Symcha Spira (? – 1944), also known as Symche Spira, served as the head of the Krakow ghetto Jewish police during the Holocaust.

Biography

According to survivors' testimony, before World War II Spira was an impoverished glazier and

carpenter Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, Shipbuilding, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. ...

who practiced Orthodox Judaism. He was known to wear a full beard and

kapoteh A bekishe, bekeshe, or ( yi, בעקעטשע or ), is a type of frock coat, usually made of black silk or polyester, worn by Hasidic Jews, and by some non-Hasidic Haredi Jews. The bekishe is worn mainly on Shabbos and Jewish holidays, or at wedd ...

. In the early days of the Krakow ghetto, Spira served as a low level clerk for the Judenrat. In the summer of 1940 the '' Jüdischer Ordnungsdienst'' (OD) of Krakow was established, and Spira filed for a transfer. While serving there he quickly found favor in the eyes of the Germans, despite being near illiterate and having difficulty communicating in both German and Polish. After his transfer, he became a commander of the Kraków Ghetto Jewish Police, at the recommendation of the German forces. After taking this role his appearance would change, adopting the police uniform in place of religious wear and removing his beard entirely. One power that Spira's proximity to the SS gave, was his ability to facilitate

bribes Bribery is the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official, or other person, in charge of a public or legal duty. With regard to governmental operations, essentially, bribery is "Corru ...

for work identification cards on behalf of the residents of the ghetto. The ghetto residents came to distrust him, believing that he was a Gestapo collaborator and giving him the nickname "SS," after the Nazi force. Many have even gone as far to accuse him of

megalomania Megalomania is an obsession with power and wealth, and a passion for grand schemes. Megalomania or megalomaniac may also refer to: Psychology * Narcissistic personality disorder * Grandiose delusions * Omnipotence (psychoanalysis), a stage of ...

and using his position to enrich himself. In 1942 an orphanage was established in the ghetto, which also acted as a daycare. This building was placed under the jurisdiction of Spira. He held religious services there for the High Holy Days. Several people, both Jews and ethnic

Poles Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, who share a common history, culture, the Polish language and are identified with the country of Poland in Ce ...

, joined his police force in 1942. After the

liquidation Liquidation is the process in accounting by which a company is brought to an end in Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, and many other countries. The assets and property of the company are redistrib ...

of the Krakow ghetto, the Krakow Jews Police and Judenrat were deported to Płaszów. Spira was arrested alongside the other members of the OD, but was released for a short period at the request of the Gestapo. He was rearrested in December 1943, and was executed in 1944 on the orders of Amon Göth.

Legacy

Spira's actions were included in Thomas Keneally's book ''

Schindler's Ark ''Schindler's Ark'' is a historical novel published in 1982 by the Australian novelist Thomas Keneally. The United States edition of the book was titled ''Schindler's List;'' it was later reissued in Commonwealth countries under that name as we ...

'', the basis of the film '' Schindler's List''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spira, Symcha Glaziers Carpenters Kraków Ghetto inmates Executed Polish collaborators with Nazi Germany Executed Jewish collaborators with Nazi Germany Jews executed by Nazi Germany Former Orthodox Jews Jewish Ghetto Police Oskar Schindler People who died in Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp Year of birth missing 1944 deaths Polish people executed in Nazi concentration camps Polish Jews who died in the Holocaust