Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Holocaust

A legend attributes Kraków's founding to the mythical ruler Krakus, who built it above a cave occupied by a dragon, Smok Wawelski. The first written record dates to 965, when Kraków was described as a notable commercial center captured by a Bohemian duke Boleslaus I in 955. The first ruler of Poland, Mieszko I, took Kraków from the Bohemians. In 1038, Kraków became the seat of the Polish government. By the end of the 10th century, the city was a center of trade. Brick buildings were constructed, including the Royal Wawel Castle. The city was sacked and burned during the Mongol invasion of 1241. It was rebuilt and incorporated in 1257 by Bolesław V the Chaste who introduced city rights. In 1259, the city was again ravaged by the Mongols. The third attack in 1287 was repelled thanks in part to the newly built fortifications. The city rose to prominence in 1364, when Casimir III founded the University of Kraków, the second oldest university in central Europe. But after Casimir´s death in 1370 the campus did not get completed. As the capital of the Kingdom of Poland and a member of the Hanseatic League, the city attracted craftsmen from abroad, guilds as science and the arts began to flourish. The 15th and 16th centuries are known as Poland's "Złoty Wiek" (Golden Age). After childless King Sigismund II had died in 1572, the Polish throne passed to Henry III of France and then to other foreign-based rulers in rapid succession, causing a decline in the city's importance that was worsened by pillaging during the Swedish invasion and by an outbreak of bubonic plague that left 20,000 of the city's residents dead. In 1596, Sigismund III of the House of Vasa moved the capital of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from Kraków to Warsaw. - Before WWII, Kraków was home to more than 60.000 Polish Jews. Persecution of the Jewish population of Kraków began immediately after the German troops entered the city in September 1939. Jews were ordered to report for forced labor, in November 1939 all Jews twelve years or older were required to wear identifying armbands. The Kraków Ghetto was formally established on 3 March 1941 in the Podgórze district. It was established for the purpose of exploitation, terror, and persecution of local Jews. 15,000 Jews were crammed into an area previously inhabited by 3,000 people who used to live in a district consisting of 320 residential buildings, and 3,167 rooms. As a result, one apartment was allocated to every four Jewish families,. The Ghetto was surrounded by the newly built walls that kept it separated from the rest of the city. All windows and doors that opened onto the "Aryan" side were ordered to be bricked up. From May 1942 onward, the Nazis began deportations from the Ghetto to surrounding concentration camps. The first transport consisted of 7,000 people. In March 1943, the final 'liquidation' of the ghetto was carried out. Two thousand Jews deemed able to work were transported to the Płaszów labor camp. Those deemed unfit for work were killed in the streets of the ghetto on those days. The remaining 3,000 were sent to Auschwitz. The Plac Bohaterow Getta (Ghetto Heroes' Square) in Kraków's Podgórze district played a tragic role in the extermination of the Jews. This square in the center of the ghetto was the last stop for the inhabitants before they were sent to the concentration and extermination camps as this is where the roll calls and selections took place, this is where the Krakow Jews were rounded up for deportation. Now here are 60 empty, iron chairs. The Jewish Population of Krakow once numbered 60,000, so one chair represents 1000 murdered.

Nowy Korczyn, formerly known as Nowe Miasto Korczyn was established before 1258 by Boleslaus the Chaste. It used to be an important trade and political center. In the 17th century, the town began a decline and lost its city status in 1869. The village had a large Jewish community, in the 1920s more than 60% of the population was Jewish. The very most of them were murdered in the Holocaust. The Holy Trinity Church is a single-nave building built in the 16th century and rebuilt in 1608. The side chapels were built in the 17th century and are covered with domes crowned by a lantern. The mannerist portal from 1634 leads to the interior of the church

