The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of blackmail in occupied Cracow, based on a thorough examination of criminal cases from 1939 to 1946 and a critical evaluation of witness accounts. The specific nature of crime in occupied Cracow will be discussed, with a particular focus on the activities of various perpetrators and the impact of these crimes on the local population. Furthermore, this article will explore the historical context in which these crimes took place, including the social, economic, and political conditions that contributed to the proliferation of blackmail in occupied Cracow. Through a nuanced and multidisciplinary approach, this article aims to shed new light on this understudied topic and provide a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of
crime in occupied Cracow during World War II.