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.