archival photographs of polish invasion and einsatzgruppen

Archival Photographs

of Polish Invasion

and Einsatzgruppen

Germany invades Poland on September 1, 1939

Germany invades Poland on September 1, 1939

Germany invades Poland on September 1, 1939

Germany invades Poland on September 1, 1939

Germany invades Poland on September 1, 1939

Germany invades Poland on September 1, 1939

Germany invades Poland on September 1, 1939

Great Britain and France declare war on Germany

This is the beginning of World War 2

The Nazis quickly take control of Poland

Fighting only last a few WEEKS

The Nazis quickly take control of Poland

Fighting only last a few WEEKS

(Poland surrenders on Sept. 27)

The Nazis quickly take control of Poland

Fighting only last a few WEEKS

Nazis terrorize the population of Poland ENTIRE

Nazis terrorize the ENTIRE population of Poland

Jews are singled out for the most BRUTAL treatment

Jews are forced to wear yellow Stars of David

Jews are forced to wear yellow Stars of David

Jews are forced to wear yellow Stars of David

Einsatzgruppen (an SS task force) is formed

next next

Einsatzgruppen killed many POLISH Jews by the end of 1939

next next

“They took my mother and shot her too . . .

And then my grandmother, my father’s mother,

she was eighty years old and

she had two children in her arms [when they shot her],

and then there was my father’s sister.

She also had two children in her arms and

she was shot on the spot with the babies in her arms.”

- Rivka Yosselevscka, survivor of Eisantsgruppen aktion in Zagrodski 1942

Kiev, May 16, 1942

Field Post Office No. 32704

B. Nr 40/42

Reich Secret Document

To SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Rauff

Berlin

The overhauling of the vans of [Einsatz] Gruppe D and C has been completed....

I have had the vans of [Einsatz] Gruppe D disguised as house-trailers, by having a single window shutter fixed to each side of the small vans,

and on the large ones, two shutters, such as one often sees on farmhouses in the country. The vans had become so well known that not only

the authorities but the civilian population referred to them as the "Death Vans" as soon as one appeared. In my opinion the vans cannot be kept

secret for any length of time even if they are camouflaged.

The brakes of the Saurer van which I took from Taganrog to Simferopol were damaged on the way... When I reached Stalino and Gorlovka a

few days later the drivers of the vans there complained of the same trouble....

I also gave instructions that all personnel should stay as far away as possible from the vans when the gassing is in progress to prevent damage

to their health in the event of gas leaking out. I would like to take this opportunity to call attention to the following: several of the special units let their

own men do the unloading after gassing.

I pointed out to the commanders of the Sonderkommando (Special Unit) concerned the enormous psychological and physical harm this may cause

the men, possibly later even if not immediately. The men complained to me of headaches that recur after each such unloading. Nevertheless there

is reluctance to change the orders because it is feared that if prisoners are used for this work they might make use of a favorable moment to escape.

I request appropriate instructions in order to save the men from suffering harm.

The gassing is generally not carried out correctly. In order to get the Aktion finished as quickly as possible the driver presses down on the accelerator

as far as it will go. As a result the persons to be executed die of suffocation and do not doze off as was planned. It has proved that if my instructions

are followed and the levers are properly adjusted death comes faster and the prisoners fall asleep peacefully. Distorted faces and excretions, such

as were observed before, no longer occur.

Today I shall continue my journey to [Einsatz] Gruppe B, where I may be reached for further instructions.

Dr. Becker

SS Untersturmfuehrer

PS-501.

Archival Photographs of Warsaw Ghetto

GHETTOS are sections of a city where a group of people are forced to live

Ghettos in Europe

Ghettos in Poland First large ghetto is set up in LODZ in early 1940

WARSAW Ghetto set up in October 1940

3 Step Process

1. Identify (wearing stars)

2. Isolate (ghettos)

3. Eliminate

The

“Ghettoization”

of

Warsaw

Nazi officials gather at the wall

separating ghetto from the rest of

Warsaw. Joseph Goebbels called

the ghettos “death boxes”.

Street scenes from the

Warsaw Ghetto

The Warsaw Ghetto

was extremely

OVERCROWDED

33% of Warsaw’s

population was living in

about 3% of the land

A Warsaw ghetto resident gives

money to two children on a Warsaw

ghetto street. Warsaw, Poland,

between October 1940 and

April 1943.

Money printed solely for

use within the ghetto

People had very little FOOD.

About 43,000 people starved to death in the first year.

Daily Rations In Poland:

Nazis = 2,500

Polish citizens = 1,600

Jews = 800 (or less)

*some sources that say

Jews received as few as

200 calories!

There was forced

labor in the ghettos.

These “jobs” and

conditions were not

as bad as those in

camps.

Ghettos had UNSANITARY conditions

(which means so dirty that it was unhealthy)

Ghettos had UNSANITARY conditions

(which means so dirty that it was unhealthy)

Street scene in the Warsaw ghetto. The sign at left announces: "Soup in

the courtyard, first floor, apt. 47." Warsaw, Poland, 1940-1941.

Ghettos had UNSANITARY conditions

(which means so dirty that it was unhealthy)

Ghettos had UNSANITARY conditions

(which means so dirty that it was unhealthy)

Entrance to the Warsaw ghetto. The sign states: "Epidemic Quarantine

Area: Only Through Traffic is Permitted." Warsaw, Poland, February 1941.

Poor conditions led to diseases

like TYPHUS and TUBERCULOSIS

Ghettos were “run” by the Judenrat, a council of Jewish elders

Judenrat operated under the NAZI orders but

Tried to help as many of the Jews as possible!

Ghettos were “run” by the Judenrat, a council of Jewish elders

Judenrat operated under the NAZI orders but

Tried to help as many of the Jews as possible!

Adam Czerniakow, leader of the Warsaw Judenrat

Jews in the ghetto were often “deported” to other places

Deportation

aboard the

“box cars”

Why didn’t they “fight back”?!

MANY PEOPLE WENT

AGAINST THE NAZIS!

It was called resistance

hiding CHILDREN and others from the Nazis

PASSIVE Resistance was “peaceful”

People were SMUGGLING food & supplies into ghettos.

PASSIVE Resistance was “peaceful”

A German policeman interrogates a Jewish man accused of

trying to smuggle a loaf of bread into the Warsaw ghetto.

Continuing to celebrate their religious practices

(as best they can!)

SPIRITUAL Resistance was “peaceful”

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

ARMED Resistance was is using violence to fight back

Mordechai Anielewicz and the Jewish Fighting

Organization smuggled in weapons with the help

of various people, including Vladka Meed.

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

starts on April 19, 1943

ARMED Resistance was is using violence to fight back

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising starts on April 19, 1943

ARMED Resistance was is using violence to fight back

Nazis had TANKS, flamethrowers,

machine guns, and cannons

Jews had guns, rifles,

and homemade BOMBS

Damage from

the Warsaw

Ghetto Uprising

The end of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising May 16, 1943

Rounding up Jews after the

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

Emmanuel Ringelbaum:

Documented life in the Warsaw

Ghetto through diaries and

photos. He buried many of the

items underground.

Warsaw Ghetto after the liberation in 1945

Janus Korczak:

Educator who gave

his life to “protect” the

children in his care