Maurycy Orzech
Encyclopedia
Maurycy Orzech was a Polish-Jewish economist
, journalist
, politician
and a leader of the Jewish Bund
in interwar Poland. He was one of the commanders of the Bund during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
.
sports organization. He owned a textile manufacturing factory, "Bazar Orzecha" which was very profitable. Orzech used money from his business to finance the Yiddish newspaper Folkstsaytung
, of which he was also an editor.
. However, he was arrested by the Germans and imprisoned in Berlin
. Later, he was transferred to the Warsaw Ghetto
. In the ghetto he worked for the charitable organization Joint. He also worked on the production of underground newspapers
, including the Bundist Der Verker. In April of 1942 the Germans began mass executions in the ghetto, supposedly as a way of combating underground literature. Orzech was summoned by Judenrat
president Adam Czerniaków
and asked that the Bund cease circulating its illegal newspapers. However, Orzech correctly surmised that the newspapers were just an excuse and that the mass executions were simply the first step in total extermination of Warsaw's Jews. The Bund refused Czerniaków's request. Orzech also wrote bulletins and proclamations to the residents of the ghetto not to trust the Germans and not to volunteer for supposed "labor in Germany" from the Umschlagplatz (which was in fact a collection point for deportation to the Treblinka extermination camp
)
Most likely he was one of the organizers of the Antifascist Block (a group representing leftist Zionist and secular Jewish groups) and served as the Bund's representative at its conferences. Generally, Orzech saw the struggle of Poles and Jews against the German occupants as one and the same and favored the merger of Jewish resistance into Polish resistance. He, along with Leon Feiner
, wrote the telegram which informed the Bundist member of the Polish government in Exile
, Szmul Zygielbojm
, about the outbreak of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
.
and murdered. According to some sources he was arrested during an attempt to cross the Romanian
border, brought back to Warsaw where was placed in Pawiak prison and killed in August of 1943.
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and a leader of the Jewish Bund
General Jewish Labour Bund in Poland
The General Jewish Labour Bund in Poland was a Jewish socialist party in Poland which promoted the political, cultural and social autonomy of Jewish workers, sought to combat antisemitism and was generally opposed to Zionism.-Creation of the Polish Bund:...
in interwar Poland. He was one of the commanders of the Bund during 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....
.
Interwar Poland
Orzech joined the Bund in 1907 and was in charge of the party's newspaper, Forverts. In the late 1920's he served as chairman of the Bund-founded Socialist Association of Artisans of the Republic of Poland ("Socialist Artisans"). Orzech was also member of the Bund affiliated MorgnshternMorgnshtern
Morgnshtern was a Jewish sports organisation in interbellum Poland, politically linked to the Bund. It was founded in the end of 1926. Morgnshtern increased significantly in influence in the period just preceding the Second World War...
sports organization. He owned a textile manufacturing factory, "Bazar Orzecha" which was very profitable. Orzech used money from his business to finance the Yiddish newspaper Folkstsaytung
Folkstsaytung
The Folkstsaytung was a Yiddish language daily newspaper which served as the official organ of the General Jewish Labour Bund in Poland. Folkstsaytung was published from Warsaw. It began publication in 1921 and officially lasted until the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939. Thereafter it continued on...
, of which he was also an editor.
World War II
After the Nazi invasion of Poland he tried, with help from the British embassy to escape on a ship to SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. However, he was arrested by the Germans and imprisoned in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. Later, he was transferred to the Warsaw Ghetto
Warsaw Ghetto
The Warsaw Ghetto was the largest of all Jewish Ghettos in Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II. It was established in the Polish capital between October and November 15, 1940, in the territory of General Government of the German-occupied Poland, with over 400,000 Jews from the vicinity...
. In the ghetto he worked for the charitable organization Joint. He also worked on the production of underground newspapers
Polish underground press
Polish underground press devoted to prohibited materials has a long history of combatting censorship of oppressive regimes in Poland...
, including the Bundist Der Verker. In April of 1942 the Germans began mass executions in the ghetto, supposedly as a way of combating underground literature. Orzech was summoned by Judenrat
Judenrat
Judenräte were administrative bodies during the Second World War that the Germans required Jews to form in the German occupied territory of Poland, and later in the occupied territories of the Soviet Union It is the overall term for the enforcement bodies established by the Nazi occupiers to...
president Adam Czerniaków
Adam Czerniaków
Adam Czerniaków , born in Warsaw, Poland, was a Polish-Jewish engineer and senator to the prewar Polish Sejm for Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government...
and asked that the Bund cease circulating its illegal newspapers. However, Orzech correctly surmised that the newspapers were just an excuse and that the mass executions were simply the first step in total extermination of Warsaw's Jews. The Bund refused Czerniaków's request. Orzech also wrote bulletins and proclamations to the residents of the ghetto not to trust the Germans and not to volunteer for supposed "labor in Germany" from the Umschlagplatz (which was in fact a collection point for deportation to the Treblinka extermination camp
Treblinka extermination camp
Treblinka was a Nazi extermination camp in occupied Poland during World War II near the village of Treblinka in the modern-day Masovian Voivodeship of Poland. The camp, which was constructed as part of Operation Reinhard, operated between and ,. During this time, approximately 850,000 men, women...
)
Most likely he was one of the organizers of the Antifascist Block (a group representing leftist Zionist and secular Jewish groups) and served as the Bund's representative at its conferences. Generally, Orzech saw the struggle of Poles and Jews against the German occupants as one and the same and favored the merger of Jewish resistance into Polish resistance. He, along with Leon Feiner
Leon Feiner
Leon Feiner was a Polish-Jewish lawyer, an activist of the General Jewish Labour Bund in Poland and between November 1944 and January 1945 the director and vice-chairman of the Council to Aid Jews "Żegota".-Biography:After the outbreak of World War II with the Nazi...
, wrote the telegram which informed the Bundist member of the Polish government in Exile
Polish government in Exile
The Polish government-in-exile, formally known as the Government of the Republic of Poland in Exile , was the government in exile of Poland formed in the aftermath of the Invasion of Poland of September 1939, and the subsequent occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, which...
, Szmul Zygielbojm
Szmul Zygielbojm
Szmul Zygielbojm was a Jewish-Polish socialist politician, leader of the Bund, and a member of the National Council of the Polish government in exile...
, about the outbreak 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....
.
Death
In 1943, after the fall of the Ghetto Uprising, he escaped the ghetto but was eventually arrested by the GestapoGestapo
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...
and murdered. According to some sources he was arrested during an attempt to cross the Romanian
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
border, brought back to Warsaw where was placed in Pawiak prison and killed in August of 1943.
See also
- Bernard GoldsteinBernard Goldstein (Warsaw Uprising)Bernard Goldstein , sometimes called "Comrade Bernard", was a Polish socialist, union organizer, and leader of the Bund prior to World War II...
- List of Poles