Stroop Report

The Report was commissioned by Friedrich-Wilhelm Krüger, chief of the SS and police in Kraków and was intended as a souvenir album for Heinrich Himmler. It was prepared in three distinct leather-bound copies for Himmler, Friedrich-Wilhelm Krüger and Jürgen Stroop. One unbound "file" copy of the report (das Konzept) remained in Warsaw, in the care of Chief of Staff Max Jesuiter. According to a statement given in 1945 by Stroop's adjutant Karl Kaleshke to US authorities in Wiesbaden, he ordered Stroop's copy of the report burnt with other secret documents in Burg Kranzberg. After the war only two of the four copies were discovered, those belonging to Himmler and Jesuiter. Himmler's copy went to Seventh Army Intelligence Center (SAIC) and Jesuiter's to Military Intelligence Research Section (MIRS) in London. But, in reply to inquiries by Richard Raskin, the Bundesarchiv stated that the third copy of report was never in their possession. The assistant prosecutor dealing with the persecution of the Jews referred to it as "the finest example of ornate German craftsmanship, leather bound, profusely illustrated, typed on heavy bond paper ... the almost unbelievable recital of the proud accomplishment by Major General of Police Stroop". Both copies were also used in Nuremberg in the 1947 trial of Oswald Pohl, as exhibit 503. On June 10, 1948, the Himmler/SAIC copy of the Stroop report and Katzmann Report were handed over by Fred Niebergal, head of Office of Chief of Counsel for War Crimes – OCCWC, to Bernard Acht, head of the Polish Military Mission in Nuremberg. ==Content==

The Report was a 125-page typed document, bound in black pebble leather, with 53 photographs. It consisted of the following sections: • Summary, with • Title page • List of soldiers/police killed and wounded • List of combat units involved, and • Introduction, signed by Jürgen Stroop in the IPN copy • Collection of 31 daily reports (German: Tägliche Meldungen), sent from Stroop's Chief of Staff Max Jesuiter to SS Police Leader East Friedrich-Wilhelm Krüger. The reports cover the period of 20 April to 16 May 1943, plus a report from 24 May 1943, and all were signed by Jesuiter. • Series of 53 photographs accompanied by hand-written captions in German Sütterlin script • The NARA report also has a fourth section with statistics about human losses, types of recovered weapons, and amounts of money and valuables taken from Jews. The copies have slight discrepancies in textual and graphical layout, and in the photographs they contain. == Photographs from the Stroop Report ==

The IPN copy of the report has 53 photographs on 49 pages, while the NARA copy has the same number of photographs on 52 pages. 37 photographs appear in both copies, although not always with the same size, crop or order and occasionally with different captions. Sixteen shots in each copy are different, although often very similar, as they depict the same events. Altogether, in both versions of the report, there are 69 unique photographs. Some of those photographs were closely related to those used in the report, as they depicted the same events. Many of those additional photographs are described in reputable sources as coming from the Stroop Report, even if they do not appear in either of the surviving copies. The high-quality photographs taken for Stroop constitute a unique documentation of the final stage of liquidation of the Warsaw ghetto. The photographer was permitted access to Stroop's inner circle, to accompany the forces that participated in liquidating the ghetto, and to get close to the combat areas. Apart from a dozen candid photographs taken by Polish firefighter Leszek Grzywaczewski, those are the only photographs of the Ghetto Uprising taken inside the ghetto. Some of them became highly recognized images of World War II and the Shoah. Photographic captions in the Report are handwritten in the Sütterlin style. The captions contain few facts about the photos' content, and in some cases do not match the images at all. The captions often express the racist mindset of the report's authors. Many of the places, people and events depicted were not identified until after the report's publication. ==Gallery==

Photographs included in one of the two copies of the Stroop Report. Image captions include a reference and translation of the original German caption, followed by current photo caption. Click on images for more information. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 02.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #The building of the former Jewish CouncilJudenrat (Jewish Community Council) at Zamenhofa 19 File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - NARA04.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Vacate the factory!Umschlagplatz, gate by the bathhouse File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - NARA05.