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In September 1939 the Germans took control of Poland and Warsaw after a three week siege. There was no love lost between the Germans and the Poles and it soon became clear that the Nazis, considering themselves a ‘Master Race’, valued Polish life at next to nothing. As was later demonstrated, on an unprecedented scale, this was one step up from the value they put on Jewish life.
As early as November 1939 in Warsaw the first decrees intended to denigrate the Jewish people were issued by the Nazis - the most notable of which was that all Jews over the age of twelve years were forced to identify themselves by wearing a Star of David on their sleeve. These first measures were just the start of a long process however, and with more edicts issued every month it wasn’t long before the Jews were reduced to the status of slaves and chattel. They were forbidden to work in either key industries or government institutions, to bake bread, to earn more than 500 zloty a month, to travel by train or trolley-bus, to leave the city limits without special permits, to possess gold or jewellery, plus all Jewish shops and enterprises had also to be marked with the Star of David. In addition to these official oppressions, Jews were summarily humiliated, beaten or even executed for little or spurious reason. In short they lived their lives in a state of constant fear.
Plans for a Jewish ghetto had in fact existed since the beginning of the Nazi occupation of Warsaw, but in October 1940 they finally began to take form. A small district South West of the Old Town, in the centre of the city, was chosen and 113,000 Poles were evacuated to make way for Warsaw’s 400,000 Jews. Thirty percent of the city’s population were now living in an area that constituted less than three square miles, or 2.4 % of the capital. In November that area was closed off by a formidable wall, topped with barbed wire. 
Life in the ghetto started off tough and quickly got worse. At first some semblance of normal life presided: cafes were still open, newspapers published (newspapers from ‘the outside’ were forbidden), school lessons took place and people strived to continual a normal existence as best as they could. Those who had managed to hold on to any of their wealth in particular were able to live in a small degree of comfort. Smuggling food into the ghetto was common, either by bribing guards at the gates, or carrying it in via underground canals – whilst poorer people would send their children over to the ‘Aryan side’ to steal what they could. The official food ration of around 200 calories a day per person was less than 10 percent of the ration for Germans (and about 25% of the ration for Poles).
As more and more Jews were brought in from the neighbouring towns and villages, conditions became yet more cramped. Money for bribes was drying out (and was only ever the privilege of a few) and the poor people of the ghetto, skeletal and wretched, began starving en masse. In addition to death by starvation a typhoid epic, caused by the poor sanitary conditions, broke out; meaning that by April 1941 the mortality rate in the ghetto was a staggering six thousand people per month. Funeral carts would come and collect the bodies every morning, between 4-5am; mostly the corpses were dumped naked on the streets - the families were forced to strip their relatives in order to sell the clothes.
Whilst the Jews in the ghetto were dying, they weren’t dying quickly enough as far as Berlin was concerned. Hitler’s original plans to ship all European Jews to Africa were proved impractical, and so it was that the chilling ‘Final Solution’ was decided upon, early in 1942. Between July and September of that year 300,000 ghetto Jews were transported to the Treblinka Extermination Camp, in the Nazis first mass deportation effort. At first few believed, including the Jews themselves, that the rumours of these death camps were real – preferring to believe that they being sent to hard labour camps. Eventually the evidence that was fed back (by escapees from the camps and by various secret agents and journalists) became irrefutable. The 60,000 remaining occupants of the ghetto had no choice but to confront the awful truth.
When the Nazis prepared to organise a second deportation to Treblinka in 1943 the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising began.
* Several survivors of the ghetto are still alive today. And out of respect to all the internees of the ghetto, we kindly ask that reviewers write only essential comments. Thank you.
This article on the Warsaw Ghetto is meant to be an informative introduction to Warsaw's history for travellers, and is not meant to be used for academic research. Please do not use it for any academic papers, but instead refer to published academic works and textbooks.*
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 | | "This really helped me to write my essay. Thanks" | G
United States
May.08.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "this project im doing is a sack of shit" | Thomas
United States
May.08.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Is it true that hitler had an sex diesease from one of the jews and thats why he hate them so much? Nazis are mean, i totally agree. and i feel really sorry for those innocent Jews. Damn those german. [mean ones]" | Katie
United Kingdom
May.06.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "it was awsome for my report" | peacemaker
United States
May.01.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "This was a good article and i really liked it because it helped me understand what really happened. I don't hate the Nazi's because from what i've learnt not all Nazi's were the same. Thank the Lord there were some that actually helped the Jews. peace" | Tinei Sauaso
Australia
Apr.30.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "I hate Nazis they are selfish and ignorant. I really don't understand how they could treat the Jews like that. It is mind boggoling. This is a very good Essay and it helps people see what happened in the holocaust." | Tyler
United States
Apr.30.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "i think that himmler was a cold heart less man and why didnt the jews all attack him???" | kaylaa
Australia
Apr.28.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "I think it was kind of confusing how the pages were so long side-to-side. Once I got that sorted out, though, pretty good article." | Emily
United States
Apr.28.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "these people were so brave and i give all respect to the JEWS.
