1941, A PRE STAMPED POLISH POSTCARD ADDRESSED TO CHAIM MORDECHAI RUMKOWSKI [1877 - 1944]. "ELDER OF THE JEWS" IN THE LODZ GHETTO. WRITTEN ON 1/9/1941, ADDITIONAL RUSSIAN STAMPS WERE ADDED AND CANCELLED 1/12/1941.
Born in Llino, Russia, Rumkowski settled in Lodz at the turn of the century. In the period between the two world wars he was engaged in social and welfare activities, running several Jewish orphanages. He was a member of the General Zionist Party and represented it on the council of the Jewish community in Lodz. Rumkowski conyrary to his party's decision remained in his position. After the Germans captured Lodz they nominated him [in October 1939] to the position of "Elder of the Jews" [Aeltester der Juden], a position he held for nearly five years, until the liquidation of the Lodz ghetto in August 1944. At the same time he was ordered to create a Council of Elders [Beirat] and organize the machinery of the Jewish "self-administration." in August 1944 the ghetto was liquidated, and Rumkowski and his family voluntarily joined the last transport of jews to Auschwitz and were murdered there.
