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TheHolocaust:ExploringActiveCitizenshipthroughResistorsandRescuers
OverviewInthisactivity,participantswillexploretheactivecitizenswhoresistedthetyrannyandatrocitiescommittedbyHitlerandtheNaziparty,aswellasthosewhoworkedtoassistandrescuethosetargeted.Uponexploringthesebravepeople,studentswillchooseapersonfromtheHolocaustwhoexhibitedactivecitizenship,deliveraspeechintheirhonor,andpresentthemwithacitizenshipawardatamockreception.Grade7NorthCarolinaEssentialStandardsfor7thGrade• 7.H.1.1-Constructcharts,graphs,andhistoricalnarrativestoexplainparticulareventsorissuesovertime.• 7.H.1.2-Summarizetheliteralmeaningofhistoricaldocumentsinordertoestablishcontext.• 7.H.1.3-Useprimaryandsecondarysourcestointerpretvarioushistoricalperspectives.• 7.H.2.1-Analyzetheeffectsofsocial,economic,militaryandpoliticalconflictamongnations,regions,and
groups(e.g.war,genocide,imperialismandcolonization).EssentialQuestions• Whatarethecharacteristicsofanactiveandeffectivecitizen?• WhataresomewayspeopleresistedthetyrannyofHitlerandtheNazipartyduringWWII?• InwhatwaysdidactivecitizensassistthosetargetedduringtheHolocaust?• WhydidsomecitizensexhibitapathyorchoosenottoresistHitlerandtheNazis?Materials• Alargestripofpaper(bulletinboardorbutcherpaper)• Markers• Analogygraphicorganizers(attached)• PhotoofmilkcanusedbytheOynegShabbosresistancegroup(attached)• Readingexcerptsandquestionsattached• “ExcellenceinCitizenship”Award,assignmentattached• ExamplesofResistorsandRescuers,listattached
Duration• 2+classperiods• Timevariesdependingontheamountofclasstimeprovidedforworkingon“ExcellenceinCitizenship”
AwardAssignmentStudentPreparationThislessonshouldbeintroducedafterstudentshavedevelopedanunderstandingoftheeventsoftheHolocaustaswellasitscontributingfactors.Pleasesee“IntroductiontotheHolocaust”and“Hate&Anti-SemitismintheHolocaust”intheDatabaseofK-12Resources.
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TeacherPreparationTeachersshouldcreateoneormoreoutlinesofahumanbodyonbulletinboardpaper(dependingonclasssize):thiswillbewrittenonbystudentsduringthewarm-upactivity.Placethetitleof“TheActiveCitizen”oneachpaper.Procedure
ExploringActiveCitizenship1. Beginbyleadingtheclassinaverbalbrainstormofthewordcitizen.Encouragethemtoexploreallaspects
ofthewordthatcometomind.Asagroup,createacommondefinition.2. Askparticipantstosilentlythinkofwhatitmeanstobeanactivecitizen.Encouragetheirthinkingby
asking:• Whattypeofpersonmakesacommunityagoodplacetoliveandgotoschool?• Howdoesanactivecitizenactandbehave?Howdoesanactivecitizenaffectwhereyoulive(your
neighborhood,yourschool,yourentirecityandcounty,etc.)?• Whatistheirattitudelike?Whatdotheyvalue?
3. Directstudent’sattentiontoalargepieceofpaperwiththeoutlineofabodydrawnonit.(Teacher’smay
wanttoplacetheseonthefloorsoallstudentscaneasilyaccessit.)Whilestudentsthink,directtheirattentiontothebodyoutline.Theoutlineshouldbeaslargeaspossible,ideallystudentsized,andtitledTheActiveCitizen.Ifyourclassislarger,youmaydividetheclassinhalf,withahumanoutlineforeachgroup.
4. Explaintostudentsthattheyaregoingtoillustrateanactivecitizenbyfillinguptheinsideofthebody
outlinewithallthetraitsandbehaviorsofanactivecitizen.Tellstudentsthattheymaywritewords,drawpictures,usesymbols,etc.Allowstudentstobegin,monitoringtheirworkastheywriteanddrawontheinsideofthehumanoutline.Astheywork,continuetoaskquestionstofacilitatefurtherthinkinganddetails.(Forexample,ifaparticipanthaswritten“responsible”,askthegrouptoconsiderspecificactionsthatexhibitcivicresponsibility,andinstructthemtoaddthosespecificsontotheircitizen).
5. Oncefinished,asktheclasstostepbackandviewtheir“activecitizen.”Instructthemtopointoutthe
attributesand/oractionsthattheybelievearemostimportantandexplainwhy.Seeiftheclasscancometoaconsensusonthetop5traitsorbehaviorsanactivecitizenshouldhave/exhibit.
6. Next,followingthesameprocessasabove,instructstudentstoconsiderthetypeofcitizenwhowould
haveanegativeoutlookonbeingaresponsiblecitizen.Encouragestudentstoagainbrainstormwhattraits,characteristics,behaviors,actions,ideas,values,etc.thisnegativepersonwouldencompass.Havestudentsreturntothelargepaper,andwritewords,pictures,symbols,etc.ontheoutsideofthehumandrawingthatrepresentanegativecitizen.
7. Oncefinished,discuss:
• Lookingateverythingontheoutsideofourcitizen,whichcomment,symbol,picture,etc.representswhatyoubelievetobethemostdamagingcharacteristic,trait,orbehaviorofanegativecitizenandwhy?
• Whatdoyouthinkdetermineswhetherapersonbecomesanactivecitizen,oracitizenwhonegativelyimpactstheircommunity?
• Whydoyouthinkitisimportanttobeanactivecitizen?Whatconsequencesmightwefaceifourcommunityisfilledwithcitizenswhodonotactinapositivemanner?
• Howmightweencouragefellowcommunitymemberstobe“responsibleactivecitizens?”
