..We know that Hitler’s system of murder, slaughter
and robbery leads steadily to a dead end and the destruction of the Jews.
The fate of the Jews in the Soviet Russian areas occupied by the Germans,
and in the Warthegau, marks a new period in the total annihilation of the
Jewish population. The huge murder machine has been turned against Jewish
masses that are weak, unarmed, brought low by hunger, camps and
deportations. With satanic methods it liquidates the Jewish population
centers one by one. The victory over the Jews will have to serve the
Germans as recompense for the losses they have suffered at the front.
Spilling the blood of defenseless Jews will have to take the place of
Hitler’s great dreams that failed to come true.
We also know that the march of Hitler’s troops has been
halted by the heroic Red Army and that the Spring Offensive will see
the beginning of the far-reaching destruction of the Nazis in Europe.
For the Jewish masses this will be a period of greater bloodshed than
any in their history. There is no doubt that when Hitler feels that
the end of his rule is approaching, he will seek to drown the Jews in
a sea of blood. Jewish youth must prepare in the face of those difficult
days. There must therefore be a start to the recruiting of all creative
forces among the Jews. Despite the destruction many such forces still
remain. For generation upon generation passivity and lack of faith in
our own strength had pressed upon us; but our history also shows beautiful
pages glowing with heroism and struggle. It is our duty to join this
period of heroism....
Yad Vashem Archives, JM/1178/1.
* From Ha-Shomer Ha-Za’ir newspaper in the Warsaw
Underground Jutrznia ("Dawn"), March 28, 1942.