During the interwar period, the Jewish community living in Krakow consisted of approximately 60,000 people. However, right before WWII broke out and a couple of months into the war, Krakow became a shelter for Jews from other cities in
Lesser Poland, Warsaw, Lodz or Kalisz, who were relocated by force to the General Government by the Germans occupying Poland. At the turn of 1939 and 1940, the estimated number of 70,000 Jews lived in Krakow and in the neighbouring boroughs. Approximately 2,000 of them survived the war.
Pre-war Krakow was the centre of the Jewish culture. All reputable Jewish organisations, societies and institutions operated here. A variety of political and religious parties were present. The majority of the Jewish community, deeply rooted in the city’s life, were assimilated. The first record of the Jewish inhabitants in the city dates back to as early as 11th century.
Nowadays, it is incredibly important to remind about the wealth, the cultural, social and scientific achievements of Krakow Jews, irretrievably lost due to the German occupiers. We must remember about the suffering and the holocaust of the residents of Kazimierz and other districts of the city of Krakow.
The publication you are now holding in your hands is a result of an exhibition under the same title, which was opened on 12 th March 2023, on the eve of the 80 th anniversary of the Krakow ghetto liquidation carried out by the Germans.
