The city of Krakow (Cracow) is in southern Poland. Before 1918, it was the seat of the Austrian province of Galicia. In 1939 60,000 Jews resided in Krakow, almost one-quarter of a total population of about 250,000. The German army occupied Krakow in the first week of September 1939. Persecution of the Jews began immediately and intensified after the Germans declared Krakow the capital of the Generalgouvernement, that area of Poland which Germany did not annex directly to its eastern provinces. In the city, Wawel Castle became the residence of Nazi lawyer Hans Frank, who had been appointed Governor General of Poland.