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The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising refers to the armed resistance of the Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto in the early months of 1943. It should not be confused with the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, in which the non-Jewish Poles rose up against Nazi oppression (although some survivors of the Ghetto Uprising did join this fight). The latter was a bid for freedom, with a realistic chance of success; the former was the decision to die fighting, rather than accept death at the German execution camps.
In 1939 the Germans had invaded Warsaw and taken control of the city; by November of 1940 they had ordered all the Jews in the capital into a three mile square area, dubbed the Warsaw Ghetto. Whilst conditions were unbearable, with thousands dying from starvation and disease every month, there was little call amongst the Jews to rise up and fight the Germans. Why? For several reasons: firstly the Nazi propaganda machine had done an effective job of denigrating the Jewish race and breaking their spirit, secondly many pre-eminent Jews and potential leaders had fled or been killed, thirdly - and probably most importantly - they had no realistic chance of defeating the Germans by force, and fear of reprisals were great. That situation was to change. 
Early in 1942 Berlin found the 'Final Solution' to the question of what to do with the Jews. During the course of that year the Nazis began an enormous operation, the purpose of which was extermination of an entire race. The Jews were transported in vast numbers, and terrible conditions, to death camps around Poland (those taken from the Warsaw Ghetto were mostly taken to Treblinka). This operation was carried out with so much speed and efficiency, and with an inhumanity that defied the belief of ordinary people, that hundreds of thousands were murdered before the remainder of the Jews finally accepted the fate in store for them. Meanwhile the Allies, who were also finally forced to believe the reports they were hearing, did nothing to help - later claiming that the only way to stop the German atrocities was to focus directly on winning the war.
So it was, outraged at the mass murder of their people and with nothing left to lose, the remainder of the Ghetto Jews decided to fight back with every means in their power, and whatever the consequence. They offered their first resistance on 18th January 1943, when a large group of Germans soldiers arrived intent on rounding up more Jews for deportation. In fact the Z.O.B (Zydowska Organizacja Bojowa, or the Jewish Fighters Organization) had been planning an attack on the Jewish Police (who collaborated with the Nazis) for the 22nd, but when the Germans marched into the Ghetto they decided to engage them in combat. A bloody street battle took place, in which the significanly inferior-armed Jews lost a great deal of their number. From then on the Z.O.B decided never to engage the Germans openly - where they were bound to lose - but engaged them in partisan warfare. Despite their losses on this day however, an important psychological blow was struck. The Germans could not have everything their own way. They were not invincible.
From that point until April the Germans deportation plans were delayed, Nazi collaborators killed, and the Z.O.B (along with other Jewish fighting forces) were in virtually complete control of the Ghetto. Meanwhile the Polish underground movement, impressed by the Jews courage, supplied the Z.O.B with more and better weaponry. In this three month period virtually all attempts to arrest and capture Jews failed, several Germans soldiers were killed, and a number of attempts to lure the Jews out, with promises of working in concentration camps in excellent and safe conditions, failed. The mood of the remaining Jews had turned from acceptance of their fate to defiance, and the Z.O.B enjoyed the support and co-operation of all the non-fighting Jews in the Ghetto.
Finally realising that the Jewish Uprising wasn't going to conveniently go away, the Germans arrived in considerable force in the early hours of 19th April with plans for the final liquidation of the Ghetto (ie. the rounding up of every remaining Jew for transportation to the death camps). Nearly a thousand troops marched into the Ghetto, certain that the Jews would either be unwilling and unable to offer them resistance, when they came in such large numbers. However the Z.O.B were now better armed - and more determined - than the Germans realised. As the Nazis advanced into a deserted Ghetto the partisans simply waited for the opportune moment to attack, at which time they reigned bullet and grenades on the exposed German patrols from the cover of tall buildings. The would-be capturers suffered heavy casualties and were forced to retreat. They failed to arrest a single Jewish civilian, all of whom had gone into hiding (mostly in underground bunkers which they had built for this purpose). This day is often cited as the start of the Ghetto Uprising.
After this initial set-back on the 19th, Himmler replaced the ineffective commander, Ferdinand von Sammern-Frankenegg, with Jurgen Stroop, who had experience fighting against partisans. He was urged by Himmler to act with whatever means necessary. In the days that followed Stroop ordered all the buildings of the Ghetto be set on fire, in order to flush out enemy soldiers. The quarter became one burning torch, full of flames and dense black smoke. Still the Jews refused to give in, maintaining their resistance and only giving up their positions at the last moment - many jumping from high floors of burning buildings. Most sought refuge in the bunkers, where conditions were hardly any better. Because of the intensity of the infernos the bunkers were unbearably hot and food and water was quickly spoiled.
