Poddębice

Poddębice [pɔdːɛmˈbʲit͡sɛ] is a town in Poland, in Łódź Voivodeship, about 40 km northwest of Łódź. It is the capital of Poddębice County. Population is 7,630 (2016).[1]

Poddębice
Poddębice Palace
Coat of arms
Poddębice
Coordinates: 51°54′N 18°58′E
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Łódź
County	Poddębice County
Gmina	Gmina Poddębice
Government
• Mayor	Piotr Sęczkowski
Area
• Total	5.89 km2 (2.27 sq mi)
Population  (2016)
• Total	7,630
• Density	1,300/km2 (3,400/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	99-200
Car plates	EPD
Website	http://www.poddebice.pl

Jewish Population

At the beginning of World War II, the Jewish population of Poddębice numbered around 1400. During the occupation, they were confined to a ghetto and subject to forced labor. In 1942, five were hung publicly and in April, 1800 Jews, including several hundred forcibly resettled from Leczyca, were confined in a church for ten days without any essentials, including food until a bribe was paid. Ten died there. After a few days, the sick and the elderly were then murdered nearby. After ten days, some skilled workers were sent to the Lodz ghetto. All the remainder were sent to the Chelmno killing camp where they were immediately gassed. Few of Poddębice's Jews survived the war. The German administrator of Poddębice (probably Franz Heinrich Bock) kept a secret diary published after the war. His diary was critical of the anti-Jewish policies. He had tried to help the Jewish population when he could. He was removed from his post during the war.[2]