Krakow Ghetto, Poland

The Krakow Ghetto was one of several established by the Nazis.

The area was walled off from the rest of Krakow. The plaza where the chairs are located is where Jews were selected for transportation to concentration camps like Auschwitz.

There are 68 chairs in the area, which  represent 68,000 Jews sent off from the Krakow Ghetto to Nazi death camps. 

The Krakow Ghetto was divided into two sections based on fitness to work for the Reich.

The grey building was for the police.

A pharmacy present during the ghetto years still exists. It has been restored as you can see from the photo below.

A Pole, Tadeusz Pankiewicz, received a special permission from German authorities to still sell pharmaceuticals to Jews and to keep his pharmacy open during the Nazi occupation. 

 

Steven Spielberg and Roman Polanski made significant contributions to the restoration.

I found the presentation of the chairs deeply meaningful as a way of remembering someone who once sat amongst us.

Chairs are for the living and offer a dignified presence. Chairs represent hospitality. And the offer of a seat to another in a crowded space is often a great kindness.

As a psychologist, I thought of the effective empty chair technique, which sometimes helps patients express themselves to a person and even roleplay a response. I recall the value of the strategy with victims of violence.

On a personal note, I recall visiting a relative following the death of their father. His favourite chair was was empty. No one dared sit there.

LINK TO -->> THE NAZI TRAIL OF TERROR

Note

All photos were taken by Geoffrey W. Sutton in October 2024. They are free to use in education and noncommercial activities. Just cite this post.

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Geoffrey W. Sutton has a PhD in psychology and writes about psychology and culture.

Website: https://www.suttong.com/

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