Skip to main content

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • Site
    • English home page
    • المصادر بالعربية
    • Πηγές στα Ελληνικά
    • Recursos en español
    • منابع موجود به زبان فارسی
    • Ressources en français
    • Gyűjtemény és tudástár magyar nyelven
    • Sumber Bahasa Indonesia
    • Materiali e risorse in italiano
    • 日本語のリソース
    • 한국어 자료
    • Recursos em Português (do Brasil)
    • Материалы на русском языке
    • Türkçe Kaynaklar
    • اُردو ری سورسز
    • 中文参考资料
  • Events
  • Plan Your Visit
  • Support the Museum
  • Connect
  • Donate
  • Learn About The Holocaust
  • Remember Survivors and Victims
  • Confront Genocide and Antisemitism

  • Home
  • The Museum's Collections
  • The Museum's Collections
  • Highlights from the Collections
  • Who Was This Woman?

Typhus

  • The Museum's Collections
    • About the Museum's Collections
    • Browse the Collections
    • Highlights from the Collections
    • Curators Corner
    • The Shapell Center
    • Donate to the Collections
  • Plan a Research Visit
  • Ask a Research Question
  • Bibliographies
  • Database of Holocaust Survivor and Victim Names

A primary concern of medical personnel in the ghetto was to prevent the spread of infectious disease. Typhus, in particular, was rampant due to the lack of medicines to treat the disease or supplies to maintain sanitary conditions. As a result, thousands died slow and agonizing deaths. This deliberate neglect corresponded with the German policy to cause the deaths of large numbers of Jews through over-crowded, squalid living conditions and a lack of reasonable medical care.

This policy of neglect was not without its consequences for the German occupiers. Although the typhus outbreaks were at their worst in the ghettos and labor camps, the disease (contrary to Nazi theories of “race”) also spread to German personnel. Many Germans associated with the Janowska Street forced labor camp in Lvov were stricken with the disease. In order to stem the tide of illness, camp administrators periodically marched prisoners out of the camp and into the ghetto for mass disinfections. Disinfection baths were established on Balonowa Street where Frey lived at the time.

About the Museum

  • Plan Your Visit
  • Current Exhibitions
  • Calendar of Events
  • Support the Museum
  • Donate

Resources

  • Learn
  • Teach
  • Collections
  • Academic Research
  • Remember Survivors and Victims
  • Genocide Prevention
  • Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial
  • Outreach

Museum Websites

  • Holocaust Encyclopedia
  • Collections Search
  • Holocaust Survivors and Victims Resource Center
  • History Unfolded
  • Experiencing History
  • Early Warning Project
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW
Washington, DC 20024-2126
Main telephone: 202.488.0400
TTY: 202.488.0406

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • About the Museum
  • Contact the Museum
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
  • Legal
×

#WeRemember #HolocaustRemembrance

Days of Remembrance Commemoration

Watch Live

The ceremony at the US Capitol, featuring a candle-lighting and names reading, is happening now.

×

FirstPerson

Conversations with Survivors
of the Holocaust

Watch Now

Join us right now to watch a live interview with a survivor, followed by a question-and-answer session.

×

Fight Hate and Antisemitism

Join our #GivingTuesday challenge to make your tax-deductible gift go twice as far. Help us teach about the consequences of unchecked hate and antisemitism. Give today.
MATCH MY GIFT
×

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

The Museum's commemoration ceremony, including remarks by the German ambassador and a Holocaust survivor, is happening now.

#WeRemember

Watch Now