By the 23rd of April any sizeable resistance was no longer possible. All that remained for the Nazis to do was uproot the Jews in the bunkers. Not that this was made easy for them. Forced out of hiding by poison or tear gas, the partisans would often come out firing; women were no less militant, and there were several examples of them hiding grenades in their underwear in order to throw them at German soldiers as they were being arrested. These were last ditch tactics however for a battle that was now lost. On the 9th of May the Nazis successfully stormed the Z.O.B's command bunker and on the 16th, the German Commander, Stroop, announced that the fighting was finished. To mark the end of the Uprising he ordered the Great Warsaw Synagogue on Tlomackie Street to be blown up.
Approximately 13,000 Jews were killed during the Uprising, with another 50,000 rounded up and deported to death camps. A few escapees continued to fight in the forests, whilst some who were arrested were later freed by the Polish underground forces and joined the Warsaw Uprising. An estimated 300 German troops died in the struggle.
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 | | "Creo que este articulo es muy interesante. Me pone triste tambien. Ojala que no pase otra vez." | Miguel
Colombia
Feb.12.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | ""we as people need to come together as one"" | kun ka
Albania
Feb.12.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "so y did the nazis and hitler hate the jews ,gypsies,homosexuals ,criminals,jehovahs witnesses what did they do to the nazis and hitler i would lliked to have been alive at that point to try and put a stop to it and british folk new about it and did nothing im so ashamed" | emma
United Kingdom
Jan.09.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "You Need More Information And Less Comments! Please!" | Janessa
United States
Jan.08.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Congrats to the conductors of this site, youve given me an insight to what life was like during ww2 and i only hope that such a thing will never happen to anyone again. We cannot change the past and bring back loved ones, but we can have an impact on our future, we can have a say on what there is to come. ww2 and the holocaust will always be remembered.
Lest we forget.
jazz" | JaZz
Australia
Aug.17.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "
Any One who knows any thing about the uprising Of War saw ghetto Talk To Me" | Psycho
United States
May.20.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I just saw a movie called "Uprising", and although I knew about the Warsaw Ghetto uprising years ago, there was so much that I did not know! We must never forget the bravery of the Jews who fought against such evil. Their courage will be remembered forever. Shalom..." | Josh
United States
Apr.06.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "I found this information to be highly accurate and useful. I had an essay given to me and along with other information, this account was highly helpful and is some of the best notification about the uprising i have come across.
Thank you!" | Rachel
United Kingdom
Mar.29.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "the information you provide is very good but an important point you did not mention is that another Jewish armed fighting group, the ZZW (Jewish Military Union) was smaller but had good relations with with non-Jewish Polish underground fighters, had a tunnel connecting the ghetto to the non-Jewish section through which arms, ammunition, and some non-Jewish fighters provided much needed help to the Jewish fighters--the ZZW was fairly well-armed with machine guns, mines, rifles, and grenades and many Germans (hundreds) were killed by ZZW fighters--unfortunately, for political reasons (the ZZW was anti-Communist while ZOB was somewhat pro-Communist) after the war the Communist Polish government minimized the heroic deeds of the ZZW fighters and only a few of their members survived the fighting to tell their story--a recent book titled "Two Flags" by Marian Apfelbaum, a ZZW survivor, provides a good account of what happened in April, 1943." | David
United States
Mar.14.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "I thought this was very informing. Very traumatizing, and very detailed. Thanks so much, learned a lot, but still unsure if this information is accurate. Still, from what i have read here, i see this event was one of the most brutal in history and I feel its good we all learn about this." | interested personality
United States
Feb.01.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "this site good. great data. make me cry.
;[" | hril
Belgium
Jan.22.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I thought it was rather interesting to know that people with little chance, little ability, could face something so powerful. I am amazed by their courage and their tenacity to do such a task to hold the Germans for so long. Harsh times can show who is brave, and who isn't. Regardless, we should all wish that this will never happen again." | William Thompson
United States
Jan.18.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "this helped alot!!!!! THANK SOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!" | sadie
United States
Jan.08.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "I don't get it so many people have got killed and killed over and over again and the world is still over populated with the same people labelling themselves with sames religions, methods and dictation of fanaticism to each other. That could be Catholics, Moslems, Jews, Feminists, Homosexuals...etc They all have deprived emotions and they all want to take it out on the rest of the people who are happy. Whilst they all saying NOOoooo this is soemthing else it's the absolute truth and everyone has to join this cult!!!!
