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Schindler's Krakow
Nazi Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939 and five days later Krakow fell. Hans Frank's General Government then subjected the Polish and Jews to four and a half years of terror.
The story begins with the plundering of the city's treasures, the relocation of the people and the first arrests and executions. The Jews were soon confined to Podgorze Ghetto, where they were forced to work in factories such as Oskar Schindler's. The terror increased with deportations and the bloody liquidation of the ghetto as the Jews were moved into Amon G�th's Plaszow concentration camp. Selections and murders followed, while Schindler bribed and conned his way to save his workforce before moving them to his Sudetenland home town. The Polish underground also fought back through sabotage, assassinations and propaganda, until the Soviets captured Krakow.
This is an essential guide to Krakow - a city of contrasts, with a medieval center and communist-era outskirts. Rawson details the relevant sights, including the Jewish Quarter, Wawel Castle, Podgorze Ghetto and Plaszow camp. He also explores the relevant museums, including the Schindler factory, the Gestapo headquarters and the Home Army Museum. The city is an ideal base for visiting nearby Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The story begins with the plundering of the city's treasures, the relocation of the people and the first arrests and executions. The Jews were soon confined to Podgorze Ghetto, where they were forced to work in factories such as Oskar Schindler's. The terror increased with deportations and the bloody liquidation of the ghetto as the Jews were moved into Amon G�th's Plaszow concentration camp. Selections and murders followed, while Schindler bribed and conned his way to save his workforce before moving them to his Sudetenland home town. The Polish underground also fought back through sabotage, assassinations and propaganda, until the Soviets captured Krakow.
This is an essential guide to Krakow - a city of contrasts, with a medieval center and communist-era outskirts. Rawson details the relevant sights, including the Jewish Quarter, Wawel Castle, Podgorze Ghetto and Plaszow camp. He also explores the relevant museums, including the Schindler factory, the Gestapo headquarters and the Home Army Museum. The city is an ideal base for visiting nearby Auschwitz-Birkenau.
143 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2015
41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 21, 2015
Schindler’s Krakow – A City Under the Nazis
After the Second World War my Great Grandmother who once released from Siberia was rehoused in to a house in what had been in the old Jewish Quarter in Krakow, by the Soviet Union. It was always on her mind that even though she was once again free, she could not get out of her mind of what had happened to the house’s former owners, under the Nazi regime.
Krakow has always held a special place in Polish conscience, in that it was once the capital of Poland, and by far one of the most beautiful. The place where Pope John Paul had been the local Archbishop and Catholicism runs very deep in this City.
Andrew Rawlings in his book Schindler’ Krakow has written an illustrated history and guide to the Krakow of those years when Krakow was central to Nazi occupation of Poland. This was also the city that Oskar Schindler tried to save as many Jews as he could from certain death in the camps, Auschwitz is 30 miles outside the city and then there was Plaszow a lot closer and whose commandant had a villa in the City. One which is falling in to disrepair today and generally abused by the locals.
This book can guide you around where the Ghetto was and some of the buildings that were used still standing and in use today, as is the Gestapo’s headquarters of the time, and there is a picture of it as it is today. As well as explains how Schindler came to be in Krakow during the war and where the factory was.
This book guides you to the Battle for Poland and how the Nazis took Krakow and how they then consolidated their position, especially more so when Hans Frank came to run the Government of Occupation. So he deals with how life went on with the backdrop of round-ups and summary executions by the Nazi soldiers.
It also covers the Home Army of which members of my family were part of, as well as explains about the State and Government in exile. It also explains the various politically motivated military organisations that were fighting for the hearts and minds of the Poles.
Over 134 pages you are guided around the City of Krakow as well as giving you tips if you wish to visit the City. This is an excellent short history and guide to the City of Krakow and how it was under the Nazis.
After the Second World War my Great Grandmother who once released from Siberia was rehoused in to a house in what had been in the old Jewish Quarter in Krakow, by the Soviet Union. It was always on her mind that even though she was once again free, she could not get out of her mind of what had happened to the house’s former owners, under the Nazi regime.
Krakow has always held a special place in Polish conscience, in that it was once the capital of Poland, and by far one of the most beautiful. The place where Pope John Paul had been the local Archbishop and Catholicism runs very deep in this City.
Andrew Rawlings in his book Schindler’ Krakow has written an illustrated history and guide to the Krakow of those years when Krakow was central to Nazi occupation of Poland. This was also the city that Oskar Schindler tried to save as many Jews as he could from certain death in the camps, Auschwitz is 30 miles outside the city and then there was Plaszow a lot closer and whose commandant had a villa in the City. One which is falling in to disrepair today and generally abused by the locals.
This book can guide you around where the Ghetto was and some of the buildings that were used still standing and in use today, as is the Gestapo’s headquarters of the time, and there is a picture of it as it is today. As well as explains how Schindler came to be in Krakow during the war and where the factory was.
This book guides you to the Battle for Poland and how the Nazis took Krakow and how they then consolidated their position, especially more so when Hans Frank came to run the Government of Occupation. So he deals with how life went on with the backdrop of round-ups and summary executions by the Nazi soldiers.
It also covers the Home Army of which members of my family were part of, as well as explains about the State and Government in exile. It also explains the various politically motivated military organisations that were fighting for the hearts and minds of the Poles.
Over 134 pages you are guided around the City of Krakow as well as giving you tips if you wish to visit the City. This is an excellent short history and guide to the City of Krakow and how it was under the Nazis.
September 11, 2018
Like many other books I have read about WW2, this book was recommended to me by a friend. It was an interesting read with many facts that I hadnt read elsewhere.
The information told in this book is entirely heartbreaking. Even after all the books I have read and the courses I have completed, I still find it upsetting to read of children buried alive on top of corpses, mass public executions and the ash of loved ones being burnt falling around them. Let us never forget the trauma these innocent people endured.
The information told in this book is entirely heartbreaking. Even after all the books I have read and the courses I have completed, I still find it upsetting to read of children buried alive on top of corpses, mass public executions and the ash of loved ones being burnt falling around them. Let us never forget the trauma these innocent people endured.
May 2, 2019
hard read
September 28, 2016
Great insight into history of Kraków as I read to familiarise with areas to visit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews