow son  130 Dobraszklanka boy  (F.D. first from the right - my brother, 15 years old at the time)   131 Brodziak shop owner  132 Serko Wolf  133 Salomon Mordka  134 Salomon son  135 Plotniarz Chiel Majer  136 Nowalski Benjamin Iser  137 Makowski Abram  138 Frenkiel Izrael  139 Radowolczyk Tabiak  140 Radowolczyk Hiler  141 Fajersztajn L  142 Zylberberg Kantor  143 Krajanek Izrael  144 Krajanek son  145 Krajanek brother  146 Gurfinkiel Abram  147 Lewin Fiszel  148 Smuzyk Mordka  149 Meinka Icek ordka  150 Miller David  151 Rozenwaks Abram Jakob  152 Rozenwaks son  153 Frajlich Mechel  154 Ryz Lipman  155 Pozmanter Mojsze  156 Pozmanter Cudek  157 Pozmanter brother  158 Gasior tailor  159 Kruczyk Michal  160 Kruczyk son  161 Skornik Lipman  162 unreadable

(third page)
163 Studkiewicz fish distributor
164 Grinberg Szmul David
165 Altyna Mojsze
166 Memel Abram
167 Memel Szyja
168 Nowalski szmul
169 Gasior Yosef Benjamin
170 son
171 son
172 son
173 son
174 Groner Jakob
175 Anczolowski tailor
176 Dobraszklanka
177 Grosman Abram
178 Grosman Chaskiel
179 Plockier Lajb
180 Sztencel
181 Mucha Lajb
182 Mucha brother
183 Golomb Mojsze
184 Dunn young
185 Cala Mechel
186 Szwarckopf Ajzyk
187 Szmiga Icek Jakob
188 Riesenfeld Adolf

My own comments
The last name Riesenfeld was not amongst this group. He was taken away a few days before and executed somewhere in the area. How soon the 2 lists of victims were written I am not sure. The first list is of all male victims (not complete) dated the 14/9/Wrzesnia (September) 1939. The second list is dated the 9^th of November 1939 and is of 35 families, men, women and children. The original 2 lists of the victims are in the Ringelblum archives in Warsaw. The 2 original letters from the 2 unknown witnesses which I translated from Yiddish into English are also in the Ringelblum archives. The first letter is dated the second of May 1941, the second letter is dated the 11^th May 1941. Not all the victims of the 2 groups are mentioned. It seems to me that the lists were done by memory only and some of the victims names were unknown to the writer or could not be remembered by him. At the bottom of the page of the last victim Riesenfeld no.188 is a handwritten footnote that says: that altogether were 260 persons. It was on the first day of Rosh-Hashana 1939, on the 8^th day after the Germans occupied our town that this slaughter took place. I am the only survivor that was in town at the time when this happened. All of the victims in this group were male.