Prior to the outbreak of the war, the Jewish population of the city was about 370,000 (about 29% of the total population). The city surrendered to the Germans on September 28, 1939. A Judenrat was established the next month. The ghetto was established on October 16, 1940. The ghetto held 350,000 persons (about 30% of the total population) in an area that comprised 2.4% of Warsaw's total area. By the summer of 1942, it is estimated that about 100,000 Jews had died in the ghetto as a result of disease and starvation. Most of these Jews were replaced by Jews from towns outside of Warsaw. On July 22, 1942, mass deportations began to the Treblinka death camp. It is estimated that about 300,000 persons were deported over the next 52 days. During the next six months, conditions for the remaining 50,000 to 60,000 Jews improved as the ghetto became a labor camp, primarily. On January 18, 1943, the first instance of armed resistance occurred as the second wave of deportations commenced. During the next three months, the residents prepared for the final struggle. The final liquidation of the ghetto started on April 19, 1943 (Passover eve). Although the main resistance ended on April 23, armed resistance continued until May 16. The Germans claimed that 60,000 Jews were killed or deported and that German casualties were 16 dead and 85 wounded.
Below is a thumbnail of the metal Star of David worn on the hats of the Jewish police. The ghetto police (officially called Ordnungsdienst-- "Order Service") was established on the initiative of the German authorities. In Warsaw, Adam Czerniakow, the Head of the Judenrat, was summoned by German authorities on September 20, 1940, and ordered to establish a Jewish Order police of 3,000 men to take over the functions of the Polish police in the projected ghetto. The ghetto was officially sealed off on November 15, and the ghetto police started their activities at the end of the month. Please click on the thumbnail to see the full image, and then click your back key or "Ghetto Documents" in the left frame to return.
Below are thumbnails of the front and back of two parcel receipt cards. The first is a Portuguese parcel receipt card fora parcel sent to the Warsaw ghetto. The acknowledgment on the back of the card contains a town cancel of the Ghetto post office. The card is signed by the recipient. The second is parcel receipt card for a parcel sent from Sanok to the Warsaw ghetto, with a Sanok postmark dated May 2, 1941. The acknowledgment on the back of the card contains a Warsaw ghetto receiving cachet and a date-receiving cachet with signature dated May 9, 1941. Please click on the thumbnail to see the full image, and then click your back key or "Parcel Receipts" in the left frame to return.
Below are thumbnails of the front and back of seven postcards. The first is a postcard dated November 16, 1941, from the Warsaw Ghetto to Litzmannstadt. On October 24, both parents of the sender were deported to Litzmannstadt. The card inquires as to their condition. The reply in green ink indicates they are healthy and gives address. The second is postcard from the Warsaw ghetto dated October 13, 1941 to Italy and forwarded to the the camp at Feramonti. The card bears a cachet of the Warsaw Judenrat and a Feramonti cachet. The third is a postcard from the Warsaw Ghetto to Switzerland. The card contains a Warsaw Judenrat cachet. The fourth is a postcard from the Warsaw Ghetto to Russia postmarked November 11, 1941. The card contains a Warsaw Judenrat cachet. The fifth is a postcard from the Warsaw Ghetto to Portugal dated April 20, 1941. The card contains a Warsaw Judenrat cachet. The sixth is a postcard from the Warsaw ghetto dated December 18, 1941 to Italy and forwarded to the the camp at Feramonti. The camp bears a cachet of the Warsaw Judenrat and a Feramonti cachet. The seventh is a postcard postmarked May 26, 1941, from Piotrowice with a one line boxed Piotrowice handstamp. The postcard is addressed to K. Zauerman, Elektoralna Street, No. 31/2, Warsaw, which was inside the Warsaw ghetto walls. The card contains a three line boxed handsatmp of the Jewish postal agency dated May 28, 1941. When the postcard arrived in the Ghetto, a circular 20 Grozny delivery fee handstamp was added (postage due fee for the Jewish postal agency). The message is as follows: "My dear ones. Please confirm that you have received the parcel sent on May 5. Did you receive anything from Rivka? She wrote you twice. Did you get it? There are some difficulties in mailing parcels, yet she will do her best. The prices went up recently, but we managed to survive. I write fast, as I want to mail you a parcel today. Love and kisses." Various names of relatives are also mentioned. Please click on the thumbnail to see the full image, and then click your back key or "Postcards" in the left frame to return.
Below is a thumbnail of a ration coupon for potatoes overprinted "Jude". Please click on the thumbnail to see the full image, and then click your back key or "Ration Card" in the left frame to return.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/warsawtoc.html
http://www.yadvashem.org/exhibitions/warsaw_ghetto/home_warsaw.html
Museum of Tolerance On Line Learning Center
Spector, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust, P. 1425-34
Copyright © 2004 Edward Victor