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Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski (27 February 1877 - 28 August 1944) was a Polish-Jewish industrialist and Zionist activist and functioned as the Nazi-nominated head of the Judenrat, the Jewish authorities in the Lodz Ghetto.
Rumkowski and his family were eventually deported to Auschwitz, where they died on 28 August 1944. Nazi records suggest that he was killed by Jews who had been imprisoned there because of him.
Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski in Worldwar[]
When the Race defeated and expelled the Germans from Poland in 1942, Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski cooperated with their authorities in Lodz.[1] To that end, posters with Rumkowski's image were ubiquitous throughout the Lodz ghetto.[2] His signature even appeared on the currency of the Lodz ghetto, earning it the nickname "rumkies".[3] Jews in Lodz continued to tolerate his leadership despite their general disdain for him personally.[4]
Rumkowski was publicly obsequious as well, going so far as to ask a passing Jew how much he'd paid for his food while riding with a Lizard named Bunim to illustrate how much better the Jews were under the Race.[5] Ironically, that Jew was Moishe Russie, who was a wanted man at the time.[6] Rumkowski and Bunim didn't realize that, and sent Russie on his way.
Rumkowski maintained his position until after the Peace of Cairo.[7]
References[]
- ↑ Tilting the Balance, pg. 111, PB.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid., pg. 112.
- ↑ Ibid., pgs. 111-114.
- ↑ Ibid., pg. 227-228.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Striking the Balance, pg. 460.
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