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8. Next,tellstudentsthattheywillbefocusingoncitizenswhoexhibitedactivecitizenshipduringtheHolocaust.RemindstudentsofthedefinitionoftheHolocaust(i.e.“themassslaughterofEuropeanciviliansandespeciallyJewsbytheNazisduringWorldWarII.”)Discuss:• DoyouthinktheHolocaustcouldhavebeenpreventedorcoulditsnegativeimpacthavebeen
lessenedinsomeway?Explain.• WehavestudiedanumberofpeoplewhowerevictimizedduringtheHolocaustaswellasthosewho
wereresponsibleforthemistreatment.Doyouthinktherewereanyadditionalcategoriesofpeople?WhatdoyouknowaboutresistorsorrescuersduringtheHolocaust?
ResistorsoftheHolocaust
9. ExplaintostudentsthatwhilethereweremanyGermanswhoconformedtotheunjustidealspromotedbytheNazisratherthanspeakout(seeCarolinaK-12’slesson“TheCrimeoftheBystanderintheHolocaust”locatedintheDatabaseofK-12Resources),thereweresomeactivecitizenswhocontributedtoresistanceefforts,andhelpedrescueandassistvictimswhenpossible.
10. Askstudentstothinkaboutatimetheyassistedafellowcitizenorresistedinjusticeofsomekind.Perhapstheystoodupforsomeonebeingteasedorhelpedastrangerinneed.Givestudentsafewminutesoffree-writetimetoexplainsuchatime;encouragestudentthinkingbyasking:• Explaintheeventorsituation.• Howdidyouassistorresist?Whatmethoddidyouuse?(i.e.silentprotest,verbaldisagreement,etc.)• Whatwasyourrationaleinassistingorresisting?(Whydidyoumakethechoicetogetinvolvedinthis
way?)• Whatwastheimpactofyourassistanceorresistance?• Basedonourdiscussionregardingwhatconstitutesanactivecitizen,doyouthinkyouwerebeingan
activecitizen?Whyorwhynot?• Wouldyouhavedoneanythingdifferently?Explain.
Ø TeacherNote:Itispossiblethatsomestudentswillnotbeabletoidentifysuchamoment.Teacherscan
alsotellstudentstorememberatimewhentheywishedtheywouldhaveresistedorassistedandtodescribethateventandexplainwhattheywouldhavedonedifferently.
11. Asstudentspondertheiranswers,tellthemthatthereweremanywaysthatpeopleresistedHitlerandthe
Nazis.AskstudentstofirstbrainstormsomewaysthatJews,othervictimsoftheHolocaustandnon-victimsmayhaveresisted.Compiletheseontheboardandthensharethefollowingquotewithstudents:• “Ineveryghetto,ineverydeportationtrain,ineverylaborcamp,eveninthedeathcamps,thewillto
resistwasstrong,andtookmanyforms.Fightingwiththefewweaponsthatwouldbefound,individualactsofdefianceandprotest,thecourageofobtainingfoodandwaterunderthethreatofdeath,thesuperiorityofrefusingtoallowtheGermanstheirfinalwishtogloatoverpanicanddespair.
Evenpassivitywasaformofresistance.Todiewithdignitywasaformofresistance.Toresistthedemoralizing,brutalizingforceofevil,torefusetobereducedtothelevelofanimals,tolivethroughthetorment,tooutlivethetormentors,thesetoowereactsofresistance.Merelytogiveawitnessoftheseeventsintestimonywas,intheend,acontributiontovictory.Simplytosurvivewasavictoryofthehumanspirit.”
Source:GILBERT,MARTIN.TheHolocaust.TheJewishTragedy.London:Fontana.1987
12. Havestudentsaddtotheclasslistbasedonwhattheyheardinthequote.Waysofresistancemayinclude:• Fighting• Praying• Hiding
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• Disguise• Fleeingthecountry• Protesting• Exhibitinggreatfeatsofcourage• Refusaltoallowspirittobebroken• Survival• Beingpassive• Assistingothers
13. Askstudentstodiscusshowthesevariouschoicesrepresentactivecitizenship.
OynegShabbos
14. Projecttheattachedphotoofamilkcan(orcopyandhandoutifaprojectionisnotavailable)anddiscuss:• Whatdoyouseehere?• Whatdoyouthinkthisitemmightbe?Whatmightithavebeenusedfor?Whatevidencemakesyou
thinkthis?• ThisitemactuallycontributedtoresistanceeffortsduringtheHolocaust.Doesanyonehaveany
predictionsastohow?
15. Afterstudentshavesharedtheirthoughts,explaintothemthatthepictureisofamilkcanthatwasusedbyaresistancegroupduringtheHolocaustcalledtheOynegShabbos.Givestudentsbackgroundinformationonthegroupsuchas:• “OynegShabboswasthecodenameofagroupledbyJewishhistorianDr.EmanuelRingelbluminthe
WarsawGhettoduringtheNazi-GermanoccupationofWarsawinWorldWarII.Thegroup,whichincludedhistorians,writers,rabbisandsocialworkers,wasdedicatedtochroniclinglifeintheGhetto.Theyworkedasateam,collectingdocumentsandsolicitingtestimoniesandreportsfromdozensofvolunteersofallages.Thematerialssubmittedincludedessays,diaries,drawings,wallposters,andothermaterialsdescribinglifeintheGhetto.ThecollectionworkstartedinSeptember1939andendedinJanuary1943.
