ZMIDEK FAMILY
Warsaw

Map of the Warsaw Ghetto and existing part of the ghetto wall

Commemorative plaque Ghetto wall
photo : Thomas / Sue

Remnant of the ghetto wall
Plaque donated by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM)

Original building from the ghetto
Walicow street

Original building in the ghetto
Walicow street. The white arrow indicates the building had a basement that was used as an air raid shelter.

Remnant of the ghetto wall
Near Zlota street

Remnant of the ghetto wall
Near Sienna street

Remnant of the ghetto wall
Near Sienna street. Tomasz is describing the significance of the wall to us.

Sue and Marq
photo : Thomas

Nozyk synagogue.
The only prewar synagogue existing in Warsaw today
photo : Thomas / Sue
photo : Thomas / Sue

Nożyk Synagogue
photo : Thomas / Sue

Nozyk synagogue
The only prewar synagogue existing in Warsaw today

from the womens gallery , Nozyk synagogue
photo : Thomas / Sue

Nozyk synagogue

Marq inside the Nozyk synagogue

Nozyk synagogue

Inside the Nozyk synagogue

Monument to Ghetto Heroes
Monument commemorating the fighters of the Warsaw ghetto uprisng 19th April - 16th May 1943
the monument is made from materials brought to Warsaw by the Nazis for the construction works of Albert Speer
photo : Thomas / Sue

Listening to Tomasz by the Monument to Ghetto Heroes
photo : Thomas / Sue

Mila 18 memorial
The site of the bunker used as the headquarters for the Jewish Combat Organisation (ZOB) during the Ghetto Uprising
On May 8, 1943, three weeks after the start of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the bunker was discovered by the Nazis. There were around 300 people inside. The smugglers surrendered but the ŻOB command, including Mordechaj Anielewicz, the leader of the uprising, stood firm. The Nazis threw tear gas into the shelter to force the occupants out. Anielewicz, and many of his fighters committed mass suicide by ingesting poison rather than surrender.
The bodies were never exhumed and the site today is both a memorial and a grave.
On May 8, 1943, three weeks after the start of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the bunker was discovered by the Nazis. There were around 300 people inside. The smugglers surrendered but the ŻOB command, including Mordechaj Anielewicz, the leader of the uprising, stood firm. The Nazis threw tear gas into the shelter to force the occupants out. Anielewicz, and many of his fighters committed mass suicide by ingesting poison rather than surrender.
The bodies were never exhumed and the site today is both a memorial and a grave.

Reciting Kaddish at Mila 18

Mila 18 memorial

Mila 18 memorial
All the names of the fighters known to have died here appear on the memorial

Yitzhak Suknik (or Sukenik)
Yitzhak's grandmother Mariam was David Zmidek's sister.
Yitzhak fought alongside, and saved the life of Mordechaj Anielewicz, leader of the ZOB.
On May 7, he and a small party left the bunker via the sewers to make contact with others outside the ghetto to try to find an escape route out of the ghetto. The group was ambushed when they exited the sewers and most were killed.
Yitzhak fought alongside, and saved the life of Mordechaj Anielewicz, leader of the ZOB.
On May 7, he and a small party left the bunker via the sewers to make contact with others outside the ghetto to try to find an escape route out of the ghetto. The group was ambushed when they exited the sewers and most were killed.

Jeff at Mila 18.
The memorial, a small mound, is made from the rubble of the building that once stood here

Former Gestapo building
Near the Umschlagplatz, the assembly point from where Jews were deported to the Nazi death camps

Memorial at Umschlagplatz
Umschlagplatz means collection point and is the name given to the holding areas near to railway stations used by the Nazis for the transporations.
it is estimated that close to 300,000 Jews were transported from here to Treblinka.
it is estimated that close to 300,000 Jews were transported from here to Treblinka.

Steve
photo : Thomas / Sue

Steve , tomasz,Jeff
photo : Thomas / Sue

Marq at the Umschlagplatz memorial

Marq the Umschlagplatz memorial

Marq the Umschlagplatz memorial
photo : Thomas / Sue

The memorial at the Umschlagplatz

Memorial commemorating the fighters of the Warsaw Uprising
the monument in Krainski Square commemorates the Warsaw uprising of 1944

Memorial commemorating the fighters of the Warsaw Uprising

Memorial commemorating the fighters of the Warsaw Uprising

Memorial commemorating the fighters of the Warsaw Uprising
The smaller parts of the monumnet depicts the fighters leaving the sewers they used to travel around German occupied areas
photo : Thomas / Sue
photo : Thomas / Sue

Memorial commemorating the fighters of the Warsaw Uprising
The smaller parts of the monumnet depicts the fighters leaving the sewers they used to travel around German occupied areas
photo : Thomas / Sue
photo : Thomas / Sue

Harry and John in the Castle Square in the Old town
photo : Thomas / Sue

Sue in the old Market S , Old town
photo : Thomas

Entrance to the Jewish cemetery Okopowa street
photo : Thomas / Sue

Okopowa street cemetery
Lois at the memorial commemorating the Jewish children murdered by the Nazis

Memorial commemorating the 1,000,000 Jewish children murdered by the Nazis

Memorial to Janusz Korczak at Okopowa cemetery
Janusz Korczak was a teacher, childrens' author and director of an orphanage in the ghetto. In August 1942, German soldiers arrived to collect the children for transportation to Treblinka. They offered Korczak sanctuary but he refused to be parted from the children. Instead, he accompanied them to the death camp, telling them they were going on a trip to the country.

Map of the route taken by Korczak from the orphanage to the Umschalgplatz

Plaque donated by Anna Suknik

Gabrielle in the Okopowa cemetery

Alex at the grave of Marek Edelman
Marek Edelman was a cardiologist and leading Polish political figure and activist.
Before World War II, he was a General Jewish Labour Bund activist. During the war he co-founded the Jewish Combat Organization (ŻOB). He took part in the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, becoming its leader after the death of Mordechaj Anielewicz. He also took part in the citywide 1944 Warsaw Uprising, and was the last surving leader of the uprising
photo : Thomas / Sue
Before World War II, he was a General Jewish Labour Bund activist. During the war he co-founded the Jewish Combat Organization (ŻOB). He took part in the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, becoming its leader after the death of Mordechaj Anielewicz. He also took part in the citywide 1944 Warsaw Uprising, and was the last surving leader of the uprising
photo : Thomas / Sue

John, closely followed by Alex and David

Lois and David at the Okopowa cemetery