Mass relocations of Jews to ghettos in occupied Poland began in early 1940. It was a systematic process of Jewish population isolation, initiated by Nazi occupiers, which led to the creation of the largest ghettos in history, including the Warsaw ghetto housing over 400,000 people. These actions were a key stage in the implementation of the Nazi policy of Jewish extermination.

The deportation of Jews to ghettos in Poland is one of the most tragic chapters of World War II. This process, initiated by Nazi occupiers, aimed to isolate and later exterminate the Jewish population.

Although the first ghettos were established as early as 1939, mass relocations fully began in 1940. The largest ghetto in occupied Poland was created in Warsaw in October 1940. Soon after, similar places of isolation were established in other cities, such as Łódź, Kraków, and Lublin. These events initiated systematic persecution and ultimately led to the Holocaust.

The situation of Jews in Poland before World War II and in its initial stages provided crucial context for the later deportations to ghettos. Complex social, economic, and political relations shaped the conditions that Nazi occupiers exploited to implement their criminal policy.

Before the outbreak of World War II, approximately 3.3 million Jews lived in Poland, constituting 10% of the country's population. The Jewish community played a significant role in Poland's economic and cultural life. Jews dominated trade and crafts, accounting for 43% of people employed in these sectors. In large cities like Warsaw and Łódź, Jews made up even 30% of residents. Despite this significant presence, growing social and economic tensions in the 1930s led to increased antisemitism. Restrictions were imposed on Jews at universities, and some political parties openly promoted anti-Jewish slogans.

On September 1, 1939, Germany attacked Poland, starting World War II. From the first days of occupation, the Nazis began systematic persecution of the Jewish population. They introduced a series of discriminatory regulations, including:

• Mandatory wearing of armbands with the Star of David
• Ban on movement in certain streets and districts
• Confiscation of Jewish property
• Forced labor

By the end of 1939, the Nazis established the first ghettos in occupied Poland, including in Piotrków Trybunalski and Łódź. These actions were a prelude to mass deportations, which began on a full scale in 1940. The occupiers exploited pre-war social tensions and anti-Semitic sentiments to facilitate the process of isolation and subsequent extermination of the Jewish population.

The creation of ghettos in Poland was a key element of Nazi policy of segregation and persecution of Jews. This process began shortly after Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939 and served as a prelude to mass extermination.

Ghettos were an integral part of the Nazi strategy for isolating and controlling the Jewish population. They served as a tool for concentrating Jews in specific urban areas, facilitating their economic exploitation and subsequent deportation. The Nazis viewed ghettos as a temporary solution on the path to the "final solution of the Jewish question." This concept was based on racist ideology that sought to completely exclude Jews from society.

The first ghetto in occupied Poland was established in Piotrków Trybunalski on October 8, 1939. Soon after, other ghettos were created in other cities:

City	Date of ghetto establishment
Łódź	February 8, 1940
Warsaw	October 16, 1940
Kraków	March 3, 1941
Lublin	March 24, 1941

The Łódź Ghetto, initially called Litzmannstadt Ghetto, was the second largest after Warsaw. It was completely isolated from the rest of the city on April 30, 1940. The Warsaw Ghetto, the largest in occupied Europe, was sealed on November 16, 1940, concentrating over 400,000 Jews in an area of only 2.4% of the city's total area.

The creation of ghettos involved the brutal displacement of Jewish people from their homes and forcing them to live in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions. The Nazis imposed severe restrictions, such as prohibition on leaving the ghetto without special permission, food rationing, and limited access to basic medical services.

Mass relocations of Jews to ghettos in Poland officially began in 1940. The Nazis systematically implemented their plan to concentrate the Jewish population in designated city districts, which constituted a key stage in the implementation of their criminal policy.

The German occupation authorities issued a series of regulations governing the creation and operation of ghettos. On September 21, 1939, Reinhard Heydrich issued secret instructions regarding the concentration of Jews in cities along railway lines. On November 28, 1939, Hans Frank, Governor-General of occupied Polish territories, ordered the creation of Judenrats (Jewish Councils) in every Jewish community. The regulation of November 23, 1939, introduced mandatory wearing of armbands with the Star of David for Jews above 10 years of age. These legal regulations created the foundation for systematic segregation and control of the Jewish population.

