As early as on September 10, 1939, Polish and Jewish residents were banned from the streets between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Soon (on November 15th) however, further restrictions were imposed on the Jews, forbidding them to leave their homes from 5 p.m. until 7 a.m. This ban remained in force until the closure of the ghetto.

Immediately after the ghetto was sealed, the curfew was moved to 7 p.m on May 7, 1940, then the following day to 8 p.m. In September that year, the ban on movement in the streets of the ghetto was imposed between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The situation continued until the introduction of night shifts on a larger scale (Autumn 1942), when the Sperrstunde was no longer observed and people could move relatively freely in the ghetto – except on streets adjacent to the wires (vide Druty).

In February 1944, the shift of operating hours of food supply distribution points in the evening (often until midnight) in effect meant that the Sperrstunde was ultimately abolished.

In the city, in exchange for a high fee (10 Zł), passes for getting around the curfew were issued to officials of the Community, hospitals, and to Jews employed in the non-Jewish workshops and working for the government.

In the ghetto beginning March 1940, permits enabling to be outside after the Sperrstunde were issued by the Command of the Order Service of the Eldest of the Jews. Initially, such passes were given to all officials of the Community; later they were restricted and replaced with single-use permits. In the summer months of 1942, passes had become unnecessary in practice and as such, their issuance was abandoned.

Józef Uryson