How did the people of Sighet feel about the deportees?

The people of Sighet initially felt a mix of disbelief and denial about the deportees, believing that the situation would improve or that the deportees would return. Many were sympathetic but felt powerless to act, while others harbored prejudice and indifference to the plight of the Jewish community. As the deportations escalated, fear and anxiety began to permeate the town, leading to a sense of helplessness and eventual complicity in the unfolding tragedy. The gradual acceptance of the deportations reflected a troubling normalization of the dehumanization of their neighbors.