ThemembersofOynegShabbosinitiallycollectedthematerialwiththeintentionthattheywouldwriteabookafterthewaraboutthehorrorstheyhadwitnessed.Asthepaceofdeportationsincreased,anditbecameclearthatthedestinationwastheTreblinkadeathcampandfewofWarsaw'sJewswerelikelytosurvive,Ringelblumhadthearchivesstoredin3milkcansandtenmetalboxes,whichwerethenburiedinthreeseparatelocationsintheGhetto.Twoofthecanisters,containingthousandsofdocuments,wereunearthedin1946andafurthertenboxesin1950.Thethirdcachehasyettobeuncovered,butisrumoredtobeburiedbeneathwhatisnowtheChineseEmbassyinWarsaw.However,asearchattemptin2005failedtolocatethemissingarchivalmaterial.
ThenameOnegShabbatmeansjoyoftheSabbathinHebrewandusuallyreferstoacelebratorygatheringheldafterSabbathservices,oftenwithfood,singing,study,discussion,andsocializing.ThisnamewasselectedbecausethegrouptendedtomeetonSaturdaystodiscusstheprogressoftheircollectionanddocumentationefforts.” Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyneg_Shabbos_(group)
16. Discusswithstudents:
• HowcantheactionsoftheOynegShabbosbeviewedasaformofresistance?• WhatweretheOynegShabbosriskingbydocumentingwhatwasoccurringduring1939-1943?• WhydoyouthinktheOynegShabbosriskedtheirlifetochronicletheatrocitiesoftheNazis?Whywas
thisdocumentationsoimportanttothem?
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RescuersDuringtheHolocaust17. AsstudentspondertheimportanceofresistancetotheNazicampaign,introducethemtoanother
importantgroup;citizenswhoservedasrescuers.Askstudentstobrainstormandjotdowncurrentformsofrescue,thensharetheirideas.(Studentsmaymentiongenerallocalgovernmententitiessuchaspoliceorfirefighters;theymayrefertocurrenteventrescueefforts,suchasrescuesconnectedtorecenthurricanesorearthquakes,thegovernment’seconomicrescuepackage/bailoutmaycomeup,etc.)Exploretheconceptof“rescue”furtherbydiscussing:• Whatdoesitmeantorescuesomeoneorsomething?• Whydoyouthinkpeoplechoosetorescueothers?• Whatpartdoesriskplayintheactofrescue?(i.e.riskingyoursafetyorsecurityforthatofanother.)
18. FocusstudentthoughtontheyearsoftheHolocaustandpointoutthatalthoughtherewerealargenumberofbystandersduringWWII,therewerealsocitizenswhoriskedtheirownlifetorescueJewsandnon-JewspersecutedbytheNazis.Forexample,theYadVashem,(theHolocaustMartyrs'andHeroes'RemembranceAuthority),locatedinIsraelwascreatedtorecognize“theRighteousamongtheNations.”TheRighteousaredefinedasnon-JewswhoriskedtheirlivestosaveJewsduringtheHolocaust.Toearnthetitle“Righteous,”onemustfulfillseveralcriteriaincludingbutnotlimitedtorepeatedorsubstantialassistanceandassistancewithoutanyformofpaymentexpected.Tellstudentsthatsome“Righteous”include:• VarianFry–HewasanAmericanjournalistwhoriskedhislifebysaving2,000-4,000Jews,including
manyprominentartistsandintellectuals.HeandasmallgroupofvolunteershidpeopleattheVillaAir-Beluntiltheycouldbesmuggledout.
• GiovanniPalatucci–HewasanItalianpoliceofficialwhoriskedhislifeandcareerwhenhesavedseveralthousandJewsbyforgingdocumentsandvisastoJewsthreatenedbydeportation.Hemanagedtodestroyalldocumentedrecordsofthesome5,000Jewishrefugeeslivinginthetown,issuingthemfalsepapersandprovidingthemwithfunds.
• RaoulWallenberg–HewasaSwedishdiplomatwhosavedupto100,000Jewsbyissuing"protectivepassports"(German:Schutz-Pass),whichidentifiedthebearersasSwedishsubjectsawaitingrepatriationandpreventedtheirdeportation.WallenbergknewhislifewasindangerandhadtostayindifferenthomestoavoidcapturefromtheArrowCrossMembers.
Jigsaw:RescuersandResisters
19. TellstudentstheyaregoingtolearnaboutotherrescuersandresisterswhoworkedtosavethosepersecutedduringtheHolocaust.Dividestudentsintofivecooperativegroupsandassigneachgrouponeofthefiveattachedexcerptsfromvarioussourcesaboutdifferentrescuersandresisters.Ifpossible,printthevariousexcerptsonfivedifferentcolorsofpaper–thiswillmaketheexcerptseasiertodecipheraswellasmakethetransitiontothesecondgroupeasier.(Teacherscanbreakstudentsupintomoreorlessgroupsthantherecommendedfive;justensureeachgroupinitiallyworksonadifferentexcerpt.)PassouttheattachedGroupInstructions&DiscussionQuestions...”Teachersshouldassignonestudentineachgrouptobethe“Facilitator.”Thisstudentwillberesponsibleforkeepingthegroupontrackandfacilitatingthediscussionofthereading.
20. TellstudentsthattheexcerptprovidedtotheirgroupdiscusseseitherresistersorrescuersduringtheHolocaust.Explaintostudentsthattheyaretocarefullyreadtheirexcerptasagroupfollowingtheinstructionsprovided.Theyshouldthenanswerthediscussionquestionsprovidedinasmuchdetailaspossible.Letstudentsknowthateachofthemmustindividuallyhaveacomprehensiveunderstandingoftheirgroup’sexcerpt,sinceinthesecondstepofthisjigsawactivitytheywilleachbeteachingadifferentgroupofstudentsabouttheirexcerptandthegroupofpeopleitdiscusses.
21. Givegroupsapproximately15minutestoworktogetherontheirexcerpt.Afterallgroupsarefinished,ask
thestudentsto“jigsaw,”sothatnewgroupsarere-formedwithonepersonrepresentingeachexcerptin
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everygroup.(Ifthefiveexcerptswerecopiedondifferentcolorsofpaper,eachnewgroupwillhaveatleastonepersonwitheachcolorofpaper.)Oncestudentsaresettledintheirnewgroups,haveeachmembertake3-4minutestoteachtheirnewgroupmembersaboutthepeopledescribedintheirexcerpt.Studentsshouldtakenotesastheylearnfromtheirclassmates.
