German retribution against Poles who helped Jews

During the Holocaust in Poland, 1939–1945, German occupation authorities engaged in repressive measures against non-Jewish Polish citizens who helped Jews persecuted by Nazi Germany.

The orders of the German occupation authorities, in particular the ordinance of General Governor Hans Frank of 15 October 1941, provided for the death penalty for any Pole who gave shelter to a Jew or helped him in any other way. In practice, the range of penalties applied to persons who helped Jews was wide, including fines, confiscation of property, beatings, imprisonment, deportation to Nazi concentration camps, and the death penalty. Pursuant to the principle of collective responsibility applied by the Germans, families of those who helped Jews, and sometimes entire local communities, were subject to retribution.

The exact number of Poles executed by the Germans for helping Jews has not yet been exactly determined. Estimates range from several hundred to several thousand persons.