Koprzywnica today is a small town that developed from a settlement in the 12th century. In 1185 Casimir II the Just brought the Cistercians here, who founded a monastery (26. filiation of Morimond). Koprzywnica received town rights in 1268. Thanks to the Cistercians, the town flourished over the next centuries. In 1606 Koprzywnica was one of the centers of the armed uprising of the nobility against Zygmunt III Waza. In the 1660s Koprzywnica was destroyed during the Swedish invasion of Poland. The town never recovered from the losses. In 1942 the Koprzywnica ghetto was liquidated by the German occupiers when 1,800 Jews were transported from here to the Treblinka extermination camp, where they were murdered. - In 1185 Cistercian monks from Morimond, arrived here. The complex was built between 1218 and 1238 by a Cistercian workshop probably from Italy. The monastery got devasted and looted during the Mongol invasions in 1241and again in 1259. Bolesław V the Chaste was very supportive during the reconstruction and granted the monks numerous privileges. At the beginning of the 14th century, a reconstruction of the monastery was carried out, followed by renovations a century later, when the new brick cloisters were built. In 1508 the church and monastery were damaged by fire. The damage was rebuilt Just a century before its dissolution modernization works were carried out, which gave the monastery Baroque elements, including the new, facade of the church. In 1819 the tsarist authorities issued a decree of cassation of the monastery. After the abbey was dissolved in 1821, the church was taken over by the diocese and has since served as a parish church. Since the buildings were not used, their condition rapidly deteriorated. As a result, most of the monastery buildings were demolished, the main purpose being to obtain building materials. After a fire during WWI, the monastery was demolished except for the east wing and the church. After WWII, renovation works were carried out from 1948 to 1949. The Romanesque chapter house from the 13th century.

Koprzywnica today is a small town that developed from a settlement in the 12th century. In 1185 Casimir II the Just brought the Cistercians here, who founded a monastery (26. filiation of Morimond). Koprzywnica received town rights in 1268. Thanks to the Cistercians, the town flourished over the next centuries. In 1606 Koprzywnica was one of the centers of the armed uprising of the nobility against Zygmunt III Waza. In the 1660s Koprzywnica was destroyed during the Swedish invasion of Poland. The town never recovered from the losses. In 1942 the Koprzywnica ghetto was liquidated by the German occupiers when 1,800 Jews were transported from here to the Treblinka extermination camp, where they were murdered. - In 1185 Cistercian monks from Morimond, arrived here. The complex was built between 1218 and 1238 by a Cistercian workshop probably from Italy. The monastery got devasted and looted during the Mongol invasions in 1241and again in 1259. Bolesław V the Chaste was very supportive during the reconstruction and granted the monks numerous privileges. At the beginning of the 14th century, a reconstruction of the monastery was carried out, followed by renovations a century later, when the new brick cloisters were built. In 1508 the church and monastery were damaged by fire. The damage was rebuilt Just a century before its dissolution modernization works were carried out, which gave the monastery Baroque elements, including the new, facade of the church. In 1819 the tsarist authorities issued a decree of cassation of the monastery. After the abbey was dissolved in 1821, the church was taken over by the diocese and has since served as a parish church. Since the buildings were not used, their condition rapidly deteriorated. As a result, most of the monastery buildings were demolished, the main purpose being to obtain building materials. After a fire during WWI, the monastery was demolished except for the east wing and the church. After WWII, renovation works were carried out from 1948 to 1949. The east wing. That here was the cloister can still be seen.

