Montelupich Prison

When Germany occupoied Krakow in the beginning of September 1939, Gestapo took over a central prison located on Montelupich st. All kind of people were imprisoned, political opponents, foreign spies, prisoners of war, deserters, Jews, german military and SS service men etc. Only male prisoners were held in prison while the female prisoners were in a nearby building. In total, about 1,000 male and 300 female could be housed at the same time. The Jewish prisoners were treated worst by all prisoners and were confined in the cellar. They were also given smaller food rations than other prisoners. Not infrequently, they were sent to the Plaszow concentration camp to be murdered or deported to Auschwitz or Gross Rosen. Prisoners were also executed in prison. Gestapo used the prison until the Germans evacuated Krakow in January 1945, up til then, about 20,000 people had been imprisoned.