Pre-1939: Pabianice, town, Łódź województwo, Poland; 1939–1944: Kreis Lask, Regierungsbezirk Kalisch (later Litzmannstadt), Reichsgau Wartheland; post-1998: Łódź województwo, Poland Pabianice is located 13 kilometers (8 miles) southwest of Łódź. On the eve of World War II, there were approximately 9,000 Jews living in Pabianice. Units of the German army had occupied Pabianice by September 8, 1939. On their arrival in the town, German soldiers shot several Jews, and other Jews were made to collect the corpses and bury them. Shortly thereafter, on German orders, local inhabitants destroyed the interior of the synagogue. In the fall of 1939, the German authorities introduced a number of anti-Jewish measures. Jewish factories were confiscated, and several Jews were ordered flogged by other Jews for alleged disrespect to the Nazi flag. On October 21, 1939, the Landrat of Kreis Lask appointed a Jewish Council (Judenrat) in Pabianice, which consisted of the leading figures in the community...