The process of creating the largest ghettos in Poland followed a specific chronology:

Date	City	Number of ghetto residents
February 8, 1940	Łódź	160,000
March 3, 1940	Lublin	34,000
March 20, 1940	Kraków	64,000
October 16, 1940	Warsaw	450,000

The Łódź Ghetto, established on February 8, 1940, was the second largest after Warsaw. The Lublin Ghetto was created on March 3, 1940, concentrating about 34,000 Jews. The Kraków Ghetto, founded on March 20, 1940, gathered approximately 64,000 people. The largest ghetto in occupied Europe, Warsaw, was officially sealed on October 16, 1940, isolating about 450,000 Jews. The process of creating ghettos in smaller cities and towns continued simultaneously, leading to the complete isolation of the Jewish community.

The process of displacing Jews to ghettos in Poland was a systematic and brutal operation carried out by Nazi occupiers. The displacements occurred in stages, starting with smaller localities and gradually encompassing larger cities.

The Nazis employed several methods to effectively carry out the displacements:

• Public announcements: Occupation authorities issued official notices informing about the necessity of resettlement.
• Limited time: Jews typically received 24-48 hours to pack essential belongings and leave their homes.
• Selection: Authorities conducted selection of people fit for work, separating them from the elderly, sick, and children.
• Transport: Freight trains, trucks were used, or people were forced to march on foot to designated ghettos.
• Property confiscation: Nazis systematically confiscated valuable items and real estate belonging to Jews.

The organization of displacements involved various units:

1. SS and German police: Main executive force of displacement actions.
2. Judenrats: Jewish councils, forced to cooperate in organizing resettlements.
3. Local administration: Provided logistical support for the displacement process.

Reactions to the displacements varied:

Jewish population:

• Fear and disorientation: Many Jews didn't know what awaited them in the ghettos.
• Attempts to hide: Some sought shelter with Polish neighbors or in forests.
• Resistance: In some places, spontaneous acts of resistance occurred.
• Suicides: There were cases of suicide in the face of inevitable resettlement.

Polish population:

• Help: Some Poles risked their lives hiding Jews or helping them escape.
• Indifference: Many remained passive, fearing repression.
• Collaboration: Some Poles collaborated with the Nazis, denouncing hiding Jews.
• Looting: There were cases of local population taking over Jewish property.

These reactions reflected the complexity of Polish-Jewish relations and the difficult situation under occupation. Resettlement to ghettos was a traumatic experience that deeply affected both communities.

The resettlement of Jews to ghettos in Poland during World War II had catastrophic consequences for the Jewish community. The effects of these actions were long-lasting and affected many aspects of victims' lives.

Living conditions in the ghettos were extremely difficult and inhumane. Overcrowding was common, with 6-7 people living in one room. Food rationing led to widespread hunger, with daily rations often not exceeding 200 calories. Lack of access to clean water and basic sanitary facilities resulted in outbreaks of epidemics such as typhus. Mortality in ghettos was high, with thousands of deaths monthly in the largest ghettos. Forced labor was the norm, and ghetto residents were exploited as cheap labor in German factories.

The deportations to ghettos had a devastating impact on the Jewish community. Family separation was common, leading to the breakdown of traditional social structures. Cultural and religious life was significantly restricted, although secret schools and religious services were organized in some ghettos. Psychological trauma was widespread, with high rates of depression and suicide. Economically, the Jewish community was completely impoverished, losing property and means of livelihood. Long-term effects included a significant reduction in the Jewish population in Poland, from 3.3 million before the war to approximately 380,000 survivors after the Holocaust.

• Mass deportation of Jews to ghettos in Poland began fully in 1940, although the first ghettos were established as early as 1939.
• The largest ghetto in occupied Poland was created in Warsaw in October 1940, concentrating over 400,000 Jews in a small area.
• The creation of ghettos was part of the Nazi strategy to isolate and control the Jewish population, leading to their subsequent extermination.
• The deportation process was brutal and systematic, including property confiscation, selection of able-bodied workers, and transport under inhumane conditions.
• Living conditions in the ghettos were extreme, characterized by overcrowding, hunger, disease, and high mortality rates.
• The deportations had catastrophic consequences for the Jewish community, leading to family breakdown, loss of property, and a significant decrease in the Jewish population in Poland.

The deportation of Jews to ghettos in Poland was a tragic phase of Nazi persecution policies that began in 1939. This process reached its climax in 1940 with the establishment of the largest ghettos in the country.

The ghettos became instruments of isolation and control of the Jewish population, leading to catastrophic humanitarian consequences. Living conditions in the ghettos were characterized by overcrowding, hunger, and disease.

The deportations had a devastating impact on the Jewish community, destroying family structures, culture, and economy. They led to a dramatic decline in the Jewish population in Poland and constituted a prelude to the Holocaust.