Poland

A Shattered Community

The Seat Of Horrors

Jews have been around Poland since the 12^th century. About 10% of Poland’s population was Jewish in the early 1930s. Most of them had to work in commerce due to restrictions. They lived in small towns all across the country.

Germany invaded Poland in 1939. At the same time, the Soviet Union invaded it from the east. In the German side, Jews were killed, abused and forced in ghettos. In the Soviet side, Jews were deported throughout the Soviet Union. Many of them survived World War 2.

Poland was one of the most affected countries in the Holocaust. Jews were concentrated in ghettos, robbed, deported and murdered. Other people were killed in occupied Poland for similar racial issues.

Three million Polish Jews were killed in different extermination camps, nearly half of all Jews murdered during the Holocaust.

Poland lost about 20% of its entire population after being occupied by Germany. At the same time, the Jewish population was reduced by 90%.

Items

Discover Poland

Refugee Identity Card

Lucja was one of the lucky Polish Jews who managed to escape occupied Poland and reach the British Mandate of Palestine. Despite being under Nazi occupation, local Jewish organisations were active and helped many Jews leave the country. Her identity card was kept in the family after she made it to Haifa safely.

· Donated by Leah Aberman

Warsaw Ghetto Jewish Police Badge

In large ghettos, the Nazi regime established the Jewish Police Service. There were around 2,500 members in the Warsaw Ghetto. Most police officers shared the same fate with ghetto inmates, either killed or sent to camps. This badge was found by a local named Hieronim in the rubble after the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising fights. It was kept in the family as a war relic.

· Donated by the Kępiński family

Menorah

This menorah was partially destroyed during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. It’s unknown who it belonged to because it was found in the rubble of a few different buildings. It was saved by a Christian man who inspected the area after the war and passed from one generation to another. It was kept as a war relic since then.

· Donated by the Kovtun family

Many More Items

Our collection has countless other items to display. We are currently in the process of saving donations to open a physical museum, so we can display the entire collection. Any donation through the button below will be greatly appreciated and can help us preserve the memory of the Holocaust alive. Thank you.