The Jewsish people first arrived in Poland somewhere in the eighth century, from beyond the Volga River.  For centuries, Poland had been a safe harbor for the Jews, protecting them from the harsh treatment from other European countries. They were not exactly welcome, but they were allowed to carry on with their lives. Jews could be found in almost every city in Poland and had friends, most being other Jews. Before the war, Jews in Poland existed as 10% of the population. However, when the Nazis invaded Poland, the Jews were either sent out, ran, or were captured and force into concentration camps and ghettos. After the war, only 5,000 of the earlier 3.5 million Jews returned to Poland. The population was greatly deminished.