Poland Key Places

Members of the Boys were born in Poland.

The Boys were teenage and child-Holocaust survivors, who were brought to the UK after the war for rest and rehabilitation.

Members of the Boys were held in Nazi labour and concentration camps and used as slave labourers. They had also survived World War II in hiding or as lone children.

Poland Key Facts

Capital: Warsaw

Population 1939: Approximately 35,100,000

Jewish Population in 1939: Approximately 3,300,000

Present-day Population: Approximately 37,800,000

Present-day Jewish Population: Estimated 10,000 to 20,000

Map of modern-day Poland.
Modern-day Poland.

The Boys from Poland

Members of the Boys were born across Poland. Other members of the Boys were deported to Poland and also endured slave labour in the Nazi concentration and slave labour camps. Some members of the Boys were hidden by Christian Poles while others survived alone.

Members of the Boys were born in three of Poland’s principal cities:


The Ghettos

The Nazis established an extensive system of ghettos in Poland after the German invasion of September 1939. To find out more about the history of ghettos in Poland and to see a full list of the ghettos where the Boys were imprisoned with their families click here.

Members of the Boys were held in the Litzmannstadt (Łódż) Ghetto which was the longest surviving ghetto. It was liquidated in the summer of 1944.

There was an extensive Jewish resistance movement in the ghettos. The most famous ghetto uprising took place in the Warsaw Ghetto.

The largest ghetto was in Minsk, then in Poland but now in Belarus.


The Extermination Camps

The families of the Boys were murdered in both mass shootings and in the extermination camps set up by the Nazis in German occupied Poland. The extermination camps were:

Chełmno

Period of operation: December 1941-January 1945

Bełżec

Period of operation: March-December 1942

Sobibór

Period of operation: May-July 1942 & October 1942-October 1943

Treblinka

Period of operation: July 1942-August 1943

Majdanek

Period of operation: September 1942-July 1944

Auschwitz II-Birkenau

Period of operation: March 1942-January 1945

Map of Nazi extermination camps
Map of Nazi extermination camps

The Labour & Concentration Camps

Photograph of the Hasag camp in the Częstochowa Ghetto.
Hasag camp in the Częstochowa Ghetto.

When the ghettos were liquidated members of the Boys were taken as slave labourers. To find out more about the story of the Boys in Nazi concentration camp system click here.

Three of the most important camps in the story of the Boys in German occupied Poland were:


The Boys born in pre-war Poland

Adler, David
Aizen, Chaim
Aizenberg, Jack
Alexandrowicz, Lola
Alterman, Icek
Bajer, Jacob
Baker, Sidney
Balsam, Hersch
Banach, Jacob
Barnes (née Rosenman), Roma
Bart, Yankel
Baumel, Martin
Baumelgruen, Isaac
Beale, Mendel*
Beeri (née Esterreicher), Tilla
Beil, Abraham
Benedikt, Salek
Berger, Fischel
Bergmann, Hersch
Berliner, Szyja
Bernacki, Chaskiel
Berstein (née Dreybus), Fela
Beserman, Moses
Binenstock, Benek
Binke, Schlomo
Blachash (née Laskier), Ruzena
Blumsztajn, Fishel

