The Kielce pogrom in July 1946 triggered a mass exodus of Jews from Poland. By the end of 1946, around 100,000 Jews had reached the American occupation zone in Germany. Due to new regulations passed in mid-February 1946, these newcomers were given Displaced Person status, food, and housing. They also received assistance from Brichah (meaning “flight” or “escape”), a Jewish organization that not only organized their escape from Poland, but also arranged for their further journey to Palestine via France. The most common route took them from Vienna to Bordeaux or Marseille via Salzburg, Munich and Strasbourg. After arriving at the French ports they boarded ships for Palestine.