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Discussing the evacuation of the factoryThe guard on the left is Josef Blösche. The photo depicts the Herman Brauer helm repair shop at Nalewki 28–38. 24 April 1943 File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - 26534.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #The Jewish department heads of the armament firm BrauerHerman Brauer helm repair shop at Nalewki 28–38 File:Varsovia.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #The Brauer CompanyHerman Brauer helm repair shop at Nalewki 28–38 File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 06b.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Forcibly pulled out of bunkersThis well-known photograph was selected for Time Magazine's most influential 100 photographs. Despite the three books written about the image, only the SS man pointing the submachine gun has been definitely identified, as Josef Blösche. Taken at Nowolipie 34. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 07.jpg|IPN copy #These bandits offered armed resistanceNowolipie 64 near intersection with Smocza. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 08.jpg|NARA copy #These bandits offered armed resistanceNowolipie 64 near intersection with Smocza.Woman on the right: Hasia Szylgold-Szpiro File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 11.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Jews pulled from a bunkerNowolipie 64 / Smocza 1 intersection File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 03.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #The leader of the grand operationSecond from left Stroop; background either (Stroop's adjutant) or Erich Steidtmann; 2nd from right Heinrich Klaustermeyer; far right Josef Blösche and others at Nowolipie 64 / Smocza 1 intersection File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - NARA25.jpg|NARA copy #Smoking out the Jews and BanditsPossibly Wałowa 4 File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN35.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Before the searchPossibly near Wałowa 4, looking North File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 05.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Search and interrogationPossibly Muranowski Square with Muranowski 10 / Sierakowska 3 in the back File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 04.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Jewish RabbisRabbi Heschel Rappaport and others questioned by Heinrich Klaustermeyer and Josef Blösche in front of Nowolipie 32. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN12.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Jewish RabbisRabbi Lipa Kaplan, Eliyahu Levin, Mendel Alter, Yankel Levin and Rabbi Heschel Rappaport in front of Nowolipie 32. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN13.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Dregs of humanityAll the prisoners were stripped during the search. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 12.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Bandits destroyed in battleExecuted Jews, possibly near Nalewki 41. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - 26549.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Jewish traitorsStroop and Maximilian von Herff (likely) at Muranowski Square near Naleweki and Miła intersection with Nalewki 42 in the back. Possibly taken May 14, 1943 File:Stroop Collection - Jürgen Stroop and other officers - 01.jpg|Stroop Collection Jürgen Stroop and some senior SS personnel interrogating a Jewish man during suppression of Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.The man with the goggles over his helmet (third from left) is Josef Bloshe. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 13.jpg|IPN copy #Hehalutz women captured with weapons.Małka Zdrojewicz on the right of this photograph survived Majdanek; the other two died in the Shoah (Rachela Wyszogrodzka at left died in KZ Camp; her sister Bluma Wyszogrodzka was shot and killed after this picture was taken) File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN36a.jpg|IPN copy #They were also found in the underground bunkersCaptured Jews in front of Miła 31 and 33 viewed from Zamenhofa Street. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 09.jpg|IPN copy #Forcibly pulled out of bunkersCaptured Jews are led by Waffen SS soldiers to Umschlagplatz. In the back Nowolipie 62 & 63. See file page for possible identity of depicted people. The SS man at right has the "Totenkopf" Insignia on his collar. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 10.jpg|NARA copy #To the transhipping placeCaptured Jews are led by Waffen SS soldiers to Umschlagplatz. In the back Nowolipie 62 & 63. See file page for possible identity of depicted people. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - NARA24.jpg|NARA copy #BanditsGęsia and Smocza intersection File:Żydzi w drodze Umschlagplatz 1943.