Starting in July 1942 the buildings located around the square began to be used by the Germans as places of selection.
Jews were gathered and held there before deportation to the Treblinka death camp.
The headquarters of the SS units responsible for the selections and deportations were located in the building of the old elementary school on Stawki Street.
The Umschlagplatz was divided into two parts.
The southern part, which was located within the walled ghetto, was the gathering point where those destined for transport awaited the arrival of the trains.
The northern part included the rail and station where people were physically loaded onto the trains for Treblinka.

Initially the roundups for the Umschlagplatz were supervised by the Jewish Ghetto Police.
Houses or entire blocks were cordoned off and then all the inhabitants were forced to gather in a controlled spot, such as a closed off street or a tenement's courtyard.
After a check of documents, the individuals were forced, under escort, to proceed to the Umschlagplatz.
Emptied buildings were searched and those found hiding were either killed on the spot or joined with those proceeding to the square.
Some young men were moved to the so-called Dulag, an internment camp, from which some were sent to labor camps rather than death camps.

The order in which the ghetto's blocks were emptied was organized by the Germans.
Beginning in August, German-run workhouses and factories (szopas) and the offices of the Judenrat were also cordoned off, and the personnel sent to the Umschlagplatz as well.
Famed Polish pianist, Władysław Szpilman, would survive the ordeal by being pulled out of the crowds that were being loaded onto a train heading towards Treblinka.
Szpilman was pulled from the line after being recognized by a Jewish policeman, who happened to standing guard at the umschlagplatz.
Szpilman's survival is immortalized in his autobiography, The Pianist, which was made into a motion picture by Director Roman Polanski.
Polanski, as well as his family, would also be affected by the Holocaust.

Most of the people arriving in the Umschlagplatz were taken there via Zamenhof Street.
Starting in July 1942 the buildings located around the square began to be used by the Germans as places of selection. Jews were gathered and held there before deportation to the Treblinka death camp. The headquarters of the SS units responsible for the selections and deportations were located in the building of the old elementary school on Stawki Street. The Umschlagplatz was divided into two parts. The southern part, which was located within the walled ghetto, was the gathering point where those destined for transport awaited the arrival of the trains. The northern part included the rail and station where people were physically loaded onto the trains for Treblinka.
Initially the roundups for the Umschlagplatz were supervised by the Jewish Ghetto Police. Houses or entire blocks were cordoned off and then all the inhabitants were forced to gather in a controlled spot, such as a closed off street or a tenement's courtyard. After a check of documents, the individuals were forced, under escort, to proceed to the Umschlagplatz. Emptied buildings were searched and those found hiding were either killed on the spot or joined with those proceeding to the square. Some young men were moved to the so-called Dulag, an internment camp, from which some were sent to labor camps rather than death camps.
The order in which the ghetto's blocks were emptied was organized by the Germans. Beginning in August, German-run workhouses and factories (szopas) and the offices of the Judenrat were also cordoned off, and the personnel sent to the Umschlagplatz as well. Famed Polish pianist, Władysław Szpilman, would survive the ordeal by being pulled out of the crowds that were being loaded onto a train heading towards Treblinka. Szpilman was pulled from the line after being recognized by a Jewish policeman, who happened to standing guard at the umschlagplatz. Szpilman's survival is immortalized in his autobiography, The Pianist, which was made into a motion picture by Director Roman Polanski. Polanski, as well as his family, would also be affected by the Holocaust.
Most of the people arriving in the Umschlagplatz were taken there via Zamenhof Street.
Umschlagplatz