On November 16, 1940, Nazi Germany officially established the Warsaw Ghetto, the largest Jewish ghetto in occupied Europe. Over 400,000 people of Jewish origin were crowded into an area of 3.4 km², separated from the rest of the city by 3-meter-high walls. This decision was part of the Nazis' broader plan to isolate and exterminate the Jewish population.

The Warsaw Ghetto is one of the most tragic places in the history of World War II. Created by Nazi occupiers in 1940, it became a symbol of suffering and struggle of the Jewish community in occupied Poland.

The decision to establish the ghetto in Warsaw was part of a broader Nazi plan aimed at isolating and exterminating the Jewish population. The process of creating the ghetto was complex and extended over time, making the precise date of its establishment somewhat controversial among historians.

The occupation of Warsaw by Nazi Germany began on October 1, 1939, following the city's capitulation. This event marked the beginning of a period of terror and systematic discrimination against civilians, particularly Jews.

Before the creation of the Warsaw Ghetto, the Jewish community in Poland's capital numbered approximately 375,000 people, constituting 30% of the city's population. Jews were an integral part of Warsaw's social, cultural, and economic life. However, from the very first days of occupation, the Nazis introduced numerous restrictions:

• Mandatory wearing of armbands with the Star of David
• Prohibition from entering parks and other public places
• Restrictions on conducting business activities
• Confiscation of property and forced relocations

These restrictions systematically worsened the living conditions of Jews, preparing the ground for the later establishment of the ghetto. The occupying authorities used anti-Semitic propaganda to justify their actions, spreading stereotypes and disinformation among the non-Jewish population.

The decision to establish the Warsaw Ghetto was made in autumn 1940. This process was the culmination of a series of discriminatory actions against the Jewish population, which began with the Nazi occupation of Warsaw.

Governor Hans Frank issued a decree on the establishment of the Warsaw Ghetto on October 12, 1940. This document officially ordered the concentration of the Jewish population in a designated area of Warsaw. The decree specified:

• The ghetto boundaries covering the northern part of the city
• Forced relocation of Jews to the designated area
• Deadline for completing the resettlement process by October 31, 1940
• Prohibition of leaving the ghetto without special permission
• Severe penalties for non-compliance with the new regulations

Frank's decree provided the legal basis for creating the largest Jewish ghetto in occupied Europe, isolating over 400,000 people in an area of 3.4 km².

The establishment of the Warsaw Ghetto was a complex process that lasted several months. The Nazi occupation authorities systematically implemented the plan to isolate the Jewish population by introducing a series of regulations and carrying out forced relocations.

The boundaries of the Warsaw Ghetto were precisely determined by German authorities in October 1940. This area covered 307 hectares in the northern part of Warsaw, mainly in the districts of Muranów, Powązki, and part of Śródmieście. The ghetto was surrounded by 3-meter-high walls, barbed wire, and guard posts, effectively cutting it off from the rest of the city. The occupation authorities used existing urban infrastructure, closing streets and passages to create a hermetically sealed area.

The process of relocating people to the Warsaw Ghetto began immediately after the announcement of its establishment. By November 16, 1940, approximately 138,000 Jews had been relocated to the ghetto, while 113,000 Poles were evacuated from this area. The relocations took place under chaotic conditions, often with the use of violence. Jews could only take a limited amount of belongings with them, which led to dramatic scenes on the streets of Warsaw. German authorities used the Jewish Order Service to organize the relocations, which further complicated relationships within the Jewish community. By January 1941, the ghetto was completely isolated, and its population reached about 400,000 people, becoming the largest ghetto in occupied Europe.

The official establishment of the Warsaw Ghetto took place on November 16, 1940. On this day, the Governor of the Warsaw District, Ludwig Fischer, issued a regulation that formally established the "Jewish residential district" in Warsaw.