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #March to the rail stationColumn heading North to Umschlagplatz on Zamenhofa Street near Kupiecka. In the back buildings of Zamenhofa 30-40 block. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - NARA32.jpg|NARA copy #To the transhipping placeColumn heading North to Umschlagplatz on Zamenhofa Street near Kupiecka. In the back buildings of Zamenhofa 30-40 block. File:Stroop_Report_-_Warsaw_Ghetto_Uprising_-_26537.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #To the transhipping placeColumn heading North to Umschlagplatz on Zamenhofa Street near Wołyńska. On the left 25, 27, 29. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN41.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #This is how the former Ghetto looks after having been destroyedColumn heading North to Umschlagplatz on Zamenhofa Street, with burning Zamenhofa 25 / Wołyńska 2 on the left. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN29.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Transporting of Jews onwardColumn heading North to Umschlagplatz on Zamenhofa Street, with burning Zamenhofa 25 / Wołyńska 2 on the left. File:Stroop_Report_-_Warsaw_Ghetto_Uprising_-_26552.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Destruction of a housing blockZamenhofa Street looking North, with burning Zamenhofa 25 / Wołyńska 2 on the left. File:Stroop_Report_-_Warsaw_Ghetto_Uprising_-_26556.jpg|NARA copy #A housing block being destroyedZamenhofa Street looking North, with burning Zamenhofa 25 / Wołyńska 2 on the left. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN28.jpg|IPN copy #A housing block being destroyedZamenhofa Street looking North, with burning Zamenhofa 25 / Wołyńska 2 on the left. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN45.jpg|IPN copy #(No image caption, in section This is how the former Ghetto looks after having been destroyed)Zamenhofa Street between Wołyńska and Miła looking North, with burning Zamenhofa 29, 31 and 33 on the left. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN25.jpg|IPN copy #(No caption)Zamenhofa Street between Wołyńska and Miła looking North, with burning Zamenhofa 29, 31 and 33 on the left. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN26.jpg|IPN copy #(No caption)Zamenhofa Street between Wołyńska and Miła looking North File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN20.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #A bunker being openedStroop witnesses digging out of a bunker, possibly near the ghetto wall. 8 May 1943 File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - NARA39.jpg|NARA copy #They were also found in the underground bunkersStroop witnesses digging out of a bunker, possibly near the ghetto wall. 8 May 1943 File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - NARA16.jpg|NARA copy #Jews pulled from a bunkerReportedly from Nowolipie / Smocza intersection File:Stroop_Report_-_Warsaw_Ghetto_Uprising_-_26546.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #BanditsReportedly from Nowolipie / Smocza intersection File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN30.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Photos showing parts of so called dwelling dugouts File:Stroop_Report_-_Warsaw_Ghetto_Uprising_-_26559.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Photos showing parts of so called dwelling dugouts File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN32.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Photos showing parts of so called dwelling dugouts File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN33.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Photos showing parts of so called dwelling dugouts File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN34.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Photos showing parts of so called dwelling dugouts File:Warsaw ghetto uprising German sentries.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Securing a streetMG08 at the gate on Nowolipie Street intersection with Smocza Street, looking East. In the back Nowolipie 56. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - NARA45.jpg|NARA copy #(No image caption, in section This is how the former Ghetto looks after having been destroyed)Nowolipie 56 in the center. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN42.jpg|IPN copy #(No image caption, in section This is how the former Ghetto looks after having been destroyed)Nowolipie Street looking West towards the gate at Nowolipie / Smocza intersection. File:Ghetto Uprising Warsaw2.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #An assault squadWaffen SS troops at Nowolipie Street with Nowolipie 50 A, 52, 54 and 56 in the back. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - 05507.jpg|Stroop Collection-not in the report-taken at Nowolipie 63 File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - 10501.jpg|IPN copy #Smoking out the Jews and BanditsWaffen SS troops at Nowolipie Street, between Smocza and Karmelicka Streets, with Nowolipie 34 on the right. