Work as a Lifeline
Work within and outside the ghetto was a crucial aspect of survival. Jobs provided a legitimate way to access food, as those employed often received extra rations or the chance to earn money. More importantly, employment outside the ghetto allowed Jewish workers to come into contact with non-Jewish neighbours, creating opportunities to trade for food and goods. In the ghettos of Lithuania, for instance, Jewish councils oversaw work brigades that allowed Jews to leave the ghetto under guard to work in factories, farms, or other locations. These workers could sometimes smuggle food back into the ghetto, an act that often involved bribing guards or concealing goods.
For many, work was not just a source of income but a critical means of survival. In Kaunas, Vilnius, and other ghettos, those who worked outside had a better chance of securing additional food for themselves and their families. However, this came with significant risks. Jewish workers were often subjected to searches upon re-entering the ghetto, and smuggling food could result in severe punishment or even death. Despite the dangers, work remained one of the most effective ways to obtain food and avoid starvation.
Smuggling and Black Markets: A Dangerous Necessity
Smuggling was a widespread survival strategy within the ghettos, driven by the severe restrictions imposed by the German-Nazis. Official food rations were barely enough to sustain life, so many residents turned to illegal means to obtain additional supplies. Smugglers, often working in networks, traded goods between the ghetto and the outside world, sometimes risking their lives to bring in food, medicine, and other essentials.
Smuggling often involved elaborate systems, including secret passages, deals with non-Jewish neighbours, and bribery of guards. The trade often took place through windows that faced non-Jewish areas, or through ropes lowered from buildings. These transactions, though dangerous, were a lifeline for many ghetto inhabitants. The black market also thrived within the ghetto itself, with smugglers offering their services to those who could afford to pay. This underground economy, though illicit, helped sustain the population under Germanocc upation.
Family and Community Networks: Strength in Unity
In the face of extreme hardship, family and community ties became vital for survival. Many ghetto residents relied on their immediate and extended family networks to share resources and provide mutual support. This cooperation was often informal but deeply necessary, as pooling money or food could mean the difference between life and death.
Soup kitchens and communal kitchens were set up to provide meals to the needy, often supported by Jewish councils or local charities. Though the food provided was meagre, these communal efforts helped to alleviate some of the worst effects of hunger. In many cases, residents also looked out for their neighbours, forming micro-networks of support based on trust and cooperation.
The Constant Threat of Repression
Despite these survival strategies, life in the ghetto was marked by constant fear and repression. Smugglers were frequently caught, and punishments could be brutal. German authorities, aided by Jewish police, enforced strict controls on movement, work, and trade, making it difficult for residents to find even the smallest amount of relief. The risk of deportation to concentration camps or execution was ever-present, with mass round-ups and random violence a part of daily life.
Work could offer some protection, but even this was no guarantee of safety. Workers who fell ill, grew weak, or were no longer deemed useful could be summarily dismissed or deported. Despite these dangers, many continued to fight for survival, using every available means to secure food, shelter, and safety for themselves and their loved ones.
Survival as Resistance
The everyday acts of survival in the ghettos—whether through work, smuggling, or communal support—were, in many ways, acts of resistance. In an environment designed to strip people of their humanity, the very act of living became a form of defiance. Ghetto inhabitants fought not only to survive but to maintain a sense of dignity and normalcy amidst the chaos. Their stories of resilience remind us of the strength of the human spirit in even the darkest of times.
References:
This post was prepared based on the article titled ‘Purchasing and bringing food into the ghetto is forbidden: Ways of Survival’ by Joachim Tauber PhD, available on the ENRS website here.