January 11th, 1942 - The Polish Jews Behind the Nazi Ghetto Walls.

The Polish Jews Behind the Nazi Ghetto Walls. Shloyme Mendelsohn. The Yiddish Scientific Institute - YIVO. New York, 1942.

First separate English edition of this illustrated report on the state of Jews in the ghettos of Nazi-occupied Poland.

Literary critic and educator, Mendelsohn was a leader of the Folk Party and a member of the Bund. In 1941 he emigrated to the United states where he joined the editorial board of Undzer Tsayt. He delivered this report - in Yiddish - at the 16th annual conference of the Yiddish Scientific Institute on January 11th, 1942. It was then published along with an English translation in the YIVO Bleter of Jan-Feb 1942.

"Over there in the ghettos of Poland we are witnessing the truly amazing phenomenon of a people's fortitude which has no parallel in history, and of an underground movement, the heroism of which illuminates the darkness of our days." (p. 31)

pp. 32. Original photographically illustrated paper wrappers, staple-bound as issued. Ink-stamp on front cover. 6 photographic images of Ghetto conditions. 8vo. A near-fine copy. SCARCE.