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A clip of Der Ruf, an underground newspaper that was published in the Warsaw Ghetto as part of the resistance
Warsaw Ghetto
Warsaw Ghetto
The Warsaw Ghetto, established at the end of 1940, was known for being the largest Jewish ghetto in Nazi-occupied Europe. This ghetto was created to forcibly house and control part of the Jewish population. Additionally, part of the Warsaw Ghetto's purpose was to extract wealth from Jews by taking away their possessions. Once Operation Reinhardt took effect, Germans would begin deporting Jews living in the Warsaw Ghetto to extermination camps.
Uprising
Uprising
On April 19, 1943, the Jews remaining in the ghetto decided to strike back and revolt against the German SS in response to the deportations. Mordecai Anielewicz (see Biography) was the leader of the resistance movement during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Prior to the initial start of the uprising, Jewish resistance groups had begun to prepare for an attack in anticipation of mass deportations. Smuggled arms, grenades, and food aided the rebellion. Strategic fighting methods, such as guerilla tactics, were successful in countering Nazi forces--the enemy retreated on the first day of the attack. The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising lasted for 27 days, ending on May 16, 1943. By then, the ghetto was in ruins. The Jews that weren't killed in the attacks were put on trains to concentration camps.
Captured Jewish resistance fighters during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
The Jews and criminals resisted from base to base, and escaped at the last moment through garrets or subterranean passages.
-A report of the first day of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, sent by the Warsaw SS to the Krakow SS
Impact
Impact
Although the rebellion was deemed unsuccessful, it paved the way for future uprisings to take place and inspired Jews to resist Nazi power. Many Nazi operations were delayed during the attacks, which bought time for those actively being sent to killing centers. The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising is a powerful symbol of resilience and continues to teach us the importance of courage in the face of adversity.
The Warsaw Ghetto in ruins following the uprising
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