5. Distribution of Jews

Each dot = ten Jews

In January 1941, Hans Böhmcker, ‘Beauftragter des Deutschen Reiches’ for Amsterdam, demands an inventory of the distribution of Jews throughout the city. Within ten days, twenty officials have prepared a first overview. After this, the municipality collects additional data on the Jews. In May 1941, 85,897 Jews were settled in Amsterdam, according to the population register. Black dots are manually placed) on the fifth edition of the map (1:10,000) of the Public Works Department from November 1941 (each dot = ten Jews. This ‘dot map’ shows how many Jews live in each neighbourhood in blue, and the number of gentiles in red. Together with twelve other maps, the dot map plays a key role in the debate about whether and how Amsterdam’s ‘Jewish neighbourhoods’ should be transformed into a ghetto. Despite half-hearted attempts to realise it, such a ghetto, didn’t appear in Amsterdam. However, 70,000 Amsterdam Jews were murdered by the Nazis, with the help of the excellent population administration.