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Krakow Ghetto
Krakow Ghetto
Shortly after the Germans invaded Poland, Krakow became the capital of the Nazi Generalgouvernement. In most cases, Jews would have been rounded up from near and far to be thrown in a ghetto, but because Krakow was the new capital, many Jews were actually expelled to the countryside to “cleanse” the city. By the time the ghetto was established in March 1941, only 20,000 Jews remained in the city, compared to the original 60,000. By June 1942, deportations began, and thousands of Jews were either sent to labor or death camps. Many residents within the ghetto were shot before they ever got put on a train.
Uprising
Uprising
Even before German occupation, youth movements had been in operation and had continued to operate within ghettos. Where the original purpose of the groups had been to teach values concerning Zionist and Socialist principles, information about death camps and mass murder had shifted their intentions. By 1942, youth movement activities centered around training and obtaining weapons. As deportations continued to increase, word got out that Jewish Krakow residents had been lied to--they were not being sent to labor camps, but death camps.
Jewish resistance members began to take action. With the ghetto being so small, the resistance quickly realized that they would have to operate outside of the ghetto to avoid others from getting punished or harmed. By December 22, 1942, the Jewish underground carried out strategic attacks on common German hang-out spots. One of these meeting places included the Cyganeria Café, where the most severe damage was dealt. It was estimated that 7-12 Germans were killed in that attack alone.
During the attack, it was important that the resistance made it appear that the Poles carried out the attack. Along with expertly camouflaging their identities, fighters hung Polish flags and left flowers by famous Polish landmarks. The operation was so successful that many Poles in the city even believed that it was the work of a Polish underground.
However, the Jews did not go unpunished. Most of the underground members were arrested and killed, and the entire Krakow Ghetto was liquidated by March 1943.
Impact
Impact
While the resistance efforts didn't entirely succeed in the end, it does not overshadow the significant advances that they made over Nazi forces. By carrying out calculated attacks, the Krakow Ghetto Uprising became one of the first rebellions that brought Jewish armed resistance into fruition. While facing the odds of almost guaranteed death, the Jews in Krakow decided to take back control and fight back, which can inspire many generations to come.
A plaque in honor of those who carried out the mission at Cyganeria Café
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