Ø Variation:Teacherswholackclasstimetocompletethejigsawactivitycanalsoselectonereadingforthe
entireclasstofocusonindividuallyorinpartners.22. Aftergroupsarefinished,debriefasaclass:
• WhatweresomeofthewayspeopleresistedduringtheHolocaust?• WhatweresomeofthewayspeopleworkedtorescuethosepersecutedduringtheHolocaust?• Inwhatwaysdidthesepeopleexhibitactivecitizenship?• Hadmorepeoplefollowedtheirlead,howmighttheHolocausthavebeenimpacted?• WhydoyouthinkthereweresofewpeoplewhodidresisttheactionsoftheNazisortryandassist
thosewhowerebeingpersecuted?
23. Discusswithstudentsthatwhilethenumberofpeoplewhotookontherolesofresistorsorrescuerswasveryimportant,itwasrelativelysmall.Why?SomemistakenlyassumethatwhenJewswerebeingforcedtogototheghettoes,concentrationcampsandexterminationcamps,theywentwithoutafightbecausetheywere“weak.”Asdiscussed,somedidfindwaystoresist,butavastmajoritydidnot.Itisimportanttoexaminethesituationstheywerefacedwith.TellstudentsthatwhenaskedtoplacethemselvesinthepositionoftheJewsbeingdeportedtoghettosorconcentrationcamps,manytimestheirnaturalresponseistosay“Iwouldhavefought!”Ortheyassumetheywouldhavespokenoutandrescuedothers.Theseareeasyanswers–butaretheythetruth?Wouldweriskourownlife,orthelifeofalovedone,tosaveastranger?Wouldwefightbackinthefaceofultimatefear,orwouldweassumethatthingswouldgetbetterifwedidwhatweweretold?AshespokeattheDaysofRemembranceconference,JoelM.Geiderman,ViceChairmanoftheUnitedStatesHolocaustMemorialCounciladdressedthisissue(projecttheexcerptontheboardanddiscusswithstudents):• “Onethemeoftoday’sceremonyisthatofJewishresistanceduringtheHolocaust.Iapplaudthis
becauseitbeliesthenegativeimageIashamedlybelievedasayoungsterthatJewswenttotheslaughterlikesheepbecausetheyweretooafraid,timid,orweaktofightback.Thetruthis,facedwithincrementaldecisionsastowhethertofightbackorbekilledonthespot;andunawareofanyprecedentwherebypeoplewereexterminatedsolelyonthebasisoftheirreligionor“race,”--asituationthatwasonlysubsequentlytermed“genocide”—Jewsoftendidnotresist.Ultimatelytheywereplacedinghettos,ontransports,andinconcentrationcamps,usuallynotunderstoodaheadoftimeasdeathcamps,andweredestroyed.Thereshouldbenotoneounceofshameassociatedwiththeseactions.Ateverystep,theydidwhattheythoughtwasbesttosavetheirfamiliesandthemselves.Whoamonguswoulddodifferently?”
• Discuss:o WhatmessageisGeidermanconveying?Doyouagreeordisagree?o Knowledgeispower.Doyouthinktherewouldhavebeenmorerescueandresistanceeffortsif
morepeoplewouldhaveknownthefullscopeofHitler’splans?Whyorwhynot?
CreateandPresentan“ExcellenceinCitizenshipAward”24. Toculminatethislesson,tellstudentsthattheyhavebeenselectedtoattendareceptionatwhichactive
citizensfromtheHolocaustarebeinghonoredandthateachofthemwillbedeliveringaspeechandpresentingacitizenshipawardtoadeservingresistororrescuer.Handouttheattached“ExcellenceinCitizenship”Awardassignmentandgooveritwithstudents.
25. Alistofrescuerandresistorexamplesthatcanbeassignedisattached.Teacherscanalsochoosetoassignothercitizensorallowstudentstochoosetheirownperson.Teachersshoulddeterminehowmuchclass
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time(ifany)willbeallottedforresearchandcompletionoftheassignment.EnsurestudentsunderstandthattheywillbedeliveringtheirspeechandpresentingtheirawardinclassatamockreceptioninhonorofactivecitizensfromtheHolocaust.(Teachersshouldalsodetermineifandhowmuchclasstimewillbegivenforrehearsingspeeches.)
26. Onthedaystudentsaretomaketheirpresentations,teachersmaywanttosetthestagebyprovidingor
allowingstudentstobringinsnacks,encouragingstudentstodressup,etc.)
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TheWarsawGhettoUprising
TheWarsawGhettooriginallycontainedalmost450,000people.ByJanuaryof1943,itwasdowntoroughly37,000people.Theresthadalreadybeentakenawaytoslavelaborordeathcamps.WordgotoutthattheGermansweregoingtofinishofftheghetto,cleanitout.Thosehalf-starved,disease-weakenedghettoinhabitantsdecidedtofight.
Theyhadactuallybeenpreparingforthis,andhadconvincedtheGermanstoletthembuild631air-raidshelters.Bombingwasgoingonallaroundthem,andtheGermansneededtheirslavelaborersso,tokeepthemsafefromAlliedbombings,theGermanshadallowedthemtodothis.NowthepeopleusedthoseveryshelterstofightagainsttheGermans.
WhentheGermanscameintocleanouttheghetto,muchtotheirsurprise,theyweremetwithresistance.
Therewereoverathousandfighters,includingchildren.TheyusedpistolsandMolotovcocktailsagainsttheNaziweaponry,andtheysuccessfullyrepulsedtheGermans.
