title: The suicide of Adam Czerniakow.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this article is to describe the circumstances surrounding the suicide of Adam Czerniakow during the Holocaust.
  
  
  METHODS
  Examination of Czerniakow's (translated) diary and other Holocaust literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Head of the "Judenrat" (Jewish Council) in the Warsaw ghetto, Czerniakow had the impossible task of obeying oppressive German orders, while trying to serve and protect his people. Following instruction to have ready for deportation from the ghetto several thousand Jews each day, Czerniakow took his life. Although Czerniakow may not have known the precise destination of those deported (they were sent to death camps), he is believed to have held grave fears for their fate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suicide in the context of avoiding having to perform an unacceptable task is not commonly recorded, but may have applied in Czerniakow's case and was not infrequent among Judenrat members.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Northern Sydney and Central Coast Health Districuts, NSW, Australia. gwalter@mail.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Garry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Saxby
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pridmore
mesh_terms: D005197:Famous Persons; D049673:History, 20th Century; D017767:Holocaust / Q000266:history* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007585:Jews / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland; D011204:Poverty Areas; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*