What was it like to live in a Jewish

Ghetto?
“We have entered into a new life, and it is impossible to
imagine the panic that has arisen in the Jewish Quarter.
Suddenly we see ourselves penned in on all sides. We are
segregated and separated from the world and the
fullness thereof, driven out of the society of the human
race.”
Diary entry, Jewish resident of a Warsaw ghetto

What does this tell us about the start of the Jewish

ghettos?

LI
- to understand what life was like in a Jewish ghetto
What was it like to live in a Jewish
Ghetto?
Beginning in 1939, Jews throughout German-
controlled Poland were forced to move into
ghettos—specific areas of cities and towns
that were separated from the rest of the
population.

Jews had to leave behind their homes and

most of their possessions when they moved
to ghettos; while families were generally able
to stay together, space was crowded, with
multiple families sharing one apartment. 

There were around 1,100 Jewish ghettos

 This shows the
placement of the
Jewish ghettos
throughout Nazi
Europe. What can
you see which is
quite interesting
about their
placement?

There are none in

Germany – they
are mainly in
Poland and Eastern
Europe.
What was it like to live in a Jewish
Ghetto?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbpEN_P0K-g

While watching the video make notes about what life was like in the
ghetto.

1.What positive aspects does it show?

2.What negative aspects does it show?
What was it like to live in a Jewish
Ghetto?
Read through the diary entry on the sheet and answer the following
Extension: we have many surviving diaries
in full sentences in your books. from the ghettos. How do these help
historians?

1. What was the purpose of separating the Jews from the rest of
society?
2. What was the affect of the ghettos on the Jewish people?
3. What details in the diary entry show the impact the ghettos had
on the families who lived there.
What was it like to live in a Jewish
Ghetto?
What was the purpose of separating the Jews from the rest of society?
To create a divide between the German and Jewish people. To continue
to dehumanise Jewish people. To stop any form of resistance to the Nazi
policies.
What was the affect of the ghettos on the Jewish people?
They were being starved to death. They were treated as prisoners and
would feel scared.
What details in the diary entry show the impact the ghettos had on the
families who lived there.
There were fights as they were so hungry. Parents would be worried
about the future of their children.
What was it like to live in a Jewish
Ghetto?

Explain the significance of the ghettos on the Jewish population. (8 marks)

We are going to break down how to answer the significance question in the exam.
You need to consider three areas for answering this question:
1. Look at facts about the Jewish ghettos: what historical knowledge would you
include? E.g. what were the ghettos, where were they, how many was there?
2. Look at the affect of the ghettos on the people, while they were in the
ghettos - short term affects
3. Look at the longer term affects – what were the consequences of the
ghettos in the longer term – e.g. long term affects on the inhabitants and what
came next.
What was it like to live in a Jewish
Ghetto?

What affect it had What affect it had

on the mental health on the physical
of the Jews? health of the Jews

Short term
consequences
What affect did
the separation from
society have on the
Jews?
What was it like to live in a Jewish
Ghetto?
What affect it had on
the mental health of
the Jews that would be
a long term affects?
What affect would the
bringing together of
Germans and Jews after
the war have on both
sides?

Long term
consequences
Which country was Where were many
created after Jews sent after
WWII as a Jewish the ghettoes?
state?
What was it like to live in a Jewish
Ghetto?
Pull your information together and plan your final answer:

Paragraph one
• What the ghettos were, why there were Jews in them
• Where they were, how many there were
• Short term consequences – which ones would you choose to write about

Paragraph two
• Long term consequences – which ones would you choose to write about?