Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Introduction
- The German Policy of Extermination and Germanization of Polish Children during World War II
- A Crime without Punishment: The Extermination of Polish Children during the Period of German Occupation from 1939 to 1945
- Polish Children and Youth in Auschwitz
- Suffering of Children in Auschwitz – Biological and Mental Extermination
- When There Were No More Tears Left to Cry: The Tragic Fate of the Polish Children Displaced from the Zamość Region in 1942–1943
- Children of the Zamość Region in the Majdanek Camp (in Selected Archive Files and Personal Accounts)
- The German Camp for Juvenile Poles in Łódź at Przemysłowa Street
- The Role of Gaukinderheim Kalisch in Germanization during World War II
- The Germanization of Polish Children and Youth in Gdańsk Pomerania and the Role of the Stutthof Concentration Camp
- Children’s Experiences in the German Displacement and Forced Labor Camp in Potulice and Smukała – Memories of Female Prisoners
- The Fate of the Children of Białystok under Soviet and German Totalitarianism during World War II
- Extermination of Juvenile Scouts in the Lands of Poland during the German Occupation of 1939–1945
- The Fate of Polish Children in Allied-occupied Germany in the Years 1945–1950
- The Returns of Polish Children from German Lands and Scouting Activity at the Transitional Center in Munich. The Polish West State Banner Established by Władysław Śmiałek and Its Role in Simplifying the Fate of Polish War Orphans
The Fate of the Children of Białystok under Soviet and German Totalitarianism during World War II
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2021
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Introduction
- The German Policy of Extermination and Germanization of Polish Children during World War II
- A Crime without Punishment: The Extermination of Polish Children during the Period of German Occupation from 1939 to 1945
- Polish Children and Youth in Auschwitz
- Suffering of Children in Auschwitz – Biological and Mental Extermination
- When There Were No More Tears Left to Cry: The Tragic Fate of the Polish Children Displaced from the Zamość Region in 1942–1943
- Children of the Zamość Region in the Majdanek Camp (in Selected Archive Files and Personal Accounts)
- The German Camp for Juvenile Poles in Łódź at Przemysłowa Street
- The Role of Gaukinderheim Kalisch in Germanization during World War II
- The Germanization of Polish Children and Youth in Gdańsk Pomerania and the Role of the Stutthof Concentration Camp
- Children’s Experiences in the German Displacement and Forced Labor Camp in Potulice and Smukała – Memories of Female Prisoners
- The Fate of the Children of Białystok under Soviet and German Totalitarianism during World War II
- Extermination of Juvenile Scouts in the Lands of Poland during the German Occupation of 1939–1945
- The Fate of Polish Children in Allied-occupied Germany in the Years 1945–1950
- The Returns of Polish Children from German Lands and Scouting Activity at the Transitional Center in Munich. The Polish West State Banner Established by Władysław Śmiałek and Its Role in Simplifying the Fate of Polish War Orphans
Summary
Abstract: The purpose of this chapter is to describe the fate of the children of the Bialystok region under Soviet and German totalitarianism during World War II. These two powers conducted a policy of expansive militarization, leading to terrifying crimes, exemplified by the extermination of the Jewish and Polish populations. The lethal machinery of Hitler and Stalin did not spare children. The ruling regimes were equally ruthless and criminal towards children, not only violating fundamental rules of war, but also failing to observe the most universal human rights. Both the Nazi and Soviet occupiers deprived Polish children of the right to education, the right to normal physical development, the right to organize any form of social life, the right to their own nationality, and the right to life.
Out of the total number of children who died in the Bialystok region in 1939–1944 as a result of activities of the German and Soviet occupying powers, only about 10% died as a result of direct warfare. The overwhelming majority were victims of repressive operations. What is most shocking is the fact that small children aged from several days to 14 years old were treated with particular cruelty, about 72% of whom died, while the remaining 28% were young people aged 14 to 18.
Keywords: Białystok region, children, extermination, terror, World War II
Introduction
In the years of World War II, the Białystok region experienced two totalitarian occupations, one Soviet and one German. These gave rise to expansive militarization, leading to terrifying crimes, exemplified by the extermination of the Jewish and Polish population during the German occupation or mass deportations and shooting of Poles during the Soviet occupation. The lethal machinery of Hitler and Stalin did not spare children. The ruling regimes were equally ruthless and criminal towards children, not only violating fundamental rules of war, but also failing to observe the most universal human rights. “The Nazi occupier [and Soviet – note EK] deprived (…) Polish children of the right to education, the right to normal physical development, the right to organize any form of social life, the right to develop, the right to their own nationality, the right to life” (Hrabar, Tokarz, Wilczur, 1979, p. 31.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Crime without PunishmentThe Extermination and Suffering of Polish Children during the German Occupation 1939–1945, pp. 197 - 224Publisher: Jagiellonian University PressPrint publication year: 2022