“Things are very bad there”. Experiences of Poles and Jews Deported to the General Government 1939–1941 and Survival During the Holocaust

Abstract

Between late 1939 and spring 1941, Polish and Jewish families from the annexed western Polish territories were deported to the General Government. This article examines two main aspects of these early deportations before the Holocaust: firstly, the experiences and chances of escape for the two groups differed significantly, with Jewish families facing harsher treatment and fewer opportunities to avoid deportation. Secondly, it emphasizes the importance of analysing in detail the living conditions of deported families, as the chances of survival of Jewish families in the General Government were different from those of the local Jewish population. Despite deteriorating conditions, many deportees adapted, although their situation changed dramatically with the onset of the Holocaust.