Bomstyk, Majer

Borgenicht, David

Borgenstein, Samuel

Brastman, Hersch

Braunheim, Solomon
Brenner, Chaim
Brenner, Zysel
Broch, Abraham
Brodman, Stella
Brown, Henry
Brunstein (née Zylberberg), Esther*
Buki, Moniek
Bulwa, Jacob
Bulwa, Abraham
Burgerman, Moniek
Cederbaum, Joseph
Chandler, Howard
Chandler, Harry
Cooper, Sam
Cornell, Majer
Cwajgenbaum, Szlamek
Czeret, Arie
Czimet, Aranka
Dagan, Zvi
Davidowicz, Greta
Denderowicz, David
Dessau, Kopel
Diament, Samuel
Diamond, Maurice
Dicter, Avrom
Dreihorn, Bernard*
Dresner, Samuel
Dzialowski, Fajwel
Elkienbaum, Abraham
Ellen, Henry
Englard, Benek
Erreich, Abraham
Erreich, Salomon
Etkind, Michael
Fajman, Salomon
Fajngcesycht, Jacob
Fajwlowicz (née Kaufmann), Adela
Faull, Stanley
Feldman, Abraham
Ferstendig, Isaac
Fersztand, Jakob
Fijalko, Josef
Finkel, Sidney
Fisch (née Klein), Hetty
Fish, Eric
Fishelberg, Chiel
Flasz, Mechel
Fogel (née Dajch), Rose
Fox, John
Fox, Harry
Frajkorn, Mendel
Freiman, Sam
Frenkel, Moniek*
Friedel (née Warszawska), Estera
Fruchtzweig, David
Frydenberg, Berek
Frydenberg, Laib
Frydman, Israel
Frydman, Nachman
Frydman, Simon
Frydman, Gershon
Fuchs, Joseph
Gardner, Sam
Gast, Paul
Geldman, Moses
Geller, Chaim
Gerstein, Josef
Glazier, Henoch
Glicksohn, Jacob
Gold, Harold
Goldberg, Moniek
Goldberger, Jan
Golde, Henry
Goldstein, Abraham
Gontarz, Sam*
Goodman, Lea*
Goshen (née Landau), Rivka
Gottleib (née Grynbaum), Gutta
Grabia, Abraham
Graham, Monty
Green, Henry
Gross, Franja
Gross, Zbyszek
Grossman, Isaac
Grossman, Pinkus
Gutman, Wolf
Gutt, Witold
Gutter, Pinchas
Hahn, Issy*
Halter, Roman
Hausman, Rela
Hebel, Pinchas
Hejnochowitz, Abraham
Helgfott, Ben
Hersch, Mayer
Hersch, Arek
Herskovic, Dora
Herszberg, Jerzy
Herszkowicz, David
Herzkovic, Aneska
Herzkowitz, Josef
Hilf, Chaim
Hilton, Samuel
Himmelfarb, Wolf
Hirschfeld, Moniek
Hirschfeld, David
Hopf, Arnost
Hubermann, Abraham
Ingielman, Charlie
Irving, Solly
Itzinger (née Ferkete), Elizabeth
Jackson , Raymond
Jakubovicz, Rela
Jakubowic, Armand Otto
Jay (née Munta), Minia
Jonisz, David
Josef, Marketa
Judkiewicz, Chaim
Junger, Samuel
Kacenberg (née Szorer), Mala
Kadyshewitz, Kive
Kadyshewitz, Elias
Kadysiewicz, Hil
Kagan, Jack*
Kallos, Gabriel
Kalmowicz, Simon
Kaminski, Motek
Kamionka, Motek
Kampel, Fischel
Katz, Bernard
Kaufman (née Balsam), Jadwiga
Kaye (née Bernholz), Sala
Kendall, Kopel
Kestenberg, David
Kirszberg, Abraham
Klajman, Jankiel
Klajnman, Chemia
Klappholz, Kurt
Kleinman, Kazriel
Klin, Simon
Klotz, Marcus
Knobel, Marie
Kochen, Ellek
Kohn, Chaim
Kohn, Josef
Kohn, Erika
Kolacz, Israel
Korman, Chaim
Kornfeld, Bernard
Koronitzky, Itzhak
Koziwoda, Moniek
Kraus, Favla
Krowicki, Jacob
Kura, Jacob
Kurnedz, Pinkas
Kurtz, Jan
Kusmiersi, Jacob
Kusnirowski, Szaja
Kuszer, Binem
Kuszerman, Szlama
Kuszerman (née Koperwas), Ryfka
Kutner, David
Kutner, Isek
Laskier, Schmul
Laufer, Abraham
Lecker, Simon
Lee, Michael*
Lenczner, David
Lerner, Etel
Lerner (née Perlmutter), Blanka
Lesiak (née Kohn), Estera
Lev, Perez
Lewenstein, Motek
Lewkowicz, Mordka
Lewkowicz, Chaim
Lichtenberg, Samuel
Liebermann, Moric
Liebermann, Simche
Light, Isadore
Lipski, Abraham
Lipski (née Korman), Blanche
Liss, Chaim
Litwin, Icek
Litwin, Mordka
Lustgarden, Moniek
Malinicky, Moses
Markovic, Moric
Markow, Sam
Martino (née Fischler), Janina*
Melton, Michael
Melzer, Jacob
Moncarz, Jacob
Morgenstern, Abraham
Moscowicz, Josef
Neumark, Joseph
Newton, Benny
Newton-Katz (née Hochspiegel), Sala
Nisenbaum, Bronislaw
Novice, Michael
Nurtman, Moshe
Obuchowski, Berek
Oliner, Samuel
Olmer, Harry
Orenstein, Salek
Orzech, Chaskiel
Orzech, Shlomoh Reuven
Pakula, Josef
Pantoffelmacher, Salomon
Parker, Jerry
Pawlowski, Abraham
Perlmutter, Mayer
Peterson, David
Pfefferkorn, Eliasz
Pinczewski, Moshe
Pivnik, Sam*
Pivnik, Natan*
Platt (née Dobrowolska), Masha
Pohlmann (née Stern), Lili*
Pomerance, Issac
Popiel, Szaja
Poznanski, Artek
Poznanski, Jerzy
Preston, Michael
Pretter, Mendel
Rajzman, Yitzhak
Rayber, Baruch
Rents, Joe
Richter, Rela
Richter, Leiser
Riseman, Alexander
Robertson (née Blit), Wlodka*
Robeson, Leo*
Rolnik, Natan
Rose, Henry
Rosenbaum, Moniek
Rosenberg, Abraham
Rosenberg, Leon
Rosenberg, Vilem
Rosenberg, Moshe
Rosenberg (née Manela), Stefa
Rosenberg (née Rubin), Viola
Rosenblat, Herman
Rosenblatt, Zelig
Rosenblum, Chaskiel
Rosenfeld, Vera
Rosengarten, Samuel
Rosenweig, Naftali
Rotbaum, Josek
Rotenstein, Mendel
Roth, Mike
Rothman, Benjamin
Rothman, Leopold
Rotstein, Rywen
Rottenberg, Pinkas Eliasz
Rubinfeld, Israel
Rubinstein, Abram
Rudzinski, Kopel
Ruzka Goldman (née Kalman), Ruzka
Saks, Henry
Salomon, Abraham
Salzberg, Mirjam
Schoenberger, Elias
Schottland, Moniek
Schreier (née Weingarten), Edita
Schulsinger, Abraham
Schwarcz, Abraham
Schwimmer, Zisha
Schwitzer, Bella
Segal, Joshua
Seligfeld, Motek
Shane, Charles
Shannon, Moniek
Shipper, Zygmunt*
Silberstein, Menachem
Simkievic, Edek
Smith (neé Zeigler), Anna
Sommer, David
Spiro, Harry
Stein, Emil
Steinkeller, Moses
Steinmann, Leon
Stern, Edita
Stern, Michael
Stimler (née Krakowska), Barbara*
Stone, Joe
Strauss, Renata
Strobecki, Jacob
Suskin, Harry
Svimmer, Chaim
Swinik, Aron
Swinik, Chaim
Szajnzicht, Cesia
Szebov, Moric
Szurek, Dan
Szwartzberg, Zenek
Szyler, Szmul
Tabacznik, Motel
Tarko, Joine
Tarko (née Goldhersz), Lola
Tepper, Leopold
Topel, Mordechai
Topel (née Koslowska), Esther
Tribich (née Helfgott), Mala
Trilling, Liliana
Troper, Jankiel
Trzebiner, Salomon
Tuch, Moritz
Turek, David
Urbas (neé Wurzel), Bluma
Vogelhut, Hirsch
Wagshal, Leon
Wajnryt, Heniek
Waksztok, Menachem
Wald, Nathan
Waldmann, Joseph
Walshaw, Sam
Walters, Alec
Ward, Alec
Warsznitzer, Hersch
Wegier, Jerzy*
Weinberger, Samuel
Weiner, Michael
Weinstock, Roman
Weinstock, Herman
Weiss, Julius
Weissbaum, Israel
Weissburg, Ruth
Weizenbluth, Sam
Wertman, Abraham
Widansky, Mosek