" | dequishia
United States
Apr.28.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "What these brave people encountered was a living hell on earth. I cannot even comprehend the horrors they must have seen. My heart goes out to everyone who was or knew someone who was affected by the Holocaust in World War II. " | Alma_lorena_brito@yahoo.com.mx
United States
Apr.26.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "This was great for my report!!! It was really sad though!" | Shelby
United States
Apr.24.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "that was so sad what they did to my people
" | whitney morgan
United States
Apr.23.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "that is mest what hitler did to the jewsl." | young D
United States
Apr.22.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "I't really help me on my project but it was kind of confusing to understand the passage and what happend." | tawana collins
United States
Apr.21.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "This site was a good help and i was doing a project on the ghetto, i cited this site like 3 times in my paper! big help and I completely agree with kayla" | Bails
United States
Apr.20.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "That makes me wanna cry! " | Angel Eyes
Djibouti
Apr.18.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "So, I think people that use the word "ghetto" should actually learn how it came to be. I dont understand why people treat others the way they do. It doesnt matter what they look like or what they wear or what religion they are. They shouldnt be treated like pieces of crap just because they arent the same. I think people should understand how bad it was way back when the Jews were being slaughterd just because they were jewish. This overall was a good article. Thanks alot." | Kayla
United States
Apr.17.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "This is a good report. Thank you for your information; I'll put you in my works cited for my school project. You were a huge help, thanks!" | Princess Nausicaa
United States
Apr.16.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "i really feel bad for these people.... really good article, good information. i think barry from canada is retarded" | Josh
United States
Apr.15.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "I think this is sad.But it is true and people shouldn't denie the truth.Because if they denie it what is it that this couldn't happen agian it happen and started from one guy and it was alot..." | Amanda
United States
Apr.15.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "You need more details on how they got food and where." | Tinkerbell
United States
Apr.14.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "This is a reasonable site but there are others which provide more details including more graphic detail.
In response to our Austrian 'friend' it should be noted that there were a few differences between the Warsaw Ghetto and Gaza. First people were not rounded up from there homes and placed in a tiny space; second, anyone who wishes to leave Gaza is able to do so without risk; third, there have been no deportations to killing centers - a specialty of the Germans & Austrians supporting Hitler; finally, no one offered the Warsaw Jews independence and freedom if they would only sit and negotiate in good faith a peace treaty with mutual respected borders. This comparison is just laughable and indicative of the overweening desire on the part of some to find fault with Israel and demean it by equating their behavior with that of the unspeakable Nazi beasts." | Barry
Canada
Apr.13.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I fell really bad for the Jews my grandma is a jew which makes me a jew and i would beat this n**** till all the blood runs out of his body and if i was a jew back then i would do experiments on this B****. Holla Back " | Ronald
United States
Apr.09.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "good site " | martin
Norway
Apr.09.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "i feel really bad for these cihldren if i were them i would do all i can do to get away from that evil guy Hitler" | lovely
United States
Apr.09.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "this was very scary for the Jews" | Danielle
United States
Apr.08.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "You need more details on the living conditions of the jews
" | Adam
United States
Apr.06.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "umm this is kind of sad...hitler is evil!" | preeti
United States
Apr.04.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "i study about this and i almost wanted cry and it was such a horrible thing they did hitler was evil i am glad they got punnished too germans" | Jessica Morales
United States
Apr.03.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "it's alright" | boomer
United States
Apr.02.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "" This Was A Very Touching Story But It Helped Me With My History Home Work :) Thank You..x"" | Paigeyy
United Kingdom
Apr.01.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "thank you" |
United States
Apr.01.2008
rates this page 3/5
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| | "This was very helpful for my english historical fiction project.
Thank you!!!
" | Mallory Wolfe
United States
Mar.31.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "this site helped me alot! thanks" | Meredith
United States
Mar.29.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "good touching topic" | mie
United States
Mar.29.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "brave people under the worst opression." | lou basara
United States
Mar.28.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "thanks for the info i have to a prog. and this will help .............. thanks " | the smart one
United States
Mar.27.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Im planning on using this on a paper. thanks!!! suggestion though u should add your name and if u have a degree in the subject it makes it easyer 2 trust that u really know what ur talking about. cool info though!!! " | smart girl
United States
Mar.27.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "this was a good article" | kid
United States
Mar.26.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "this is so tight i'm using it for a project at school!!" | TYler Shiffer
United States
Mar.24.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Thanks" | mr noodles
United States
Mar.23.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "We've been watching a film called 'the pianist' in class, it brought tears to my eyes. learning about the past of our world has really brought things into perspective for me" | Diamond
United Kingdom
Mar.19.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "The picture did it for me. Living that life would suck." | Dawson
Canada
Mar.17.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | ""I think kids today dont realize how much these jews suffered. It sucks to think how good we have it and not actually care.A lot of kids say it dosent matter. What they dont get is that it does.I am terrified that it will happen again but you never know it jst might!" | stephanie
United States
Mar.17.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "My Dad was born in Warsaw, in 1925. He experienced the Warsaw Ghetto life and escaped only to be imprisoned by the Russians and sent to live out the war in Siberia. He survived but the rest of his family who stayed behind, perished in Treblinka.
