Epidemic of Typhus in the Warsaw Ghetto – the tragic entanglement of disease with propaganda

Full title of the seminar led by Aleksandra Bańkowska: "Epidemic of typhus in the Warsaw Ghetto – the tragic entanglement of a real disease with propaganda and repression"

Typhus — a louse-borne disease associated with filth and lack of personal hygiene — quickly became a slogan of Nazi anti-Jewish propaganda. It provoked emotions desired by the occupiers: disgust, contempt and fear of infection, supporting the isolation of Jews from the rest of society. At the same time the epidemic was very real: typhus directly or indirectly caused the deaths of thousands of people in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Jewish social and health care institutions took actions to limit infections, but they faced German anti-epidemic orders and propaganda needs. The connection of these factors allows new interpretations in research on the ghetto, which will be the subject of the speaker's presentation.

Speaker: Aleksandra Bańkowska

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sala nr 20, Żydowski Instytut Historyczny, ul. Tłomackie 3/5, Warszawa

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10 lutego 2026 roku

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godz. 11:00