Overview
History of Wloclawek’s Jewish Community
Source: Virtual Shtetl
Wloclawek’s origins can be traced to the mid-9th century. While the town had temporary Jewish residents earlier, the actual Jewish settlement of Wloclawek began toward the end of the 18th century. A Jewish district was established in 1823, when the Jewish population was approximately 220. The community grew significantly in the late 1800s as Jews migrated to Wloclawek from the German territories and Lithuania. One of the finest synagogues in the region was constructed there from 1847-1854. Jews played a significant role in the shtetl’s economic life between the two world wars, owning upwards of 50 percent of local businesses, and there were numerous Jewish political, cultural and educational organizations. Wloclawek was also one of the biggest publishing centers of the Jewish press in interwar Poland. By 1939, the Jewish population numbered approximately 13,000, making up about one-fifth of all residents. The Germans entered Wloclawek in September 1939, and persecution of the Jewish population began immediately. The first organized transports of Jews out of the community occurred in December of that year, with establishment of a ghetto in 1940. Liquidation of the Jews of Wloclawek started in the end of April, 1942 when ghetto residents were sent to the Lodz ghetto and to the Chelmno death camp. Following the Second World War, Jews returned to Wloclawek and formed a number of community organizations, unlike in many other towns of the region. READ MORE
Photos
Resources
- JRI-Poland Town page for Wloclawek
- “Memories of Wloclawek and Beyond” by Meyer David Alter
- Posts from Marysia Galbraith’s Uncovering Jewish Heritage blog (newest to oldest):
- Mapio.net Images of Wloclawek
ADJCP 