AUSWEIS FOR POLISH FORCED LABORERRare German Ausweis issued to a Pole on 13. Mai 1942 and boldly stamped ...

AUSWEIS FOR POLISH FORCED LABORER
Rare German Ausweis issued to a Pole on 13. Mai 1942 and boldly stamped 'POLE' by the police president in Sosnowitz 'permitting' Wladislaus Wawro, a worker from Sosnowitz (Poland), to cross the police border of the government district Kattowitz. He is ordered to use the border crossing at Sosnowitz. It is noted that the permit is only valid with the attached picture of the bearer and expires on 13. August 1942. The Ausweis, number 144366/7116 is to be withdrawn upon expiration by the border patrol. Printed by Gaudruck Kattowitz, 2 pages, 4.25 x 5.75 inches, partially split with a tape stain at center fold. After the invasion of Poland, German forces occupied the area, renamed the town Sosnowitz, established a large Ghetto for Polish Jews and several camps for Poles to be used as forced laborers. Poles were eventually expelled to establish 'Lebensraum' for ethnic Germans and were sent for forced labor to Polish camps or 'Polenlager' in the Reich or simply across the border from Sosnowitz in Kattowitz after they had been evicted from their homes. A rare document we have never encountered before.