The closing of the Warsaw Ghetto borders took place on November 16, 1940. On this day, the German occupation authorities officially isolated the ghetto area from the rest of the city. The border closure process included:

1. Construction of 3-meter high walls
2. Installation of barbed wire entanglements
3. Setting up guard posts at ghetto boundaries
4. Bricking up windows and doors of border buildings
5. Closing streets leading outside the ghetto area

The final sealing of the ghetto borders took place in January 1941. From this point on, the ghetto was completely isolated, and its residents could not freely leave the designated area without special permission from German authorities.

Living conditions in the Warsaw Ghetto were extremely difficult and inhumane. The ghetto residents faced numerous problems that drastically affected their daily functioning and survival.

Overcrowding in the Warsaw Ghetto reached catastrophic levels. Over 400,000 people were crammed into an area of 3.4 km², resulting in a population density of 7.2 people per room. This led to the spread of infectious diseases, lack of privacy, and terrible sanitary conditions. Hunger became a widespread phenomenon in the ghetto. Official food rations amounted to only 184 calories per day for Jews, compared to 699 calories for Poles and 2,613 calories for Germans. Malnutrition led to weakened immunity, increasing susceptibility to diseases such as typhus and tuberculosis.

The Germans implemented a system of forced labor for ghetto residents. Jews aged 14 to 60 were required to perform heavy physical labor in factories, workshops, and construction sites. Daily shifts often lasted 10-12 hours, with minimal or no compensation. Working in German enterprises, such as the Többens and Schultz factories, provided a small chance of survival through additional food rations. However, working conditions were inhumane, and workers were exposed to abuse and violence from German supervisors.

The establishment of the Warsaw Ghetto had far-reaching consequences for all of Warsaw. It drastically affected the lives of both the Jewish community and Polish residents of the city, forever changing its demographics and social structure.

The isolation of the Jewish community in the Warsaw ghetto was total and brutal. The ghetto walls, 3 meters high, physically cut off Jews from the rest of the city, preventing them from moving freely. Restrictions imposed by the Nazis led to a complete breakdown of social, cultural, and economic life of this community. Jews lost access to education, healthcare, and the ability to earn money outside the ghetto. The isolation deepened the tragic living conditions, leading to hunger, disease, and high mortality rates. Over 100,000 people died in the ghetto due to starvation and diseases. The separation from the outside world also made it difficult to organize resistance movements and gather information about the situation beyond the ghetto walls.

The establishment of the ghetto had a significant impact on Warsaw's Polish population. 113,000 Poles were evicted from the area designated for the ghetto, forcing them to leave their homes and search for new places to live. This caused housing and social chaos in the remaining parts of the city. Poles also lost their Jewish neighbors, colleagues, and friends, which changed Warsaw's social structure. The city's economy suffered from the loss of Jewish entrepreneurs and skilled workers. The sight of the ghetto walls and awareness of the suffering behind them became a daily reality for Warsaw residents, affecting their psyche and morale. Poles organized help for Jews, risking their own lives. The Council to Aid Jews "Żegota" saved thousands of people from the ghetto by hiding them on the "Aryan side."

• The Warsaw Ghetto was officially established on November 16, 1940, by decree of Governor Ludwig Fischer.
• The process of creating the ghetto took several months, beginning with Hans Frank's ordinance on October 12, 1940.
• Over 400,000 people were crammed into an area of 3.4 km², leading to catastrophic living conditions, hunger, and disease.
• The ghetto was completely isolated from the rest of the city by 3-meter walls, barbed wire, and guard posts.
• The establishment of the ghetto had a dramatic impact on both the Jewish community and the Polish population of Warsaw, forever changing the social structure of the city.

The Warsaw Ghetto remains one of the most tragic symbols of the Holocaust. Created by the Nazis in 1940, it represented the culmination of systematic discrimination against Jews in occupied Warsaw.

The process of creating the ghetto was complex and took several months, officially ending on November 16, 1940. Its establishment drastically changed the face of the city and the fate of hundreds of thousands of people.

The conditions in the ghetto were inhuman, and the effects of its creation were felt throughout Warsaw. Nevertheless, the history of the ghetto also shows extraordinary strength of spirit and solidarity in the face of unimaginable suffering.