When the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939, they targeted Jewish people, confining them to ghettos and causing the deaths of millions.
The Nazis aimed to hide the genocide orchestrated by Adolf Hitler, attempting to conceal the horrors of the concentration camps from the world.
Despite their efforts to eradicate evidence of their crimes, photographer Henryk Ross decided to capture the truth of the Holocaust, risking his life to document the atrocities.
Henryk Ross courageously buried around 6,000 negatives during the war and later unearthed them, revealing the harsh reality faced by thousands of imprisoned Jews who suffered greatly and perished under inhumane conditions at the hands of the Nazis.
Many were deeply moved by Ross’s photos, acknowledging the vital importance of preserving this history that should never be forgotten.
Here are some of the remarkable images he captured:
These powerful photos taken by Ross are on display at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Canada, illustrating the harsh conditions in the Lodz ghetto where Ross and his family, along with over 160,000 other Polish Jews, were imprisoned for four years.
Amongst the collection are images portraying the grim reality of the Jewish genocide, showcasing the grim scenes of piled bodies and children seeking sustenance in desperation. Yet, amidst the horrors, there are also photos depicting the incredible resilience displayed by those living under the Nazi regime.
Born in Warsaw, Henryk Ross initially worked as a sports photographer before he was assigned to capture photos for identification and propaganda purposes in the Lodz ghetto. This role served as a disguise for Ross, enabling him to clandestinely document life within the ghetto.
