‘Only two important things thrive in the ghetto: love and death’- relationships in the Warsaw Ghetto

This article examines the role of romantic love among middle and upper-class, married and single heterosexual Jews in German-occupied Warsaw during World War II. It spans from the onset of the war in September 1939, through the establishment of the Warsaw Ghetto, to the mass deportations of 1942. It analyzes the impact of extreme conditions on relationships and delves into emotional experiences and challenges faced by individuals, drawing on the lenses of the history of emotions. It investigates how individuals perceived their roles as partners and managed challenges to love, exploring reactions within the Jewish community of Warsaw.