See on a map
Updated: 11-07-2025
Added: 07-07-2023
Bałucki Rynek was the main square of the Bałuty district and of the ghetto. All departments of the German administration located within the ghetto held offices there, including the headquarters of the Head of the Council of Elders. The former consisted of the offices of the Elder of the Jews (Central Secretariat Baluter-Ring), the Central Bureau of Labor Divisions, and the Goods Receiving Point Baluter-Ring (not to be confused with the Goods Receiving Point Radegast).
Bałucki Rynek was in a certain sense the neutral zone of the ghetto, where Jews and Germans still came in contact with each other as necessary. Bałucki Marketsquare was completely separated from the rest of the ghetto by a wire fence and two gates. The first gate at Zgierska St. was the entrance for people and cars into the city. The second gate led to the ghetto through Łagiewnicka St. Both gates were guarded by the constabulary Schupo on the German side and by the Order Service on the Jewish side. To gain admittance through the gate toward Zgierska St., it was necessary to obtain a permit issued by the german police.
Access from the ghetto side was restricted to people who worked in Bałucki Rynek and to the Head of the Council of Elders officials; authorization was designated by a yellow band worn on the left arm. Initially, the Chairman received petitioners at the appointed time in Bałucki Marketsquare, then later in the guardroom of the Order Service on Łagiewnicka St. opposite Bałucki Marketsquare. People not in constant contact with Bałucki Marketsquare could not pass the gate without the invitation of the Eldest or one of the leading officials.
Food and essentials (when not delivered by railway) were supplied to the ghetto through the Goods Receiving Point at Bałucki Marketsquare, as were raw materials for the factories. Finished products left the ghetto through Bałucki Marketsquare provided they were not transported by railway from Radegast Station.
Inspection committees visiting, the ghetto could only enter through Bałucki Rynek. All offices were located in shacks.
In the offices of the Gettoverwaltung at Bałucki Rynek, there were primarily only a few Jewish officials employed, and in the period of 1942–1944 almost all the employees were Jews conducted by German administrators.
At Bałucki Rynek there was a shack with disinfectant facilities for Jews and goods entering the city. The ghetto was regarded as an epidemic zone. Bałucki Marketsquare became in the language usage of the ghetto the epitome of the seat of government, e.g., Wilhelmstrasse and Downing St.
On Saturday, February 5, 1944, the Head of the Council of Elders was instructed by Amtsleiter1 Biebow, the head of administration, to clear Bałucki Rynek. As of the following Monday, the Chairman no longer held his office at Bałucki Rynek, but in the building opposite at 23 Łagiewnicka St., the former seat of the so-called Scientific Department (vide).
Because many officials of the German ghetto administration in Litzmannstadt, in the Moltkestrasse had to join up, Dr. Bradfisch, the mayor and the Gestapo chief decided to move the ghetto administration from the city to the Bałucki Marketquare B and to fill the staff gaps with Jewish employees. In order to create a place for the entire staff of the ghetto Administration, the Head of the Council of Elders had to transfer his offices. The Central Bureau of Labor Divisions took over its offices at Bałucki Rynek.
Bałucki Rynek was in a certain sense the neutral zone of the ghetto, where Jews and Germans still came in contact with each other as necessary. Bałucki Marketsquare was completely separated from the rest of the ghetto by a wire fence and two gates. The first gate at Zgierska St. was the entrance for people and cars into the city. The second gate led to the ghetto through Łagiewnicka St. Both gates were guarded by the constabulary Schupo on the German side and by the Order Service on the Jewish side. To gain admittance through the gate toward Zgierska St., it was necessary to obtain a permit issued by the german police.
Access from the ghetto side was restricted to people who worked in Bałucki Rynek and to the Head of the Council of Elders officials; authorization was designated by a yellow band worn on the left arm. Initially, the Chairman received petitioners at the appointed time in Bałucki Marketsquare, then later in the guardroom of the Order Service on Łagiewnicka St. opposite Bałucki Marketsquare. People not in constant contact with Bałucki Marketsquare could not pass the gate without the invitation of the Eldest or one of the leading officials.
Food and essentials (when not delivered by railway) were supplied to the ghetto through the Goods Receiving Point at Bałucki Marketsquare, as were raw materials for the factories. Finished products left the ghetto through Bałucki Marketsquare provided they were not transported by railway from Radegast Station.
Inspection committees visiting, the ghetto could only enter through Bałucki Rynek. All offices were located in shacks.
In the offices of the Gettoverwaltung at Bałucki Rynek, there were primarily only a few Jewish officials employed, and in the period of 1942–1944 almost all the employees were Jews conducted by German administrators.
At Bałucki Rynek there was a shack with disinfectant facilities for Jews and goods entering the city. The ghetto was regarded as an epidemic zone. Bałucki Marketsquare became in the language usage of the ghetto the epitome of the seat of government, e.g., Wilhelmstrasse and Downing St.
On Saturday, February 5, 1944, the Head of the Council of Elders was instructed by Amtsleiter1 Biebow, the head of administration, to clear Bałucki Rynek. As of the following Monday, the Chairman no longer held his office at Bałucki Rynek, but in the building opposite at 23 Łagiewnicka St., the former seat of the so-called Scientific Department (vide).
Because many officials of the German ghetto administration in Litzmannstadt, in the Moltkestrasse had to join up, Dr. Bradfisch, the mayor and the Gestapo chief decided to move the ghetto administration from the city to the Bałucki Marketquare B and to fill the staff gaps with Jewish employees. In order to create a place for the entire staff of the ghetto Administration, the Head of the Council of Elders had to transfer his offices. The Central Bureau of Labor Divisions took over its offices at Bałucki Rynek.
Oskar Singer