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The Destruction of Jewish Cemeteries in Poland offers a comprehensive examination of the history of Jewish cemeteries in Poland, shedding light on an overlooked aspect of Holocaust history. Beginning with the settlement of Jewish communities in Poland, the book covers the establishment and subsequent destruction of over 1,200 Jewish cemeteries within the country's present borders. Krzysztof Bielawski draws on meticulous research and firsthand experience to explore the complex dynamics behind the destruction, exposing the roles played by various actors. Through a detailed analysis of texts, iconographic sources, and archival materials, the book not only documents the destruction but also seeks to identify the perpetrators, challenging common misconceptions and offering a nuanced perspective on this dark chapter in history.
You may support the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage, where the author works, at www.fodz.pl.
List of contents
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: The Destruction of Jewish Cemeteries
Chapter 3: Jewish Cemeteries in Poland before 1939
Chapter 4: The Destruction of Jewish Cemeteries in the Territory of Current-Day Poland, 1933-1945
4.1 Cemeteries during the Third Reich
4.2 Destruction, Desecration, and Administration of Property in Areas Conquered by the Third Reich
4.3 Destruction as a Result of Military Operations
4.4 Participation by Local Populations in the Destruction of Cemeteries, 1939–1945
Chapter 5: The Destruction of Cemeteries after 1945
5.1. The Role of the Polish State as Legislator
5.2. Practical Actions by the State Related to the Destruction of Cemeteries
5.3. State Policy regarding Jewish Cemeteries after 1989
5.4. Participation of the Local Population in the Destruction of Cemeteries after 1945
5.5. Archeological Operations in Jewish Cemeteries
Chapter 6: The Destruction of Cemeteries as Perceived by the Jews
Chapter 7: The Reactions of Poles to the Destruction of Cemeteries
Chapter 8: Jewish Initiatives to Protect Cemeteries
Summary
Sources
Index of Towns
Index of Names
About the author
Krzysztof Bielawski is a historian, Jewish-cemetery researcher, and genealogist. He is a graduate of the Institute of History at the University of Warsaw, specializing in Jewish Studies, and is currently a PhD student at University of Warsaw. From 2009 to 2024 Bielawski served as the Jewish heritage specialist at POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews. He's currently Project Coordinator at the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage. He started the website Jewish Cemeteries in Poland (www.cmentarze-zydowskie.pl) in 2005 and has authored various articles on Jewish cemeteries and funeral customs and Jewish life in Poland after 1944.
Summary
The Destruction of Jewish Cemeteries in Poland offers a comprehensive examination of the history of Jewish cemeteries in Poland, shedding light on an overlooked aspect of Holocaust history. Beginning with the settlement of Jewish communities in Poland, the book covers the establishment and subsequent destruction of over 1,200 Jewish cemeteries within the country's present borders. Krzysztof Bielawski draws on meticulous research and firsthand experience to explore the complex dynamics behind the destruction, exposing the roles played by various actors. Through a detailed analysis of texts, iconographic sources, and archival materials, the book not only documents the destruction but also seeks to identify the perpetrators, challenging common misconceptions and offering a nuanced perspective on this dark chapter in history.
You may support the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage, where the author works, at www.fodz.pl.