Itwasashort-livedvictory.TheGermansreturnedashortwhilelater.Thistimetheybroughtmajorfirepower.Theystartedtodestroybuildings,bitbybitbybit,knockingeverythingdown.Afteraboutaday,theybrokeintothehospital,shoteveryoneintheirbeds,andtorchedtheplace.Gradually,theydestroyedtheentireghetto.
WhentheNazisreachedtheair-raidshelters,theydrilleddown,andgassedthepeopleinside.Somefightersescapedtothesewers,andtheGermansraisedthewaterlevels.
Inaboutthreeweeks,themainfightingwasover.
MostoftheremainingJewswereroundedup,butitactuallytookmonthsandmonthsofcombingthroughtheruinsanddemolishingthedestroyedbuildingsbeforetheuprisingwasfinallyputdown.
AlthoughtheWarsawGhettoUprisingwasnotreallyverysuccessful,itwasthefirsttimeinallofGerman-occupiedEuropethattherewasanyorganizeduprisingagainsttheNazis.Wordgotout,anditsetaclimate.Andafterwards,therewasJewishresistanceinmanyotherplaces,includingsomeofthecamps.
Articletakenfrom:http://www.aish.com/holocaust/overview/he05n27.htm
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Name:____________________GroupInstructions&DiscussionQuestionsfor“TheWarsawGhettoUprising”
1. Read:Carefullyreadtheexcerptprovidedtoyou.Asyouread,markthetext:
o Circleanywordsthatareunfamiliartoyou.o Underlineanypartsoftheexcerptthatyouthinkaremostimportantorthatstickouttoyou.o Ifyouareconfusedbyanypartoftheexcerpt,writeaquestionmarkbythatlineorsection.Youcan
alsowriteoutquestionsonthetext.o Ifanythingsurprisesyouorevokesastrongemotionalresponsefromyou,youcanwriteanexclamation
markbythelineorsection,o Ifaparticularthoughtpopsinyourheadthatconnectstothereading,writeitinthemargins.
2. Discuss:Afteryouhavefinishedthereading,yourgroup’sFacilitatorwillleadyourgroupthrough
discussingthefollowingquestion.Besuretotakedetailednotesontheanswersyourgroupshares,sinceyouwillbeteachinganewgroupofstudentsaboutyourexcerptinthenextstepofthisactivity.
3. Answer:a. WhatwastheWarsawGhettoUprising?
b. Howlongdiditlast?
c. Whydidtheuprisingtakeplace?
d. WhatweresomeofthewaysthecitizensofWarsawresisted?
e. GiventhesizeandthenatureoftheSSarmy,doyouthinktheresistorsthoughttheycoulddefeat
them?Whyorwhynot?
f. WhatdoyouthinktheWarsawghettouprisingrevealedtotheNazisabouttheresistors?
g. Inwhatwaysdidtheresistorsexhibitactivecitizenship?
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4. PreparetoTeach:Whenyourgrouphasfinisheddiscussingtheexcerpt,eachofyoushouldformaplanofhowyouwillteachfellowclassmatesaboutthegroupofpeopleyourexcerptaddressedandtheirexperiencesduringtheHolocaust.Writeoutadraftsummaryofwhatyouwillsayonthebackofthissheettoteachotherstudentswhohavenotreadyourexcerptaboutthisimportantevent.Writeyoursummarytosharewithothershere:
5. Aftereveryoneinyourgrouphaswrittenadraftoftheirsummary,practiceitwithyourgroupandhelponeanothermakethesummarybetter.Wasanythingunclearorleftout?Reviseyoursummarysothatyouarepreparedtodothebestjobpossiblewhenteachingyourclassmates.
6. Jigsaw:Asyoulistentoyournewgroupmembersshareinformationabouttheirexcerptsandthepeople
theylearnedabout,takenotesoneachgroup:a. WhiteRose:
b. AristidesdeSousaMendes:
c. OskarSchindler:
d. EllenNielsen:
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TheWhiteRose
TheWhiteRosewasanon-violentresistancegroupinNaziGermany,consistingofanumberofstudentsfromtheUniversityofMunichandtheirphilosophyprofessor.Thegroupbecameknownforananonymousleafletcampaign,lastingfromJune1942untilFebruary1943,thatcalledforactiveoppositiontoGermandictatorAdolfHitler'sregime.
ThecoreoftheWhiteRosewascomprisedofstudentsfromtheuniversityinMunich—SophieScholl,herbrotherHansScholl,AlexSchmorell,WilliGraf,ChristophProbst,TrauteLafrenz,KatharinaSchueddekopf,Lieselotte(Lilo)Berndl,andFalkHarnack.Mostwereintheirearlytwenties.Aprofessorofphilosophyandmusicology,KurtHuber,alsoassociatedwiththeircause.
BetweenJune1942andFebruary1943,theypreparedanddistributedsixleaflets,inwhichtheycalledfortheactiveoppositionoftheGermanpeopletoNazioppressionandtyranny.QuotingextensivelyfromtheBible,AristotleandNovalis,aswellasGoetheandSchiller,theyappealedtowhattheyconsideredtheGermanintelligentsia,believingthattheywouldbeintrinsicallyopposedtoNazism.Atfirst,theleafletsweresentoutinmailingsfromcitiesinBavariaandAustria,sincethemembersbelievedthatsouthernGermanywouldbemorereceptivetotheiranti-militaristmessage.
“Isn’tittruethateveryhonestGermanisashamedofhisgovernmentthesedays?Whoamonguscanimaginethedegreeofshamethatwillcomeuponusandourchildrenwhentheveilfallsfromourfacesandtheawfulcrimesthatinfinitelyexceedanyhumanmeasureareexposedtothelightofday?”—FromthefirstleafletoftheWhiteRose.
