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

2 7 2 SUMMARY
instance many thousands of men were assembled in Rotterdam’s largest football
stadium which lies south of the river Maas. They were lined up on the field. Machine
guns had been installed on the stands and on platforms which had been raised on
the corners of the field. Rain was falling and the men were soaked. They had to stand
for hours in the open. Many of them had had little food or no food at all and
some, especially those who were ill or weak were unable to remain standing and
feil to the ground. In the evening thousands of them tried to find refuge in the
corridors and in the various rooms of the stadium’s building. They tried to snatch
some sleep. It was bitterly cold. All corridors were overcrowded. There was no
question of quiet and the general nervousness increased.
Generally all exemption papers and statements, given by members of the medical
profession were completely ignored. Only a few doctors who had also been forced
to report succeeded in persuading the Germans to release a limited number of people.
Most of the men who had been taken to the assembly areas were in a mood of
resignation. This was not only a result of the strain of the entire day, of tiredness and
hunger. The fact that they were guarded by a heavily armed enemy who had proved
a merciless foe during four years of war, was the dominating factor. Apart from this
the groups in the assembly area consisted of people from all walks of life who in the
normal course of events would have little contact. Sometimes demonstrations broke
out in the form of singing. A few men tried to offer individual resistance. German
reaction was quick and nowhere were the men able to form an active, coherent group,
able and willing to offer coordinated resistance.
Usually small groups were formed by people who knew each other as friends,
neighbours, colleagues or as members of the same church. Endless discussions took
place as to the aim of the razzia and the destination of its victims. They tried to kill
time playing cards; there were also some “comedians” who tried to cheer up the
others.
As has already been stated, the razzia was carried out in Schiedam and in the
outer suburbs districts of Rotterdam on November 10. In the town’s inner central
district the razzia was carried out one day later. There, on November 10 there were
rumours that a razzia was being held in the outer areas; no one knew however, how
and with what means the razzia was taking place. Many people were entirely unaware
of what was happening elsewhere. On November 11 the Germans were able to
concentrate their troops on a smaller area than the preceding day. Their success was
equally striking. Again from the assembly areas the men were led to the places of
departure.
THE TRANSPORTS
During the marches through the town the men were heavily guarded. Those trying
to stay behind were pushed along. The Germans had their guns aimed at the men,
sometimes they fired shots over their heads. Women, children and old people lined