After the Germans occupied Lodz on October 8, they incorporated it into the Wartheland and annexed it to the Reich. Brutal persecution of Jews began at once; public institutions were liquidated and the JewsΓÇÖ economic and social life collapsed. On October 13-14, the German authorities appointed a Jewish council, known as the Aeltestenrat (Council of Elders), and named Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski as its chairman. Its duty was to ensure that the GermansΓÇÖ orders be forwarded to the Jewish population and carried out.
On November 11, in an action that recurred in many other ghettos, all 31 members of the Jewish council except for Rumkowski were arrested. Shortly afterwards, after eight of the councilors were released and the others murdered, Rumkowski was ordered to reconstitute the council.
