Pre-1939: Sandomierz (Yiddish: Tsoyzmir), town, Kielce województwo, Poland; 1939–1944: Kreis Opatow, Distrikt Radom, Generalgouvernement; post-1998: województwo świętokrzyskie, Poland Sandomierz is a town located 88 kilometers (55 miles) southwest of Lublin, on the west bank of the Vistula River. Just prior to the German invasion in September 1939, Sandomierz had approximately 10,000 inhabitants, of which nearly 3,000 were Jews.1 German forces occupied the town on September 9, 1939. A regime of murder, abuse, and plunder began immediately. On September 21, 1939, members of the SD from Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski arrived in Sandomierz and gathered about 30 Jews from all walks of life. From these men they appointed a Judenrat of 17 members headed by Henryk Goldberg. The Judenrat was obliged to carry out German orders and was made personally responsible for the compliance of the Jewish community. The Judenrat established five departments, including ones for housing, labor, and social assis...