“SincetheconquestofPolandthreehundredthousandJewshavebeenmurderedinthiscountryinthemostbestialway…TheGermanpeopleslumberonintheirdull,stupidsleepandencouragethesefascistcriminals…Eachmanwantstobeexoneratedofaguiltofthiskind,eachonecontinuesonhiswaywiththemostplacid,thecalmestconscience.Buthecannotbeexonerated;heisguilty,guilty,guilty!”—FromthesecondleafletoftheWhiteRose.
InJanuary1943,usingahand-operatedduplicatingmachine,thegroupisthoughttohaveproducedbetween6,000and9,000copiesoftheirfifthleaflet,"AppealtoallGermans!",whichwasdistributedviacourierrunstomanycities(wheretheyweremailed).CopiesappearedinStuttgart,Cologne,Vienna,Freiburg,Chemnitz,Hamburg,Innsbruck,andBerlin.ThefifthleafletwascomposedbyHansSchollwithimprovementsbyHuber.TheseleafletswarnedthatHitlerwasleadingGermanyintotheabyss;withthegatheringmightoftheAllies,defeatwasnowcertain.Thereaderwasurgedto"Supporttheresistancemovement!"inthestrugglefor"Freedomofspeech,freedomofreligion,andprotectionoftheindividualcitizenfromthearbitraryactionofcriminaldictator-states".Theseweretheprinciplesthatwouldform"thefoundationsofthenewEurope".Theleafletscausedasensation,andtheGestapoinitiatedanintensivesearchforthepublishers.
Onthenightsofthe3rd,8th,and15thofFebruary1943,theslogans"Freedom"and"DownwithHitler"appearedonthewallsoftheUniversityandotherbuildingsinMunich.AlexanderSchmorell,HansSchollandWilliGrafhadpaintedthemwithtar-basedpaint(similargraffitithatappearedinthesurroundingareaatthistimewaspaintedbyimitators).
On18thFebruary1943,coincidentallythesamedaythatNazipropagandaministerJosefGoebbelscalledontheGermanpeopletoembracetotalwarinhisSportpalastspeech,theSchollsbroughtasuitcasefullofleafletstotheuniversity.ThepolicewerecalledandHansandSophieweretakenintoGestapocustody.Theotheractivemembersweresoonarrested,andthegroupandeveryoneassociatedwiththemwerebroughtinforinterrogation.TheSchollsandProbstwerethefirsttostandtrialbeforetheVolksgerichtshof—thePeople'sCourtthattriedpoliticaloffensesagainsttheNaziGermanstate—on22ndFebruary1943.Theywerefound
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guiltyoftreasonandRolandFreisler,headjudgeofthecourt,sentencedthemtodeath.Thethreewereexecutedbyguillotine.
However,theWhiteRosehadthelastword.TheirlastleafletwassmuggledtoTheAllies,whoeditedit,andair-droppedmillionsofcopiesoverGermany.
Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_rose
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Name:____________________GroupInstructions&DiscussionQuestionsfor“TheWhiteRose”
1.Read:Carefullyreadtheexcerptprovidedtoyou.Asyouread,markthetext:
o Circleanywordsthatareunfamiliartoyou.o Underlineanypartsoftheexcerptthatyouthinkaremostimportantorthatstickouttoyou.o Ifyouareconfusedbyanypartoftheexcerpt,writeaquestionmarkbythatlineorsection.Youcan
alsowriteoutquestionsonthetext.o Ifanythingsurprisesyouorevokesastrongemotionalresponsefromyou,youcanwriteanexclamation
markbythelineorsection,o Ifaparticularthoughtpopsinyourheadthatconnectstothereading,writeitinthemargins.
2.Discuss:Afteryouhavefinishedthereading,yourgroup’sFacilitatorwillleadyourgroupthroughdiscussingthefollowingquestion.Besuretotakedetailednotesontheanswersyourgroupshares,sinceyouwillbeteachinganewgroupofstudentsaboutyourexcerptinthenextstepofthisactivity.
3.Answer:a. WhatwastheWhiteRose?Howlongdiditlast?
b. WhocomprisedthecoreoftheWhiteRose?c. WhowastheWhiteRose’stargetaudience?d. WhatwastheWhiteRose’smaineffortofresistance?
e. WhatwastheWhiteRose’soverallmessage?
f. WhatdoyouthinktheWhiteRoserevealedtotheNazisaboutresistance?
g. WhatwaysdidtheWhiteRoseexhibitactivecitizenship?
15
4.PreparetoTeach:Whenyourgrouphasfinisheddiscussingtheexcerpt,eachofyoushouldformaplanofhowyouwillteachfellowclassmatesaboutthegroupofpeopleyourexcerptaddressedandtheirexperiencesduringtheHolocaust.Writeoutadraftsummaryofwhatyouwillsayonthebackofthissheettoteachotherstudentswhohavenotreadyourexcerptaboutthisimportantgroupofpeople.Writeyoursummarytosharewithothershere:
5. Aftereveryoneinyourgrouphaswrittenadraftoftheirsummary,practiceitwithyourgroupandhelponeanothermakethesummarybetter.Wasanythingunclearorleftout?Reviseyoursummarysothatyouarepreparedtodothebestjobpossiblewhenteachingyourclassmates.
6. Jigsaw:Asyoulistentoyournewgroupmembersshareinformationabouttheirexcerptsandthepeople
theylearnedabout,takenotesoneachgroup:a. WarsawGhettoUprising:
b. AristidesdeSousaMendes:
c. OskarSchindler:
d. EllenNielsen:
16
AristidesdeSousaMendes
AristidesdeSousaMendes,(July19,1885–April3,1954),wasaPortugueseDiplomatwhoignoredanddefiedtheordersofhisowngovernmentforthesafetyofwarrefugeesfleeingfrominvadingGermanmilitaryforcesintheearlyyearsofWorldWarII.BetweenJune16andJune23,1940,hefranticallyissuedPortuguesevisasfreeofcharge,toover30,000refugeesseekingtoescapetheNaziterror,12,000ofwhomwereJews.