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - 36.jpg|IPN copy #Fight against a resistance pocketCannon on Zamenhofa Street shooting North at resistance in Gęsia 20 building. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN37a.jpg|IPN copy #Fight against a resistance pocketCannon on Zamenhofa Street shooting North at resistance in Gęsia 20 building File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - NARA27a.jpg|NARA copy #Destruction of a housing blockCannon on Zamenhofa Street shooting North at resistance in Gęsia 20 building File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - NARA27b.jpg|NARA copy #Destruction of a housing blockCannon on Zamenhofa Street shooting North at resistance in Gęsia 20 building File:Stroop Collection - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Cannon - 02.jpg|Stroop Collection, not in the report.Cannon on Zamenhofa Street shooting North at resistance in Gęsia 20 building File:Stroop Collection - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Cannon - 01.jpg|Stroop Collection, not in the report.Zamenhofa Street looking North at resistance in Gęsia 20 building. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - NARA40a.jpg|NARA copy #Bandits jump to escape captureMen preparing to commit suicide by jumping off the upper floors of 23 and 25 Niska Street. 22 April 1943 File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - 26568.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #Bandits jump to escape captureMan committing suicide by jumping off the upper floors of 23 and 25 Niska Street. 22 April 1943 File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - 037.jpg |IPN copy #Bandits who jumpedPeople who committed suicide by jumping off the upper floors of 23 and 25 Niska Street. 22 April 1943 File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - NARA40b.jpg|NARA copy #Bandits who jumpedPeople preparing to commit suicide by jumping off the upper floors of 23 and 25 Niska Street. 22 April 1943 File:Stroop Collection - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Niska Street - 1.jpg|Stroop Collection, not in the report. 25 Niska Street 22 April 1943 File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN39.jpg|IPN copy #The radio car of the command postStroop near command car, probably at Zamenhofa 48 near intersection with Miła. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - NARA41.jpg|NARA copy #The radio car of the command post File:Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Umschlagplatz 1943 05.jpg|IPN copy #Askaris assigned to the operationStroop and foreign fighters at the Umschlagplatz, with Stawki 5/7 in the back. File:Askaris im Warschauer Getto - 1943.jpg|NARA copy #Askaris assigned to the operationForeign fighters and executed Jews at Zamenhofa 42 / Kupiecka 18. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN43.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #(No image caption, in section This is how the former Ghetto looks after having been destroyed)Ulica Kupiecka Street viewed from Zamenhofa, with Zamenhofa 42 / Kupiecka 18 on the left. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN46.jpg|IPN copy #(No image caption, in section This is how the former Ghetto looks after having been destroyed)Possibly Dzielna 5 File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN48.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #(No image caption, in section This is how the former Ghetto looks after having been destroyed)Probably court yard of Franciszkańską 26 File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - NARA48.jpg|NARA copy #(No image caption, in section This is how the former Ghetto looks after having been destroyed)Probably court yard of Franciszkańską 30 File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN47.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #(No image caption, in section This is how the former Ghetto looks after having been destroyed)Nalewki Street, looking South from the gate at Nalewki/Gęsia/Franciszkańska intersection. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN50.jpg|IPN copy #(No image caption, in section This is how the former Ghetto looks after having been destroyed)Nalewki Street, looking South at the gate at Nalewki/Gęsia/Franciszkańska intersection. Beyond the wall on the right Posner house at Nalewkach 29. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - NARA50.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #(No image caption, in section This is how the former Ghetto looks after having been destroyed)On the right Nalewki 31/Gęsia 2, and on the left a view South at Nalewki Street towards ghetto gate at Nalewki/Gęsia/Franciszkańska intersection. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN23.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #A place which has been prepared for escape and jumping downOn the left Nalewki 31/Gęsia 2, and on the right view North at Nalewki Street. File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - IPN49.jpg|NARA copy #, IPN copy #(No image caption, in section This is how the former Ghetto looks after having been destroyed)Nalewki Street, viewed from Gęsia Street looking North, with Nalewki 31/Gęsia 2 on the left File:Stroop Report - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - NARA51.jpg|NARA copy #(No image caption, in section This is how the former Ghetto looks after having been destroyed)Possibly Nowolipki / Smocza intersection looking West on Nowolipki Street. ==Stroop Collection gallery==

