De razzia van Rotterdam. 10-11 november 1944 - KNAW

270 SUMMARY
The bills were handed over to the people or put into the letterbox. Sometimes this
was followed by the appearance of a loudspeaker car which also announced the
areas where the men had to assemble. In other areas the loudspeaker van appeared
first and the distribution of the handbills only took place afterwards.
The German order made a considerable impression. The threats that those at-
tempting escape or offering resistance would be shot at was printed in heavy black.
Special attention was directed to the promise that every day good food and tobacco
would be issued and that people who reported would be paid five guilders a day.
It was also important that those in possession of exemption papers were told to bring
them with them. This seemed to indicate that a distinction was to be made and those
who did possess an exemption paper or who hoped to be able to get one at the last
moment, still had a glimmer of hope that they might be allowed to remain in Rotterdam.
Many people reported in the expectation of soon being free again. There was
a run on general practitioners and specialists for statements on account of which
the holder might obtain an exemption.
In these moments of tension all sorts of suspicions arose. Nobody knew what was
really happening. It was clear that one would be taken away and that one had to
take along food for one day. Destinations were unknown. Some thought that, as had
already happened, people would be forced to dig fortifications in the neighbourhood
of Rotterdam, others believed they would be sent to the eastern province of Drente
in order to dig potatoes. These and similar assumptions were made because many
people failed to realize the seriousness of the situation or were unable to make up
their minds.
In many cases the Germans on entering the streets fired shots or aimed their guns
at windows and doors. In such circumstances any will to resist was quickly broken.
People reported or allowed themselves to be taken out of their homes simply
because of the danger of otherwise losing their lives.
In other cases no Germans appeared in the Street, but there was the noise of firing
drawing attention to the threats contained in the German order. Many families un-
nerved by the tremendous uncertainties were convinced that people had been shot
in other streets. Again the will to resist was broken and one after another the men
left their homes.
The shots or the hearing of shots were not always the main reason for complying
with the German order. In many cases men reported, because they had no possibility
for hiding, nor had they the means for remaining hidden for a long time. They were
afraid of risking the lives of their women and children by staying indoors or going
into hiding elsewhere. The women on their part sometimes exerted pressure on their
men to leave in order not to endanger the children or themselves. Words were not
always needed. The women started to pack a suitcase or a rucksack and this was often
enough silently accepted by the men, who thus followed the way of least resistance.
It often happened that children were forced by their parents to leave.
In other cases people’s first reaction was to start to hide. Later on they decided