80: Gesiowska Camp

 

80 years ago today (August 5, 1944) Polish Home Army Soldiers fighting in the Warsaw Uprising against the Germans freed 348 Jewish Men and Women from the Gesiowka Camp (KL-Warshau.)

The vast majority of these liberated Inmates joined in the Warsaw Uprising where most died (many by the Germans, but some from Anti-Semitic Poles.)

Located in the ruins of the Warsaw Ghetto (which was destroyed during the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising where 56,065 Jewish Men, Women and Children were murdered over 29 days)

The Germans ran this Camp to force the Inmates to clean -up the ruins of the Warsaw Ghetto and collect Household Goods and Clothing that would be sent to Germany.

The Camp was operational from July 19, 1943–5 August 5, 1944 and held 9,000 Jewish Inmates.

5,000 of the Inmates were murdered by the Germans at the Camp (the rest were sent to Other Camps.)

It was the only German Camp in Poland liberated by the Resistance.