I. Background. On June 4, 1940, the Statistics Department at the Registration Office (managed by lawyer H. Neftalin [vide]) was created. It was responsible for providing statistical analysis of the demographic and professional structure of the Ghetto based on information from the Registration Office. The task, led by judge Bronowski and his deputy S. Erlich, was completed on July 12th. Following that time, the bureau was concerned with migration statistics. In September 1940, Bronowski was transferred to the newly created Court and S. Erlich became the sole head of the bureau. In the same month, the Statistical Bureau was transferred in separate Statistical Department as one of the Census Offices, leaded by H. Neftalin. From that moment, it was also concerned with statistical analysis of nursery, workforce and production in the working departments. In the beginning of 1941, the department expanded significanly, such that its division into subdepartments was necessary (for demography, employment and production, nursery, education and retraining, welfare services, provisioning, judiciary, security, and afterwards also for control of the materials delivered and control of secondary processing of the tabulated materials). In charge of the crucial Division Office was F. Ratner, other offices fell under the responsibility of Czudnowski, Chojnowski, Wajntraub, Frenkiel, and Eksztajn, and afterwards Grossfeld, Reach, Szach, Mandels, Bryman, among others. In July 1940, the Graphic Office – and in August, the Photographic Office – were included in the Statistical Bureau.

II. Tasks of the Statistical Department. Daily reporting of births, demises and population structure for the German Criminal Police (Kripo) and Ghetto authorities. Detailed demographical studies of employment and production situations in workshops and factories – e.g., on orders of the Head of the Council of Elders of Jews – and the compilation of statistical data for various institutions.

The special task of the Graphic Office was the depiction of statistical data and the production of composite photographs, valuable in terms of propaganda and training. The Photographic Department created and collected visual documents for practical and archival purposes.

III. Archival and scientific activity of the Statistical Department. A multitude of monographs was created, consisting of tables, diagrams and photographs – e.g., concerning children summer camps [vide Kinderkolonien], the nursery, welfare services, education, as well as retraining measures, employment, and production at crucial workshops and factories. Most often, artistically valuable photo albums and monographs were given to M.Ch. Rumkowski, the Head of the Council of Elders, for various occasions and remained in his possession. The statistical yearbook, describing the history of the ghetto and all aspects if its existence that could be statistically analyzed, was ready for printing in May 1944 (first part, covering the period from the sealing of the ghetto in May 1940 until June 1942). The work was supplemented with tens of thousands of photographs.

IV. Officials of the Statistical Department (May 1944): 1 head, 23 specialists and office workers, 12 graphic designers, 4 photographers, and 4 other employees; 44 in total.