Chaim Widawski
Encyclopedia
Chaim Widawski was a popular Zionist activist in the Łódź Ghetto during World War II.
After the German takeover of Poland, the Nazis confiscated personal radios from Jews and Poles, and their possession was made punishable by death. Widawski and the group he led managed to hide several radio sets, which were then used for monitoring and dissemination of news coverage about the developments of the war to the ghetto. The ghetto inhabitants were told of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
in the spring of 1943 and a year later, while the Łódź Ghetto still existed, commemorated its anniversary. Two months before the liquidations of the ghetto, the ghetto learned of the Normandy landings by the allies, thanks in part to Widawski. The joyous atmosphere which resulted however, led the Germans to realize that the only way that Łódź's Jews could know about this event was via illegal radios.
In June 1944 the Gestapo
was tipped off by an informant and this led to the arrest of most of the members of the group, including Widawski. Widawski actually managed to escape from Gestapo prison, but expecting that he would be caught again, committed suicide via cyanide poisoning
for fear that he would divulge—under torture—the names of his co-conspirators.
The Łódź Ghetto was "liquidated" by the Germans in August 1944.
Chaim Widawski served as inspiration for the protagonist of the novel Jacob the Liar
.
After the German takeover of Poland, the Nazis confiscated personal radios from Jews and Poles, and their possession was made punishable by death. Widawski and the group he led managed to hide several radio sets, which were then used for monitoring and dissemination of news coverage about the developments of the war to the ghetto. The ghetto inhabitants were told of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was the Jewish resistance that arose within the Warsaw Ghetto in German occupied Poland during World War II, and which opposed Nazi Germany's effort to transport the remaining ghetto population to Treblinka extermination camp....
in the spring of 1943 and a year later, while the Łódź Ghetto still existed, commemorated its anniversary. Two months before the liquidations of the ghetto, the ghetto learned of the Normandy landings by the allies, thanks in part to Widawski. The joyous atmosphere which resulted however, led the Germans to realize that the only way that Łódź's Jews could know about this event was via illegal radios.
In June 1944 the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
was tipped off by an informant and this led to the arrest of most of the members of the group, including Widawski. Widawski actually managed to escape from Gestapo prison, but expecting that he would be caught again, committed suicide via cyanide poisoning
Cyanide poisoning
Cyanide poisoning occurs when a living organism is exposed to a compound that produces cyanide ions when dissolved in water. Common poisonous cyanide compounds include hydrogen cyanide gas and the crystalline solids potassium cyanide and sodium cyanide...
for fear that he would divulge—under torture—the names of his co-conspirators.
The Łódź Ghetto was "liquidated" by the Germans in August 1944.
Chaim Widawski served as inspiration for the protagonist of the novel Jacob the Liar
Jacob the Liar
Jacob the Liar is a novel written by the East German author Jurek Becker published in 1969. The German original title is Jakob der Lügner...
.