SousaMendesstudiedlawattheUniversityofCoimbraandobtainedhislawdegreein1908.InhisearlycareerasadiplomatforPortugal,heservedinZanzibar,Kenya,Brazil,andtheUnitedStatesbeforebeingassignedtoAntwerp,Belgiumin1931.InBelgiumhemettheNobelPrizewinnersMauriceMaeterlinckandAlbertEinstein.AfteralmosttenyearsofdedicatedserviceinBelgium,SousaMendeswasassignedtotheconsulateofBordeauxinFrance.
TheconsulwasstillinBordeauxattheoutbreakofWorldWarIIandtheinvasionofFrancebytheNaziarmyofAdolfHitler.SalazarmanagedtomaintainPortugal'sneutralityinthewar,buthisownpersonalopinionsfavouredHitlerasfarasthecombatagainstCommunismwasconcerned.OnNovember11,1939,heissuedordersthatconsulswerenottoissuePortuguesevisasto"foreignersofindefiniteorcontestednationality;thestateless;orJewsexpelledfromtheircountriesoforigin".Thisorderwasfollowedonlysixmonthslaterbyonestatingthat"undernocircumstances"werevisastobeissuedwithoutpriorcase-by-caseapprovalfromLisbon.SimilarpoliciesagainstJewishimmigrationwereadoptedmuchearlierbytheUnitedStatesandtheUnitedKingdom.
ThusitwasinadeliberateactofdisobediencethatSousaMendesissuedanestimated30,000visastoJewsandotherpersecutedminorities:politicaldissidents,armyofficersfromoccupiedcountries,andpriestsandnuns.Thesevisaswerenotalltoindividuals,butsometimestofamilies;inatleastonecase,thevisacoveredafamilyofninepeople.[2]SousaMendeswasinspiredtothisactinpartthroughhisfriendshipwithRabbiChaim(Haim)Kruger[3],whohadfledtoFrancefromAntwerp.
Theearliestofthesevisaswereissuedinthemonthsbetweenthe1939andmid-1940decrees,aperiodduringwhichheattemptedtoprotecthisfamilybysendingallbuttwosonshometoPortugalandsendingconstanttelegramstoLisbonwithcodedrequestsforapprovalofthevisas,inordertopreservehispostwhileobeyinghisconscience.Themajorityofthevisas,however,wereissuedafteraharrowingthree-daycrisisofconscienceinmid-June,1940,shortlyafterFrancochangedthestatusofSpainfrom"neutral"to"non-belligerent,"[1],whichsuggestedtimewasrunningoutforPortugaltofollowitsneighbor.Theconsulofferedavisatohisfriendtherabbi,whoresponded,"Ican'tacceptavisaforusandleavemypeoplebehind."[4]ThedistraughtconsultooktohisbedinconfusionfromJune14thtothe16th.Fromhiscrisis,SousaMendesemergedonJune17,1940,determinedtoobeywhathecalleda"divinepower"andgrantvisastoeveryoneinneed,atwhatevercosttohimself.
Hesavedanenormousnumberoflives,butlosthiscareerforit.In1941,SalazarlostpoliticaltrustinSousaMendesandforcedthediplomattoquithiscareer,subsequentlyorderingaswellthatnooneinPortugalshowhimanycharity.SomequotesfromSousaMendesinclude:
“Iwillnotcondonemurder,thereforeIdisobeyandcontinuetodisobeySalazar.”“IwouldratherstandwithGodagainstman,thanmanagainstGod.”“IfthousandsofJewscansufferbecauseofoneCatholic(Hitler),thensurelyitispermittedforoneCatholictosufferforsomanyJews.”“IcouldnothaveactedotherwiseandIthereforeacceptallthathasbefallenme.”
Articletakenfrom:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristides_de_Sousa_Mendes
17
Name:____________________GroupInstructions&DiscussionQuestionsfor“AristidesdeSousaMendes”
1. Read:Carefullyreadtheexcerptprovidedtoyou.Asyouread,markthetext:
o Circleanywordsthatareunfamiliartoyou.o Underlineanypartsoftheexcerptthatyouthinkaremostimportantorthatstickouttoyou.o Ifyouareconfusedbyanypartoftheexcerpt,writeaquestionmarkbythatlineorsection.Youcan
alsowriteoutquestionsonthetext.o Ifanythingsurprisesyouorevokesastrongemotionalresponsefromyou,youcanwriteanexclamation
markbythelineorsection,o Ifaparticularthoughtpopsinyourheadthatconnectstothereading,writeitinthemargins.
2. Discuss:Afteryouhavefinishedthereading,yourgroup’sFacilitatorwillleadyourgroupthroughdiscussingthefollowingquestion.Besuretotakedetailednotesontheanswersyourgroupshares,sinceyouwillbeteachinganewgroupofstudentsaboutyourexcerptinthenextstepofthisactivity.
3. Answer:
a. WhowasAristidesdeSousaMendes?Howlongdidhislargestrescueeffortlast?
b. HowdidthePortuguesegovernmentfeelaboutJewishrefugeesduringWWII?
c. DoyouthinkSousaMendeswasconcernedabouthiscareeratthePortugueseconsulate?Explain.
d. HowdidSousaMendesrescuesomanyJewsandothers?
e. HowdidSousaMendesexhibitactivecitizenship?
f. WhatdoyouthinktheNazisthoughtaboutSousaMendesandotherslikehim?
