This year we have celebrated the 65th Anniversary of tragic events of the Liquidation of the Litzmannstadt Ghetto by the Germans. The ceremonies took place between the 26th and 29th of August in Łódź under the patronage of President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczyński.

   120 survivors from the Litzmannstadt Ghetto came to Łódź (178 altogether with family members). The honorary guests of the celebrations were the Righteous, who were awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of the Rebirth of Poland.

Over 1200 registered guests took part in the ceremonies, 400 of whom were journalists. Among 65 honorary guests there were members of Polish and foreign authorities, Israeli Minister of Diaspora and the mayors of Łódź’s partner cities. Mayors of European cities from which Jews were deported to the ghetto, members of Jewish organizations, church authorities and the ambassadors of several countries were also present. Many non-registered Łódź citizens spontaneously joined the ceremonies.

In October 1939 the Germans started establishing ghettos in the occupied territory of Poland. Ghettos played an important role in the Jewish extermination policy. They were filled with Polish and Western Europe Jewish deportees. The ghettos differed in length of existence, sizes, internal organization, forms and living conditions. The Germans called them “ death boxes” (Todeskiste). Łódź belonged to Wartheland and the Germans changed its name into Litzmannstadt in memory of general Karl Litzmann who won the battle near Brzeziny during the WWI.