Early August 1942 there is a raid in Amsterdam, which brings 1600 Jews under the authority of Ferdinand Aus der Fünten. (from the Zentralstelle für jüdische Auswanderung). Three days later another raid followed. Panic among the population is rapidly increasing. Because also children and old people are being fetched, the story of the “Arbeitseinsatz” is losing its credibility. At the “Zentralstelle” is said that the Germans like to keep the family bond with the Jews intact. But also separate of families, old people are dragged from old people’s homes and children from their orphanages.
There just one law: that of the quotas imposed by Berlin. If a war invalid who misses a leg, writes a request, it is rejected with the motivation: “a Jew is a Jew, with or without legs”.
Rauter writes to Berlin at the end of September that he now has 7000 Jews in Dutch labor camps, of which he can easily dispose of. Ant they have 22000 family members who can also put on transport without much difficulty.
“Sehr gut” (very well), the responsible person for the genocide on Jews, Heinrich Himmler scribbles in the margin. These are figures which add up nicely.
On 2 and 3 October 1942 the Germans deployed all possible personnel and also the complete police force of Amsterdam, to carry out the biggest raid so far. (which Salomon van de Giessen also became a victim of).
In a couple of days, between 13000 and 15000 Jews are being arrested and taken in among others the labor camps to be sent immediately to Westerbork .The bustle in the barracks became immediately indescribable.
Source: (only in dutch language available - translation by the editors of the Joods Monument); http://archief.ntr.nl/deoorlog/page/mappen/781393/Razzia%27s+in+1942.html