Krosno Ghetto

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The Bialywlos family moved into the Krosno ghetto around the summer of 1942, but by the end of the year, eighty percent of Alex’s family and relatives would be killed. The family and some of the workers of the glass business were given special permits to travel in and out of the ghetto. The Germans still requisitioned glass work from the family due to the scarcity of glazers in the area. In the summer of 1942, The Nazis issued orders for all Jews in the ghetto to assemble at Targowica, a large plaza used as a cattle market and located near the railroad station. The decision was made that Alex’s mother, sister, and younger brother would hide in the attic that day. The talk going around the camp was that they were going to be taken eastward and Mendel wanted to ensure the safety of his family. When they assembled in Targowica the young, elderly, and weak Jews were loaded onto trucks to be taken out of the ghetto. Alex and his dad were issued blue identification cards and told to go back to their homes. Several weeks later the Gestapo went around the ghetto saying that if you had not received your blue identification card that you could come voluntarily to the ghetto center and get the card. One day, while Alex was working, his mother and sister decided to go to the area and get their identification cards. It was a ploy by the Gestapo, and they were loaded onto trucks to be transported out of the city to Jaslo. Alex was furious at his dad for letting them fall for the ploy. He later found out that the two of them had been killed.