Suicides of the Jewish Population in Wroclaw during World War II, a Sociologic Analysis

Abstract

Numerous suicides occurred among the Jewish population in Wroclaw during World War II. Before the mass deportations, this population counted between 6,000 and 12,000. A total of 121 suicides was recorded and the phenomenon referred mainly to elderly and lonely people. There were also incidents of suicidal pacts that involved whole families. The most frequent method was poisoning with city gas and sleeping medications. The events that occurred in Wroclaw, especially between 1941 and 1943, i.e. the deportations and the coinciding increase of suicides among the Jewish population, prove that in the face of the horrors of war and inevitable traumatic experience,e suicides are also committed by persons whose religion and traditions clearly condemn this phenomenon. The fear of trauma and an uncertain future deprives people of all hope, particularly the elderly and the lonely who have no prospect of receiving help in such extreme situations.