Ghettos and Yellow-Star Houses
Ghettoization in Hungary began rapidly after the German occupation in March 1944. In Carpathian Ruthenia, the process started at dawn on 16 April, with sixteen ghettos and collection camps established, followed by eleven more in Northern Transylvania. Within a few weeks, nearly 290,000 Jews were crowded into these two zones. By early June, ghettoization had extended to almost the entire country, with the exception of Budapest. In the capital, Jews were forced into nearly 2,000 “yellow-star houses,” marked with the Star of David. These buildings quickly became overcrowded, basic hygiene was not ensured, and food shortages soon emerged.
The primary purpose of ghettoization was to isolate and concentrate Jewish communities, preparing them for deportation to Nazi death camps. Among the rural Jewish population, this process was almost entirely completed. Later, after the Arrow Cross takeover, the Jews of Budapest were also forced into ghettos.
“We were searched by the police at the headquarters of the congregation and everything of value was taken away. Among other things, they took my doll with the porcelain head, even though one of the policemen, after examining it, said there was nothing in it. The Hungarian police commander said, ‘He won’t need that anymore’. I was terribly upset about it.”
Recollection of a Hungarian survivor
Jeszenszki Kornélia (2023) A holokauszt a magyar nők emlékezetében – visszaemlékezések a gettósítás és deportálás időszakára. Erudittio-Educatio, 18(4): 36-50, p. 42
Further Reading / Sources
A magyar holokauszt személyes történetének digitális gyűjteményei
Kovács Éva Judit, Szász Anna Lujza, Lénárt András (2012). Buksz-Budapesti Könyvszemle, 23 (4): 336-351.
A holokauszt a magyar nők emlékezetében – visszaemlékezések a gettósítás és deportálás időszakára
Jeszenszki Kornélia (2023). Eruditio-Educatio, 18(4): 36-50
Falak mögött – Zsidó gettók a második világháború alatt. Holokauszt Emlékközpont
Pécsi Tibor (2009)