Krakow, Poland IV

Day 4
Krakow Jewish Ghetto
Known by it's more innocent name of the 'Jewish quarter' during WWII, Krakow Jewish Ghetto was established by the Nazi Germans in 1941, and it is said that up to 18,000 Jews lived in an area which was once only occupied by 3,000 inhabitants. Why Krakow? Poland's second largest city was the Jewish capital of the country occupying almost 80,000 Jews, therefore it was especially vulnerable. The Krakow Jewish Ghetto is outside of the Old Town past the river, but before the mountains, making it easier for the Germans to enclose and control the Jewish population in the area. From here Jews were selected and sent to various labour, death and/or concentration camps in and around Poland. After almost three years of operation, the area was liquidated in 1943 when the Soviets began to close in.