Koprzywnica today is a small town that developed from a settlement in the 12th century. In 1185 Casimir II the Just brought the Cistercians here, who founded a monastery (26. filiation of Morimond). Koprzywnica received town rights in 1268. Thanks to the Cistercians, the town flourished over the next centuries. In 1606 Koprzywnica was one of the centers of the armed uprising of the nobility against Zygmunt III Waza. In the 1660s Koprzywnica was destroyed during the Swedish invasion of Poland. The town never recovered from the losses. In 1942 the Koprzywnica ghetto was liquidated by the German occupiers when 1,800 Jews were transported from here to the Treblinka extermination camp, where they were murdered. - In 1185 Cistercian monks from Morimond, arrived here. The complex was built between 1218 and 1238 by a Cistercian workshop probably from Italy. The monastery got devasted and looted during the Mongol invasions in 1241and again in 1259. Bolesław V the Chaste was very supportive during the reconstruction and granted the monks numerous privileges. At the beginning of the 14th century, a reconstruction of the monastery was carried out, followed by renovations a century later, when the new brick cloisters were built. In 1508 the church and monastery were damaged by fire. The damage was rebuilt Just a century before its dissolution modernization works were carried out, which gave the monastery Baroque elements, including the new, facade of the church. In 1819 the tsarist authorities issued a decree of cassation of the monastery. After the abbey was dissolved in 1821, the church was taken over by the diocese and has since served as a parish church. Since the buildings were not used, their condition rapidly deteriorated. As a result, most of the monastery buildings were demolished, the main purpose being to obtain building materials. After a fire during WWI, the monastery was demolished except for the east wing and the church. After WWII, renovation works were carried out from 1948 to 1949.

Koprzywnica today is a small town that developed from a settlement in the 12th century. In 1185 Casimir II the Just brought the Cistercians here, who founded a monastery (26. filiation of Morimond). Koprzywnica received town rights in 1268. Thanks to the Cistercians, the town flourished over the next centuries. In 1606 Koprzywnica was one of the centers of the armed uprising of the nobility against Zygmunt III Waza. In the 1660s Koprzywnica was destroyed during the Swedish invasion of Poland. The town never recovered from the losses. In 1942 the Koprzywnica ghetto was liquidated by the German occupiers when 1,800 Jews were transported from here to the Treblinka extermination camp, where they were murdered. - In 1185 Cistercian monks from Morimond, arrived here. The complex was built between 1218 and 1238 by a Cistercian workshop probably from Italy. The monastery got devasted and looted during the Mongol invasions in 1241and again in 1259. Bolesław V the Chaste was very supportive during the reconstruction and granted the monks numerous privileges. At the beginning of the 14th century, a reconstruction of the monastery was carried out, followed by renovations a century later, when the new brick cloisters were built. In 1508 the church and monastery were damaged by fire. The damage was rebuilt Just a century before its dissolution modernization works were carried out, which gave the monastery Baroque elements, including the new, facade of the church. In 1819 the tsarist authorities issued a decree of cassation of the monastery. After the abbey was dissolved in 1821, the church was taken over by the diocese and has since served as a parish church. Since the buildings were not used, their condition rapidly deteriorated. As a result, most of the monastery buildings were demolished, the main purpose being to obtain building materials. After a fire during WWI, the monastery was demolished except for the east wing and the church. After WWII, renovation works were carried out from 1948 to 1949. The tower was rebuilt in the style of the original in the 1960s. From this point of view one can see that the baroque façade was added to the medieval structure of the basilica. The reconstructed crossing tower is also from the Baroque period.

Koprzywnica today is a small town that developed from a settlement in the 12th century. In 1185 Casimir II the Just brought the Cistercians here, who founded a monastery (26. filiation of Morimond). Koprzywnica received town rights in 1268. Thanks to the Cistercians, the town flourished over the next centuries. In 1606 Koprzywnica was one of the centers of the armed uprising of the nobility against Zygmunt III Waza. In the 1660s Koprzywnica was destroyed during the Swedish invasion of Poland. The town never recovered from the losses. In 1942 the Koprzywnica ghetto was liquidated by the German occupiers when 1,800 Jews were transported from here to the Treblinka extermination camp, where they were murdered. - In 1185 Cistercian monks from Morimond, arrived here. The complex was built between 1218 and 1238 by a Cistercian workshop probably from Italy. The monastery got devasted and looted during the Mongol invasions in 1241and again in 1259. Bolesław V the Chaste was very supportive during the reconstruction and granted the monks numerous privileges. At the beginning of the 14th century, a reconstruction of the monastery was carried out, followed by renovations a century later, when the new brick cloisters were built. In 1508 the church and monastery were damaged by fire. The damage was rebuilt Just a century before its dissolution modernization works were carried out, which gave the monastery Baroque elements, including the new, facade of the church. In 1819 the tsarist authorities issued a decree of cassation of the monastery. After the abbey was dissolved in 1821, the church was taken over by the diocese and has since served as a parish church. Since the buildings were not used, their condition rapidly deteriorated. As a result, most of the monastery buildings were demolished, the main purpose being to obtain building materials. After a fire during WWI, the monastery was demolished except for the east wing and the church. After WWII, renovation works were carried out from 1948 to 1949. The tower was rebuilt in the style of the original in the 1960s.

