The Jewish Ghetto

Origins 

Though most recognized during WWII, the Jewish ghettos were common and the creation of them consistent among Europe all the way back to the Medieval ages. Though Jews were usually tolerated, they were still sectioned off into their "Jewish provinces."  

Though a bit offensive and a less than satisfactory living situation, the idea didn't cause any extreme resentment from the general Jewish population. 

Why?

The ghettos, initially, existed to separate the Jewish population from Christians, giving them their own neighborhoods and cities. The term is mostly used for places that Jews congregated and lived, willingly or otherwise, during World War II. These areas were used to isolate and concentrate Jews into certain areas of cities. This was used as a short term "solution"

until Nazi leadership decided what was to be done with the people. 

World war ii

The initial order for the Jewish segregation was made by Reinhard Heydrich, head of the Reich Main Security office of the SS, on September 21st, 1939. Jews were continually moved to different, more developed ghettos set up in different, bigger cities, which would then turn into a small, detached towns, led by the Judenraat, or the Jewish Council, who then answered to the SS. 

One Jewish prisoner described the ghettos to be "a prison without  a roof." Prisons, however, had consistency, whereas, in the ghettos, there weren't any reassurances of a next meal or a constant place to sleep. 

The only certainty was that these residencies were only there until Endziel, or Heydrich's final solution; wiping out the Jews.  

Living conditions

Food was scarce and basic human needs were hardly met. The ghettos were over populated, forcing many families into single apartments. Heating was rare, if there was even the option. Jews were expected to survive on 184 calories a day, a far cry from the 1,785-2,640 calories that make up the average human intake. Much of the food was smuggled in by children, though still of poor 

quality. Plumbing didn't last long, causing the inhabitants to throw their waste into the streets, adding disease to the already delicate immune systems they had. People died of all reasons in the ghetto, such as starvation, freezing, disease, brutality, or even suicide. 

Warsaw ghetto uprising

Warsaw uprising

Due to a mass deportation and execution of around 300,000 Jewish people from the Warsaw ghetto, a self-defense group was formed called the Jewish Combat Organization (ZOB), then another underground organization formed the Jewish Military Union (ZZW). At the beginning of the next deportation, a small group attacked some Nazi soldiers, stopping the exchange, allowing the Jews to disperse. 

The small success bright up morale among the roughly 750 members, motivating them to round people up and create bunkers and additional weaponry. The Nazis entered once again, losing 12 people in the exchange. About 3 weeks later, the leader of the ZOB was killed, but the Jews fought up to a month later. Destruction of the ghetto and a nearby Synagogue marked the German victory. 

BIBLOGRAPHY

"Development of the Ghettos." The Holocaust Explained. London Jewish Cultural Center, n.d. Web.

"Jewish Ghetto's During The Holocaust Www.HolocaustResearchProject.org." Jewish Ghetto's During The Holocaust Www.HolocaustResearchProject.org. H.E.A.R.T, n.d. Web. 08 Jan. 2016.
"History and Overview of Jewish Ghettos." American Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. N.p., n.d. Web.

"Jewish Warsaw." Jewish Warsaw. In Your Pocket, n.d. Web. 08 Jan. 2016.

Life in the Ghettos." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. United States Holocaust Memorial Council, n.d. Web. 08 Jan. 2016.

Coleman, Erin. "The Average Calorie Intake by a Human Per Day Versus the Recommendation." Healthy Eating. SF Gate, n.d. Web. 08 Jan. 2016.