Best is to find a way to avoid these personal bitternes of a uniform movements of pyschologically ill people as this will never end and it always come down to originally being a economical or geographical ownership conflict...just like the rest of the animals, except we are killing all of them too. Human is the most valuable you know, and their value amongst themeselves has also to be somehow calculated and prioritised." | Wolverine
United Kingdom
Nov.28.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "This is a period of time that the world should learn a lesson from, but alas no
lessons have been learnt." | Mike
United Kingdom
Oct.28.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "i dont understand where you find the conditions of the ghettos + designs!" | Mandy Mallen
South Africa
Jul.27.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "We do not hear enough about the courage of the Jews that fought the Nazis in the Warsaw ghetto. Against impossible odds,they fought and died with dignity. History should never forget the bravery that these incredible people showed" | Antonio Acevedo
United States
Jun.25.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "it dont answer my question" | shannen
United Kingdom
Jun.08.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "It doesn't answer my questions" | hmedh
United States
May.23.2007
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "I call myself muslim
and that really has nothing to do with the fact that as a child of God - as we all are -
we should love and respect everyone no matter what their beliefs
What happened to the Jews in the second world war is so traumatic and unacceptable and I would like to send
out my love to all of those who died and survived and hope that God will guide those who believe killing or torture in any shape or form is justified to the right way. every time I look at a website that mention the Holocaust I cry inside. I imagine what it must have been like
but I guess no one will ever really know what they felt when it happened. We get some ideas from films and books but no matter what we do we cant seem to eradicate racism, hate, anti-semitism anti muslimism anti catoliticism or any anti for any religion. People should never forget that we are all born as one in the eyes of God, but we all die under different circumstances due to the way we live. We should all be given the opportunity of living our lives to a ripe old age without the fear of being punished for being what we are. The only thing that keeps me going in life is the love and respect I have for life and hope that people around the globe will think and act in the same way.
Many thanks
May the loving light of God, Allah, Jehovah or whatever you may wish to call the almighty shine upon people around the world.
PS
As Jews you may never forget your loved ones
But as an outsider to your faith
I can tell I will NEVER forget them either." | c mamali
Cyprus
May.15.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | " Ghetto in Poland fights back, and it causes a world of... darkness, fear, and................ death!!!!
hahahahahahahaha just kidding loved it!!" | The announcer guy from the movies
Philippines
May.10.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "the polish underground did not really, and/or entirely supplied the jews with weapons. as i've read in a book, jews abroad (particularly those in USA & Britain) were sending the jews in the ghetto money for the weapons. as it was, since the jews have no better way to communicate with them, the money was being sent through the polish underground.the polish jews didn't receive the whole amount of money being sent to them because the polish underground takes more than half of the money. and the weapons they supplied the jews were not better, giving the jews guns of different calibres & not enough bullets either...forcing the jews to concoct weapons of their own (grenades made of gasoline inside a bottle w/ wicks, water pipes w/ different nuts & bolts that they can detonate)." | joey
Philippines
May.10.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "di site izz really cool but itzz bogus the way they treat the jews" | Jose Medina
United States
May.08.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "THIS IS A GOOD SITE" | DILLION
United States
May.08.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "its really crazy once you think about it, how in the world are you crazy enough to threaten a lil kid wit a gun? thats just insane right there any way it reall y helped wit my project" | ivan
United States
May.07.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "this really helped me learn about what hitler did" | mhs101-s2
United States
May.03.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "i am suprised how many people got killed" | mhs101-s2
United States
May.03.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "thanx for the info. it was sweeet dude!!!" | -anonymous
United States
May.01.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "this really helped me with my project thank yo so much!!!!" | ang
United States
May.01.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "this is really helpful, thanx for this, really helped with my project!!^^" | Badkid404
United States
Apr.25.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "dude!! this website is AWESOME!! omgsh!! its like the only 1 that has good info! ~~THANKS!~~" | CareBear
United States
Apr.23.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "i really like this website" | Chilango Reyes
Cameroon
Apr.06.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "helped me alot. much appreciated. " | Rach
Australia
Mar.29.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "I THINK IT WAS OK BUT THEY SHOULD NOT BE TREAT LIKE THAT , YOU WILL NOT WANT TO BE TREAT BAD." | Faith Lee
United States
Mar.27.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "thiis real great.I loved it , it really help me out." | chuck hooley
United States
Mar.12.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Jurgen Stroop paid for his horrific Nazi war crimes in Poland and Greece by being executed in Warsaw in 1951." | Mark Espinola
United States
Mar.04.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Consistent figures are hard to find on this event - but one thing you've definitely got wrong: You say Stroop gave all the orders here and I've read his sworn affidavit. He said all the orders came from Kaltenbruner in Berlin to Hahn. Who ya gonna believe?" | Terry
Canada
Mar.01.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "this is so great i loved it WOW!!!!" | bob
United States
Feb.20.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
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