Per decree of the Axis-allied Japanese military during its occupation of Shanghai from 1941-1945, a "Restricted Sector for Stateless Refugees" was established in the Hongkew district of Shanghai in February 1943. Over 20,000 Jewish refugees living in Shanghai after fleeing from Europe to escape the Nazis were ordered to relocate into the c. one square mile area of the Restricted Sector, also known as the Hongkew ghetto or Shanghai ghetto.
A cantor (chazan in Hebrew) is a Jewish religious officiant who sings and leads the congregation in prayer.
Established in New York in 1881, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) is an aid organization that provides support for Jewish refugees and immigrants fleeing persecution. During and after World War II, HIAS facilitated the immigration of hundreds of thousands of Jews.
Created at an international conference held in Washington, DC in November 1943, the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) assisted the nations of Europe and supported the repatriation and immigration of refugees and displaced persons following World War II. UNRRA coordinated the work of a number of voluntary aid agencies, including the JDC and HIAS. UNRRA was succeeded by the International Refugee Organization (IRO) in 1948.
Codename for the Soviet military offensive against German troops in what is today Belarus, launched in June 1944 to coincide with the Allied invasion of Europe at Normandy (D-Day). As a result of the dual Allied campaigns, Nazi Germany was forced to engage on two fronts, which weakened its military and eventually resulted in its defeat.
