OTD in April 1943 the #WarsawGhettoUprising began. When German troops & auxiliaries entered the ghetto to deport the remaining c.60,000 inhabitants they found themselves in what appeared to be a deserted space. Then once far enough inside, the German force was ambushed. 1/7
Jewish resistors, led by Mordechai Anielewitz, who'd gone into hiding on discovering the German plan in advance - attacked with flaming missiles. Isolated & unprepared, the German force had no choice but to retreat with embarrassment. This set a pattern for the days to come. 2/7
Humiliated & increasingly frustrated, the Germans changed their tactics. Under the command of SS Major Stroop a new approach was employed, with assault squads targeting key ghetto buildings & then setting them ablaze before withdrawing.
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By the end of April, much of the ghetto was engulfed in flames. The tide was turning in the Germans favour. Yet still those who could, held out. Months of planning & a refusal to go passively to their deaths meant the Jewish resistors held out far longer than anyone expected. 4/7
Eventually, through good fortune & brutal attrition, the resistance was broken. On May 16 the Germans took full control of the ghetto. To mark the moment, Stroop personally detonated explosives under Warsaw's Great Synagogue; the ghetto was destroyed & reduced to rubble. 5/7
The Uprising was defeated. Officially, Stroop reported that 56,065 Jews had been 'dealt with'. Yet symbolically, the men, women & children who made up that number were victorious. Against insurmountable odds they had sent a message that echoed loud & wide, then & now. 6/7
There are many themes, topics & issues raised by the #WarsawGhettoUprising. We can help you explore these. You'll find self-guided materials for students holocausteducation.org.uk/teacher-resour… & you can use our pioneering textbook 'Understanding the Holocaust' to learn more. 7/7
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