The Pogrom
The Kielce pogrom was an outbreak of violence against the Jewish community of Kielce, Poland on July 4, 1946.
It was perpetrated by a mob of local townsfolk, including police and soldiers. Following a false tale of child kidnapping, including allegations of blood libel which led to a police investigation, violence broke out which resulted in 42 dead (39 Jews and 3 non-Jewish) and 40 more injured.
As the deadliest pogrom against Polish Jews, this incident was a significant point in the post-war history of Jews in Poland. The Kielce event took place only a year after the end of World War II and the Holocaust, shocking Jews in Poland, many Poles, as well as the international community. It has been considered a catalyst for the flight of most Jewish survivors from Poland.