In addition to the pictures in his report Stroop also had related photographs of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in his possession File:Stroop Collection - Jürgen Stroop and other officers - 06.jpg|Jürgen Stroop and other officers during Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Depicted place Umschlagplatz File:Stroop Collection - Jürgen Stroop and other officers - 05.jpg|Jürgen Stroop and other officers during Warsaw Ghetto Uprising File:Stroop Collection - Jürgen Stroop and other officers - 09.jpg|SS and police officers look on as SS Major General Juergen Stroop discusses razing the houses on Niska and Muranowska Streets with Kaleschke, his police adjutant, during Warsaw Ghetto Uprising File:Stroop Collection - Jürgen Stroop and other officers - 02.jpg|SS Major General Juergen Stroop (second from left) gathers information from a civilian on the second day of the suppression of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Accompanying Stroop are the various officers of his command staff.Left to right SS Fuehrer Franz Konrad (left);Juergen Stroop; Stroop's police adjutant, Karl Kaleske (Kaleschke) (partially hidden);SS Lieutenant (Untersturmfuehrer) Karl Brandt (third from right) SS Lieutenant (Untersturmfuehrer) Schwarz (second from right), and lieutenant (Untersturmfuehrer) in the SD 20 April 1943 File:Stroop Collection - Jürgen Stroop and other officers - 08.jpg|Jürgen Stroop and other officers during Warsaw Ghetto Uprising File:Stroop Collection - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Ghetto - 02.jpg|A factory razed by the SS burns during the suppression of the Warsaw ghetto uprising. Note identified by Yad Vashem as view from the Aryan side. Gliniana St. near the cemetery. On the left is Okopowa St. and at the front is the ghetto walls File:Stroop Collection - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Prosta - 01.jpg|Sicherheitsdienst [SD] (Security Service) Officer Supervises Movement of the Többens’ workshop workers during the Warsaw Ghetto uprising Prosta Street File:Stroop Collection - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Prosta - 02.jpg|Movement of the Többens’ workshop workers during the Warsaw Ghetto uprising Prosta Street File:Stroop Collection - Jürgen Stroop and other officers - 10.jpg|Jürgen Stroop inspecting a parade of SS soldiers during Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Depicted place right to left: Zamenhofa 15, Zamenhofa 13 File:Stroop Collection - Jürgen Stroop and other officers - 04.jpg|Jürgen Stroop and other officers visits Judenrat during Warsaw Ghetto Uprising left to right: Zamenhofa 24, Zamenhofa 22 File:Stroop Collection - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - SS soldiers - 01.jpg| SS soldiers pause to eat during the suppression of the Warsaw ghetto uprising File:Stroop Collection - Jürgen Stroop and other officers - 07.jpg|Jürgen Stroop, the senior SS and police officer of the district, escorted by German soldiers and policemen, during Warsaw Ghetto Uprising File:Stroop Collection - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Bunker - 02.jpg|Jews captured from a bunker File:Stroop Collection - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Bunker - 01.jpg|Jews captured from a bunker File:Stroop Collection - Jürgen Stroop and other officers - 03.jpg|Jürgen Stroop is standing in the background, wearing goggles around his neck.Officer with goggles: SS Obersturmbannführer Walter Bellwidt or Sturmbannfuehrer Max Jesuiter File:Stroop Collection - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Bunker - 06.jpg|Jews captured from a bunker File:Stroop Collection - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Bunker - 07.jpg|Jews captured from a bunker File:Stroop Collection - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Bunker - 08.jpg|Jews captured from a bunker File:Stroop Collection - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Bunker - 05.jpg|Jew captured 9 May 1943 File:Stroop Collection - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Bunker - 04.jpg|Jew captured 9 May 1943 File:Stroop Collection - Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Bunker - 03.jpg|The Jews are being pulled out of the basements by Wehrmacht sappers and SS troops. ==See also==