CHAPER (from Yiddish “to catch”)—a starving person who took packages of food from the hands of passers-by on the streets of the ghetto.
CITIZENS COMMITTEE AT THE WARSAW DEFENCE COMMAND (Komitet Obywatelski przy Dowództwie Obrony Warszawy)—institution established on 15 September 1939 by Stefan Starzyński, the mayor of Warsaw and the civil commissioner during the defence of Warsaw, consisting of representatives of all political parties of the Second Republic.
COMMUNITY—see Jewish Council.
COUPON (Polish: bon)—the colloquial name for a type of food stamp made available to Jews registered in the ghetto; the basis for the purchase of food officially brought into the ghetto. The popular ghetto saying “to give one’s voucher away” meant to die.
COURTS AT LESZNO—the court building at Leszno Street 53/55 had an entrance on both the ghetto and the “Aryan” side, which meant that it became the most famous place where the inhabitants of the ghetto could illicitly meet with persons from the other side of the wall. Also, escapees from the ghetto were often carried out via the courts at Leszno. The ground floor of the building housed a branch of the Tax and Stamp Office, where personal income taxes were paid.
DEPARTMENT OF SUPPLY—an office founded in December 1940, responsible for supplying food to the ghetto by approving the purchase orders of shops for items from outside the ghetto. Originally, it operated as an agency of the Jewish Council; in September 1941, it became independent. It was headed by Abraham Gepner.
DISINFECION UNIT—a team carrying out disinfection in the ghetto to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. The unit consisted of 18 health workers (12 Jews and 6 Poles), a German disinfector, as well as a Polish and a Jewish doctor. Units were escorted by the POLISH "BLUE POLICE" and the JEWISH ORDER SERVICE.
ENDECJA—name formed from the acronym of the Polish name of the party, National Democracy (National Democracy, ND). Political movement of a nationalistic character, which emerged in the late nineteenth century. Its principal ideologue was Roman Dmowski. During the interbellum Second Republic, the Endecja was organised in the