The wonder is how survivors had the courage to live
in a world that saw and knew this was happening and did nothing. Where did the survivor get the courage to live knowing how their families were murdered. A survivor of this inhumane unspeakable event, gave me life.
Gita, a proud Jew
" | Gita
United States
Mar.17.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "nice jobs" | tallulah
United States
Mar.17.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "I have just learend that I was rellated to Hitlers good freind Who was there to see Warsaw and then just sudenly disippeared there its crazy right" | Jordan E.
United States
Mar.16.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "It makes me sick to think of what it would be like to live the way thoughs people did." | Nicole
Canada
Mar.15.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "to Mariah in the US. Hitler had blue eyes actually, but he did have dark hair. Also he had a Jewish grandmother who he was really close to. strange, isn't it??" | ally
United Kingdom
Mar.15.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "It was really sad but like, stuff like that still happens 2day like in Iraq and stuff. Why can't people just learn from the past so that stuff like that doesn't happen again in the future??" | Whitney
United States
Mar.15.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "This paper was soooooooooooooo good" | Adriana
United States
Mar.15.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Well, obviously the world stood by and let this happen because the Germans were so powerful, therefore they were to scared and yet to advance on them...
. x " | Shannon
United Kingdom
Mar.13.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "This paper was really good and also helped me understand what went on in the ghetto. I thought that I knew it all from learning it in school but I guess I didn't. " | Joey Koziel
United States
Mar.12.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Thank u for the help on my homework. It is horrible that the Jews had die so slowly by starving. The nazis thought the jews wernt dying quick enough so they started concentration camps which killed more jews in less time. I can not believe how awful the nazis are..." | Bryony Louise Saunders
United Kingdom
Mar.12.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "To sue from Australia,
Remember, the world didn't know this was happening, the German's covered up what they did really well. Other countries would have stepped in, had they know." | a-dub
United States
Mar.09.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "remember, this is just what happened in teh ghettos, not to mention the camps and stuff that some people were sent to when there was a deportation. It just goes to show how truely evil humans can be. " | A-dub
United States
Mar.09.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "that would be so scary. strange, hitler only liked people with blonde gair and blue eyes yet, he had dark hair and dark eyes." | mariah
United States
Mar.07.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "this is not a laughing matter" | oc
United States
Mar.06.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "This article was pretty good but it didnt really help me much on my report but some. This stuff is just terrilbe. I cnt belive this actually happened" | Kelsey
United States
Mar.05.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Interesting article, I still cannot fathom why the world stood by and let this happen, but I guess there is similar happening in the world as we speak , makes you thankful that we live in the lucky country, I don`t think I could find the courage to cope with what these people lived through . I also feel shame because I am part of the human race and after all so were the Nazis,I think we are all a bit resposible for our fellow man ... do unto others as we would have done to us, it is sad that some do not know how to live this way .May God help us all.
A good book to find more info and that will make you feel that you have lived this is MILA 18 by Leon Uris" | Sue
Australia
Mar.05.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Wow this had great info for my english paper. I actually understand it and I'm not falling asleep" | Mikey
United States
Mar.04.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "i am writing an essay for english about the holocaust and this article moved me. this is great for research." | erica
United States
Mar.04.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "this was a very sad thing... i can't believe that some people say that it didn't happen.." | taylor jane
United States
Mar.03.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "this is really sad. but thankyou for posting helped me with my work." | bbbb
United Kingdom
Mar.03.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "You low lives! You are abusing this website to talk to each other. You people disgust me. The Holocaust was tragic, and you kids making fun of it like this. " | Richie
United Kingdom
Feb.29.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Sad... :(" | Frankie Talyor
United Kingdom
Feb.29.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Very sad and interesting..." | Private
United States
Feb.28.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I think that the person under me is really rude and shouldn't live in America. You should be considerate of other peoples feelings instead of looking at their religion first. People like you make me sick :P " | Morgan
United States
Feb.27.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "ALthough this is short i am appaled at how people treat others my family was german jews...so sad...but very well written we all need to be educated in this stuff so we can know how to prevent this kind of event in the family." | .....
United States
Feb.25.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "how sad" | i love .......
United States
Feb.25.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Hi Zach, this page is not meant to be used as an academic source, it is merely an informative page for tourists coming to Warsaw, which is why you cannot cite it. Please use actual academic sources (i.e. books) for your reports in the future." | Warsaw Life
Poland
Feb.25.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "This page was a great help for my creative writing assignment about the holocaust. this page should have author information on it though since i am not able to properly cite it... fantastic article" | Zach F
United States
Feb.20.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "this weebsite was very helpful. To all you stupid hitler lovers, yall are really weird and awful." | Chelsea Huss
United States
Feb.19.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "I hate Hitler, and all of the nazis -___- the way they treated OTHER HUMAN BEINGS (aka the jews) was like filth and they all deserved to die. There's a difference between torturing people in a war because you have to and torturing people for the fun of it.Sick bastards, thats what they are =/." | Meg
United Kingdom
Feb.19.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | ""I don't understand how humans or anyone could ever do such things to anyone, it just blows my mind."" | megan
United States
Feb.13.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
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