archival photographs of polish invasion and einsatzgruppen
TRANSCRIPT
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