Jews in Bialystok

... day after the Soviets arrived, the local com-‏ סמ די' mandant issued an order rescinding the state of emer-‏ gency that was in effect since the beginning of the war.‏ Because of this the city was once again illuminated after‏ three weeks of darkness. People began moving about in‏ a normal fashion. The Jews in Bialystok were able to‏ breathe freely. Under the Soviets, a new economic and‏ social order was formed, totally unlike what had pre-‏ vailed before. Some of these changes, however, made‏ the lives of the inhabitants more difficult. For example,‏ it was virtually impossible to obtain necessary commod-‏ ities. As it turned out, during an unusually bitter win-‏ ter, 1939-40, people were forced to get up very early in‏ the morning to stand on line in order to obtain bread‏ and other vital staples. Not infrequently some had to‏ remain on line round the clock, in the bitter cold.‏ Finally, when one would reach the door of the store, he‏ would be bitterly disappointed to learn that everything‏ was sold out. People would leave these stores frozen,‏ ravenously hungry and deeply embittered because life‏ had become so difficult.‏ ...