Wiernik, David
Wilder, Krulik
Winogrodzki, Rafael
Witelsohn, Wolf
Wolfman (née Fajerman), Shelia
Wolfowicz, Benek
Wolkowicz, Stephen
Wolreich, Abraham
Wurzel, Berek
Zaks, Simon
Zamel, Hirsch
Zwirek, Abraham ‘Mick’
Zylberberg, Perec
Zylberger, Julek
Zylberszac, Aron

Photograph of Nat Pivnik 1945
Photograph of Mendel Silberstein in England.
Photograph of Sam Pivnik in 1945.
Photograph of Harry Balsam.
Photograph of 1945 July, Prague, Czechoslovakia.
Photograph of Estera Warszawska
Photograph of Stephen Wolkowitz just after the liberation.
Joe Rents in Windermere
Jacob Banach in Windermere 1945
Jack Aizenberg in Windermere in 1945
Rafael Winogradski in Windermere in 1945
Photograph of Mala Tribich
Photograph of Ben Helfgott, Windermere 1945
Photograph of Roman Halter.
Photograph of Minia Jay in Windermere, 1945.
Photograph of Isaac Pomerance
Photograph of Harry Chandler
Photograph of Charlie Shane.
Photograph of Bluma Wurzel Urbas in Manchester in 1945.
Photograph of Masha Platt in Manchester in 1945.
Photograph of Sidney Baker
Windermere 1945/First Group
Henry Brown in Windermere in 1945
Unknown in Windermere 1945
Windermere 1945/First Group
Elias Kadyshewitz 1946
Unknown in Windermere 1945
Unknown in Windermere 1945
Henry Golde in Windermere 1945
Photograph of Harry Olmer in Windermere in 1945.
Photograph of Harry Spiro in Windermere 1945.
Leon Rosenberg in Windermere in 1945
Schmiel Rosengarten in Windermere in 1945
Abram Pawlowski in Windermere in 1945
Aron Zylbersac in Windermere 1945
Berek Wurzel
Photograph of the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes, Warsaw, Poland.
Photograph of shoes at the Auschwitz Memorial and Museum in Poland.
Photograph of the New Jewish cemetery tombstones, Brzesko, Poland.
Photograph of Dolina, Poland.
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