[1] Ghettoization was ordered by Norbert Kuales, mayor of Beszterce (Bistrița) and his chief of police, Miklós Debreczeni.
Together with Adolf Eichmann's assistant, László Endre, the four had taken part in a planning conference at Marosvásárhely (Târgu Mureș) on April 28.
[1] Kuales stole valuable objects from detainees, taking them with him when he resigned as mayor and left for Germany that summer.
Among those who persecuted Jews alongside Smolka was Gusztáv Órendi, a Gestapo agent from Beszterce (Bistrița).
Local police forces guarded the ghetto with 25 gendarmes from Nagydemeter (Dumitra), sent there by colonel Paksy-Kiss.