Warsaw, Poland had the largest Jewish population in Europe by the early 20th century. When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, they forced over 300,000 Jews into a walled 3 square mile area called the Warsaw Ghetto. Conditions in the overcrowded Ghetto rapidly deteriorated, with residents receiving barely enough food rations and many dying from starvation, disease, and poor sanitation. Beginning in 1942, over 300,000 residents of the Warsaw Ghetto were deported to Nazi death camps like Treblinka, where most were killed.
2. Warsaw Poland’s capitol Europe's largest community of Jewish people Second largest Jewish community in the world by 20th century With a population of 1.3 million, 29% were Jewish
3. Germany Invades Poland Germany attacks and surrounds Warsaw from all sides Warsaw stands against German force for 3 weeks Air attacks caused much damage and loss of life
4. New Jewish Laws in Warsaw Men and women 10+ years old had to wear an armband with a blue star of David on it No radios Jewish shops had to be identified Prohibited train transportation Had to have special permit in order to buy or lease enterprise from Jews Jews had to put money in a “blocked back account” Couldn’t receive more than 250 zloties($83.20) per week from bank account Most of their economic activity was controlled
5. Jews in Warsaw Rise in gang violence against Jews Jews were attacked and mugged No interference from those who witnessed Jews being robbed on street
6. Warsaw Ghettos On October 12, 1940, Jews were notified about the ghettos they were supposed to move into 138,000 Jews took the homes of 113,000 Poles Jewish ghetto was cut off by a high constructed wall Construction was done by the firm Schmidt & Münstermann Nazis did not call this area a ghetto, but instead JüdischerWohnbezirk, which means Jewish Quarter
7. Living Situations Started off not so bad but got increasingly worse 29% of Warsaw living in 3 mile area, which is 2.4% of the city area Rationed 200 calories per day Often bribed guards to smuggle in food
8. Deaths Were not put into gas chambers like the concentration camps From starvation, typhoid, poor sanitary conditions Around 6,000 people/month
9. Daily Lives 2,454 students attended training schools in the ghetto Had underground organizations Smuggling was vital Continued with daily prayers even though they were told not to.
10. After Deaths Families stripped relatives clothing Sold clothing for money Bodies were left naked on streets Funeral carts would collect bodies between 4 and 5 AM
11. After the ghettos Were not dying quick enough Some were sent to labor camps 300,000 sent to Treblinka Extermination camp
12. Citations Calenderof Events. The Fund for Support of Jewish Institutions or Projects outside Norway, 2006. Web. 3 Apr. 2011. <http://www.getto.pl/index.php?show=kalendarium&lang=en>. Holocaust Education and Research Team. "The Warsaw Ghetto Http://www.HolocaustResearchProject.org." Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team. 2007. Web. 03 Apr. 2011. <http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/ghettos/warsawghetto.html>. Polish Zloty Exchange Rate Graph - US Dollar - Historical Exchange Rates." Exchange Rates. 25 Mar. 2011. Web. 30 Mar. 2011. <http://www.exchange-rates.org/history/PLN/USD/G>. "Warsaw Ghetto." Central Page. 14 Sept. 2006. Web. 30 Mar. 2011. <http://www.deathcamps.org/occupation/warsaw ghetto.html>. Warsawlife.com. "Warsaw Ghetto | Warsaw Life." Warsaw Life | Warsaw Travel Guide | Restaurants Shops Pubs and Apartments Warsaw Hotels | Poland. 2011. Web. 03 Apr. 2011. <http://www.warsaw-life.com/poland/warsaw-ghetto>.
