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HomePlaces We VisitWarsaw, Poland

Warsaw, Poland

During the World War II, central Poland, including Warsaw, came under the rule of the General Government, a Nazi colonial administration. All higher education institutions were immediately closed and Warsaw’s entire Jewish population – several hundred thousand, some 30% of the city – herded into the Warsaw Ghetto. When the order came to annihilate the Ghetto as part of Hitler‘s “Final Solution” on April 19, 1943, Jewish fighters launched the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.Despite being heavily outgunned and outnumbered, the Ghetto held out for almost a month. When the fighting ended, almost all survivors were massacred, only few managed to escape or hide.

“My lifelong dream has come true. Self-defense in the Ghetto is now a reality. The armed Jewish resistance is happening; we are taking our revenge. I am witness to a great battle being waged by Jewish heroes.” These were the words that Mordechai Anielewicz, a young Polish Jew who led the revolt, wrote after several hours of combat against the German SS on April 19, 1943.

From that day until May 16, several thousand Jewish resistance fighters, using machine guns and homemade Molotov cocktails, achieved the impossible: They succeeded in stalling the German army.

But that success was short-lived. Jürgen Stroop, Brigade Führer SS, burned down the ghetto to quell the uprising. Victims of the fire either burned to death or suffocated from smoke inhalation, resulting in 13,000 Jewish casualties. The remaining 42,000 residents were subsequently deported. Stroop wrote in his official report, “The Warsaw Ghetto is no more.” Little did he know that he had just logged the most important act of Jewish resistance against the Nazis.

April 19, 2018, we mark the 75th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

The Uprising of April 19,1943 also reminds us that the victory against fascism and similar triumphs over other destructive ideologies are not easily won, and that the price of freedom is steep.

The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising also teaches that the defense of our democratic, liberal, universal values can sometimes hang by a thread, dependent on the courage of a handful of people, those sparks of light that glow in defiance of a brutality that aspires to extinguish all else.
May the memory of these Jewish resistance fighters always be defended, honored, and heard in Poland, in Europe, and elsewhere. May the message of hope and courage in the face of hatred, despair, and brutality—the message that the resistance fighters of the Warsaw Ghetto sought to bestow upon us—always ring true.

Warsaw Ghetto memorial
Nozyck Synaguage Warsaw interior
Nozyck Synaguage Warsaw interior
Nozyck Synaguage Warsaw interior
Warsaw city streets
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw city streets
Warsaw city streets
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw city streets
Warsaw city streets
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw Old town
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw Old Town
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw Church
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw dinner with the Forum for Dialog
Warsaw dinner with the Forum for Dialog
Warsaw dinner with the Forum for Dialog
Warsaw dinner with the Forum for Dialog
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw Old Town
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw Old Town
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw Old Town
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw Ghetto uprising memorial military Church
Warsaw Ghetto uprising memorial
Warsaw Park
Warsaw Park
Warsaw Park
Warsaw Park in old Jewish section
Warsaw Park in old Jewish section
Warsaw Park in old Jewish section
Warsaw Park in old Jewish section
Umshlagplatz Irv finds his Hebrew name on the Warsaw Ghetto memorial wall
Warsaw Jewish section
Warsaw Bishops Church
Warsaw Jewish section
monument map of Warsaw Ghetto borders
Warsaw cultural building built by Soviets
JCC Warsaw
JCC Warsaw
Warsaw Zoo zookeepers wife location
Warsaw Zoo zookeepers wife location
Warsaw Zoo zookeepers wife location
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw Jewish section
Warsaw Zoo zookeepers wife location
Warsaw Zoo zookeepers wife location
Warsaw Zoo zookeepers wife location
Warsaw Zoo zookeepers wife location
Warsaw Zoo zookeepers wife location
Warsaw Zoo zookeepers wife location
Warsaw Zoo zookeepers wife location
Warsaw Zoo zookeepers wife location
Warsaw Zoo zookeepers wife location
Warsaw Zoo zookeepers wife location
Warsaw Zoo zookeepers wife location
Warsaw Zoo zookeepers wife location
Warsaw Zoo zookeepers wife location
Warsaw Zoo zookeepers wife location
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Ghetto Memorial
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw Old Town
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Exterior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Image of Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw , Warsaw Ghetto , Deportations , and cemetery
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Interior
Image of Warsaw Presidential Palace Exterior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Exterior
Image of Warsaw Presidential Palace Exterior
Warsaw Presidential Palace Exterior
Image of Warsaw Opera House reception exterior.
Warsaw Opera House reception exterior
Image of Warsaw Opera House reception exterior.
Warsaw Opera House reception exterior
Image of Warsaw Opera House reception exterior.
Warsaw Opera House reception exterior
Image of Forum for dialog in Warsaw visiting former Polish President Alksander Kwasniewski who joined the EU in 2004.
Forum for dialog in Warsaw visiting former Polish President Alksander Kwasniewski who joined the EU in 2004.
Image of Forum for dialog in Warsaw visiting former Polish President Alksander Kwasniewski who joined the EU in 2004.
Forum for dialog in Warsaw visiting former Polish President Alksander Kwasniewski who joined the EU in 2004.
Forum for dialog in Warsaw visiting former Polish President Alksander Kwasniewski who joined the EU in 2004.
Warsaw Presidential Palace Ceremony honring the Forum leadership
Warsaw Opera House reception exterior
Warsaw Opera House interior
Praying on the bus
Irv in the Presidential Palace with former solidarity leader
Nozyk Synagogue interior
Nozyk Synagogue interior
Image of Warsaw Umschlagplatz wall of first names of Ghetto victims
Warsaw Umschlagplatz wall of first names of Ghetto victims.
Changing of the guards in front of Warsaw Presidential Palace
Changing of the guards in front of Warsaw Presidential Palace
Changing of the guards in front of Warsaw Presidential Palace
Changing of the guards in front of Warsaw Presidential Palace
Polish protests for the EU in Warsaw
Polish protests for the EU in Warsaw
Polish protests for the EU in Warsaw
Irv in front of the Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum
Warsaw Ghetto Wall reminants
Warsaw Ghetto Wall reminants
Warsaw Ghetto Wall reminants
Changing of the guards in front of Warsaw Presidential Palace
MOTL adults in front of Warsaw Ghetto Memorial
Warsaw Ghetto Wall reminants
Warsaw Ghetto Wall reminants
Jewish advocate article about my finding my great grandfathers headstone in Warsaw Cemetery
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Cemetery
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw Polin Jewish Museum interior
Image of Irv pictured with Great Grandfather's headstone Warsaw Cemetery
Irv pictured with Great Grandfather’s headstone Warsaw Cemetery
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806 Janus Korczak Memorial
Warsaw Ghetto Memorial
Warsaw Ghetto Memorial
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Irv with Forum President Andrzej Folwarczny
Jewish-Fighters-during-Warsaw-Ghetto-Uprising-1943
Boxcar used to transport Jewish victims to Concentration Camps
Nazi Guards on a picnic
Nazi and Polish Guards harassing Jews
Warsaw Mila 18 Ghetto resistance HQ
Warsaw Ghetto Umshlagplatz Memorial
Warsaw Mila 18 Ghetto resistance HQ
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Warsaw Jewish Cemetery established 1806
Lighting Shabbat Candles
Warsaw Ghetto wall remains
Warsaw Ghetto wall remains
Warsaw Ghetto wall remains
Warsaw Ghetto wall remains
Warsaw Ghetto wall remains
Warsaw Ghetto wall remains
Warsaw Ghetto wall remains
Warsaw Nocyk Synagogue

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