In December of 1939, the first curfew for Jews was enforced: they had to remain in their house from 9pm-5am. In April of 1940 when Jews were moved to ghettos, a new curfew was enforced from 7pm-7am. Separate stores were designated for Jewish people to buy groceries and shop in; like this one shown above.
After some time, food rations began: a smaller portion was given to Jewish people. Also, Jewish people were no longer allowed to ride public transportation, and a lot of property was forfeited including radios, cameras, bicycles, valuable jewelry, and electric appliances.
Ghettos were meant to be temporary holding places of Jewish people; however, many lasted for weeks, months, and some even years! The majority of people who were staying in the ghettos died from starvation, disease, getting shot, or by being deported to a killing center. Very few people were able to escape ghettos and go into hiding, as German Police (Gestapos), monitored and guarded the ghettos very closely.
A lot was forbidden in the ghettos by the Nazis: schools, libraries, music, and other leisure activities. Because of this, people moslty sat down on the ground wherever they could find an empty spot.
All Jews over the age of six had to wear a yellow star of David out in public at all times. Nazis made Jews wear the stars to humiliate, segregate, watch and control them, and it was easier to decide which people to deport. Also, all Jewish stores were marked with a yellow star.
In the Warsaw ghetto, Jews were forced to wear a white armband with a blue star of David on their left arm.
Bibliography
"German Jews during the Holocaust, 1939–1945." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.
"Ghettos." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.
"Jewish Badge." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.
Soumerai, Eve Nussbaum and Carol D. Schulz. "Coping with Life in a Concentration Camp." Daily Life through History, ABC-CLIO, 2017, dailylife.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/1440308. Accessed 20 Mar. 2017.
"The Yellow Star." The British Library - The British Library. Http://www.bl.uk/copyrightstatement.html, 06 Jan. 2006. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.
"Warsaw." Learning About the Holocaust: A Student's Guide, edited by Ronald M. Smelser, vol. 4, Macmillan Reference USA, 2001, pp. 115-129. World History in Context, libraries.state.ma.us/login?gwurl=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3034500284/WHIC?u=mlin_m_woodhs&xid=54a8e93b. Accessed 20 Mar. 2017.
