The Courts of Justice
 |
Built in 1935-1939 by Bohdan Pniewski, the Courts of Justice at 56 Leszno Street (now 127 Solidarity Avenue) have a tragic history. They contained the German-run ghetto tax office (essentially an organisation to legalise theft) and were the only place where Jews and gentiles could have legal contact. The Jewish entrance was on the northern, Leszno Street side illustrated above (the photograph was taken looking south-west). The Courts were used extensively for smuggling and communication between the ghetto and the 'Aryan' side, and were also the only place where couples of mixed religion could meet. Many gentile men and women last saw their Jewish wife or husband in this building.
After the war Communist show trials were held in the Courts. In 1980 the Solidarity trade union was officially registered here.
The legend across the entrance reads: "Justice is the foundation of the strength and stability of the Republic."
 |
| One of the Leszno Street entrances to the Courts |
|
"This morning the exit from the court-house on Leszno Street ... was blocked off and all the Jews who were in the hallway had their papers checked. All the cash that the Jews had on them was taken". Abraham Lewin, 26th May 1942 |