Koprzywnica today is a small town that developed from a settlement in the 12th century. In 1185 Casimir II the Just brought the Cistercians here, who founded a monastery (26. filiation of Morimond). Koprzywnica received town rights in 1268. Thanks to the Cistercians, the town flourished over the next centuries. In 1606 Koprzywnica was one of the centers of the armed uprising of the nobility against Zygmunt III Waza. In the 1660s Koprzywnica was destroyed during the Swedish invasion of Poland. The town never recovered from the losses. In 1942 the Koprzywnica ghetto was liquidated by the German occupiers when 1,800 Jews were transported from here to the Treblinka extermination camp, where they were murdered. - According to tradition, the first church in Koprzywnica was consecrated as early as 1130. The parish was first mentioned in 1277. In 1470 there was a Gothic brick church. This church was deteriorating in the 19th century and was demolished. Only the chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary remained, which had been built in 1693-1694 and expanded in 1872-1874 to become the parish church. During WWI the church was severely damaged and could be rebuilt. At the beginning of the 21st century, the church received its present form.

Vilnius is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of about 600.000. Before WWII, Vilnius was one of the largest Jewish centers in Europe which led to the nickname "the Jerusalem of the North". Vilnius has been regarded as one of the most liberal cities in Europe, offering protection to persecuted Jews from Central Europe and Russia, among others, throughout its history. Vilnius became the centre of Jewish culture and enlightenment. Around 1900 about 40% of the population was Jewish. On June 24, 1941, Vilnius was occupied by German troops, and from then on the remaining Jews were persecuted and murdered. By September 1941, when the Vilnius Ghetto was established, several thousand Jews had already been murdered. By the end of October 1941, there were two ghettos in Vilnius, a large one and a small one. Most of the Jews in the large ghetto were qualified specialists and skilled workers, while the small ghetto was the ghetto of unemployable, elderly, and sick Jews. By the end of 1941, German and Lithuanian police units and "Sonderkommandos" had murdered about 30.000 Vilnius Jews in a forest outside the city. The smaller ghetto had ceased to exist. As the need for labor in the German war economy increased, there were no mass killings until March 1943, but from then on the remaining Jews were deported to concentration camps and murdered there. Only 2.000-3.000 of Vilnius´ more than 60.000 Jews survived the Holocaust.

Vilnius is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of about 600.000. Before WWII, Vilnius was one of the largest Jewish centers in Europe which led to the nickname "the Jerusalem of the North". Vilnius has been regarded as one of the most liberal cities in Europe, offering protection to persecuted Jews from Central Europe and Russia, among others, throughout its history. Vilnius became the centre of Jewish culture and enlightenment. Around 1900 about 40% of the population was Jewish. On June 24, 1941, Vilnius was occupied by German troops, and from then on the remaining Jews were persecuted and murdered. By September 1941, when the Vilnius Ghetto was established, several thousand Jews had already been murdered. By the end of October 1941, there were two ghettos in Vilnius, a large one and a small one. Most of the Jews in the large ghetto were qualified specialists and skilled workers, while the small ghetto was the ghetto of unemployable, elderly, and sick Jews. By the end of 1941, German and Lithuanian police units and "Sonderkommandos" had murdered about 30.000 Vilnius Jews in a forest outside the city. The smaller ghetto had ceased to exist. As the need for labor in the German war economy increased, there were no mass killings until March 1943, but from then on the remaining Jews were deported to concentration camps and murdered there. Only 2.000-3.000 of Vilnius´ more than 60.000 Jews survived the Holocaust.