December 4, 1941
TO THE JEWISH RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY IN
1) Zagreb
2) Sarajevo
On December 3 [1941], at 2300 hours, a special train arrived to the railway station in Slav.[onski] Brod, carrying 1,400-1,500 women and children from Sarajevo.
Although we strove to secure 3rd class cars for their further transportation, it was not possible, since there were not enough personal cars available. However, enough personal cars were found for the elderly and the sick.
The manager of the railway station was so accommodating as to heat all the personal cars, and equip the freight cars with a sufficient number of benches, whereas we provided [the deportees] with candles and pocket torches for lighting in the cars.
Since there were many children, even very small ones, and since women were mostly very weak, we helped them with the transfer of luggage, and then supplied them with sufficient amounts of food and hot tea.
This especially improved the psychological disposition of the [female] inmates, which was not too bad to begin with. The transfer, including the break for food, lasted for 4 1/2 hours, so the train left for Djakovo only at 0330 [on December 4].
Three envoys from the Osijek Jewish Community helped us with this momentous task.
As always, our female youth distinguished itself especially with selflessness and readiness to help.
The president, signed below, who has already praised in writing the strenuous and dedicated work of our female youth, suggests that the president of the Zagreb Jewish Community also praise our female youth, so as to encourage them further to such social work, which they manage to do and want to perform despite strenuous additional forced labor (scrubbing floors, etc.).
Our Community, meanwhile, continues with the gathering of old clothes, shoes, bed sheets, and towels for the camps, gathering of sewing machines for the Jasenovac camp, and is also gathering monetary contributions.
We are especially seeking to place as many children as possible with Jewish families in Slav.[onski] and Bos.[anski] Brod, and we are hoping to be able to place [illegible] children.
Only we are noting that we have heard that mothers of these children do not want to separate from them, and would rather stay together with the children in the camp.
Please let us know as soon as possible, whether there would be other transports in the coming period.
According to the statement of the person who escorted this transport, 500-600 male and female inmates from Sarajevo are to pass through Slav. Brod, but this statement is not authoritative.
We hold that our Community is fulfilling all tasks needed and possible in the current conditions in a conscientious way.
Secretary President