September 1939. The Germans invade Poland and occupy Warsaw. Soon Jews, or people regarded by the Germans as Jews, and that includes, irrespective of their religion, anyone with a Jewish great-grandparent, are separated from the rest of the Polish population, first, in November 1939, by having to wear the star of David on their clothes, then, in mid October 1940, by being forced to move to a part of the City from which all non-Jews are evicted, and finally, on November 15, 1941, by being confined to the ghetto, hemmed in by guarded gates and barbed wire, later by high walls. Soon Jews from provincial towns are "resettled" in the ghetto and the population of the ghetto rises to 550,000 inhabitants. This in an area that pre-war housed 160,000. Leaving the ghetto without a pass becomes punishable by death. The official food ration provides 184 calories per day (that of German solidiers is 4,000 calories per day). Mass starvation results and 50% of the ghetto population is in the process of starving to death.