WWI imposed anguish and disaster on top of anti-Semitism:
1914 – the biggest of all wars upon earth broke out with upheaval of world order and economy…
Lodz --and all the Polish towns from the border to Warsaw – changed hands from Russia to Germany, and under both armies the Jews suffered.
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| Lodz ... changed hands |
Devastation came to Baruch Meir:
During the war, Baruch Meir noted that he, his daughter Hannah, and her children were forced to flee the area and found shelter in Minsk. Another daugher was also endangered:
On 4th of Elul, [14 August 1915] my town Mezritch was conquered and part of it was burnt down. May God keep watch over the people remaining in the town – among them my daughter Lea and her two sons- and over my books.
There was expulsion and total evacuation of Brisk DLita and the surroundings such as Kamenitz, Visoke, Volchin, Traspolye district and more and more. And from Sunday of this weed until Friday, not one Jew was left in Brisk because the whole town became a battlefield.
Regional Woes
1919 - In all Ukraine... and Lithuania towns...the places conquered by the Poles... Jews are oppressed… and there is hunger in all of Poland. Money is worthless. Commercial activity of Jews is persecuted and no way to make a living.
In November of that year - hatred and harassment increased it was almost impossible for a bearded Jew to ride a train.