18
4.PreparetoTeach:Whenyourgrouphasfinisheddiscussingtheexcerpt,eachofyoushouldformaplanofhowyouwillteachfellowclassmatesaboutthepersoninyourexcerptaddressedandtheirexperiencesduringtheHolocaust.Writeoutadraftsummaryofwhatyouwillsayonthebackofthissheettoteachotherstudentswhohavenotreadyourexcerptaboutthisimportantperson.Writeyoursummarytosharewithothershere:
7. Aftereveryoneinyourgrouphaswrittenadraftoftheirsummary,practiceitwithyourgroupandhelponeanothermakethesummarybetter.Wasanythingunclearorleftout?Reviseyoursummarysothatyouarepreparedtodothebestjobpossiblewhenteachingyourclassmates.
8. Jigsaw:Asyoulistentoyournewgroupmembersshareinformationabouttheirexcerptsandthepeople
theylearnedabout,takenotesoneachgroup:a. WarsawGhettoUprising:
b. TheWhiteRose:
c. OskarSchindler:
d. EllenNielsen:
19
OskarSchindler
InDecember1939,asoccupiedPolandwasbeingtornapartbythesavageryoftheHolocaust,OskarSchindler,theunlikeliestofrolemodels,tookhisfirstfalteringstepsfromthedarknessofNazismtowardsthelightofheroism.“Ifyousawadoggoingtobecrushedunderacar,”hesaidlaterofhiswartimeactions,“wouldn'tyouhelphim?”
Beforetheoutbreakofwar,PolandhadbeenarelativehavenforEuropeanJews—Krakow'sJewishpopulationnumberedover50,000.ButwhenGermanyinvaded,destructionbeganimmediatelyanditwasmerciless.Jewswereherdedintocrowdedghettos,randomlybeatenandhumiliatedandkilled.Jewishpropertyandbusinessesweresummarilydestroyed,orappropriatedbytheSSand'sold'toNazi'investors',oneofwhomwasthefasttalking,moneyhungryOskarSchindler.AnethnicGerman,SchindlerwasbornApril28,1908,inZwittau,Austria-Hungary,whatisnowMoraviaintheCzechRepublic.
Neveronetomissachancetomakemoney,hemarchedintoPolandontheheelsoftheSS.Hedivedheadfirstintotheblack-marketandtheunderworldandsoonmadefriendswiththelocalGestapobigwigs.Hisnewfoundconnectionshelpedhimacquireafactorywhichheranwiththecheapestlaboraround:Jewish.
AtfirstheseemedlikeeveryotherusurpingGermanindustrialist,drivenbyprofitandunmovedbythemeansofhisprofiteering.Butsomewherealongtheline,somethingchanged.Hesucceededinhisquestforriches,butbytheendofthewarhehadspenteverythinghemadeonkeeping1,300Jewishmenandwomenalive.“Henegotiatedthesalvationofhis1,300Jewsbyoperatingrightattheheartofthesystemusingallthetoolsofthedevil—bribery,blackmarketeeringandlies,”saidThomasKeneally,whosebookaboutthisparadoxicalmanwasthebasisofthemovieSchindler'sList.
Notlongafteracquiringhis“Emalia”factory—whichproducedenamelgoodsandmunitionstosupplytheGermanfront—theremovalofJewstodeathcampsbeganinearnest.Schindler'sJewishaccountantputhimintouchwiththefewJewswithanyremainingwealth.Theyinvestedinhisfactory,andinreturntheywouldbeabletoworkthereandperhapsbespared.HewaspersuadedtohiremoreJewishworkers,designatingtheirskillsas“essential,”payingofftheNazissotheywouldallowthemtostayinKrakow.Schindlerwasmakingmoney,buteveryoneinhisfactorywasfed,no-onewasbeaten,no-onewaskilled.
Asthebrutalityoftheholocaustescalated,Schindler'sprotectionofhisJewishworkersbecameincreasinglyactive.Inthesummerof1942,hewitnessedaGermanraidontheJewishghetto.Watchinginnocentpeoplebeingpackedontotrainsboundforcertaindeath,somethingawakenedinhim.“Beyondthisday,nothinkingpersoncouldfailtoseewhatwouldhappen,”hesaidlater.“Iwasnowresolvedtodoeverythinginmypowertodefeatthesystem.”
Bytheautumnof1944,Germany'sholdonPolandhadweakened.AstheRussianarmyapproached,theNazi'strieddesperatelytocompletetheirprogramofliquidationandsentallremainingJewstodie.ButSchindlerremainedtruetothe“Schindlerjuden,”theworkershereferredtoas“mychildren.”
AftertheliquidationoftheKrakowghettoandthetransferofmanyJewstothePlaszowconcentrationcamp,Schindlerusedhisinfluencetosetupabranchofthecampfor900JewishworkersinhisfactorycompoundinZablocieandmadehisnowfamouslistoftheworkershewouldneedforitsoperation.
Thefactoryoperatedinitsnewlocationayear,makingdefectivebulletsforGermanguns.Conditionsweregrim,fortheSchindlersaswellastheworkers.ButSchindlersavedmostoftheseworkerswhenhetransferredhisfactorytoBrunnlitz(Sudetenland)inOctober1944.
20
Perhapsthequestionisnotwhyhedidit,butratherhowcouldhenot.Andperhapstheanswerisunimportant.Itishisactionsthatmatternow,testimonythatevenintheworstofcircumstances,themostordinaryofuscanactcourageously.IfOskarSchindler,flawedashewas,didit,thensomightwe,andthatisreasonenoughtohope.
21
Name:____________________GroupInstructions&DiscussionQuestionsfor“OskarSchindler”
1. Read:Carefullyreadtheexcerptprovidedtoyou.Asyouread,markthetext:
o Circleanywordsthatareunfamiliartoyou.o Underlineanypartsoftheexcerptthatyouthinkaremostimportantorthatstickouttoyou.o Ifyouareconfusedbyanypartoftheexcerpt,writeaquestionmarkbythatlineorsection.Youcan
alsowriteoutquestionsonthetext.o Ifanythingsurprisesyouorevokesastrongemotionalresponsefromyou,youcanwriteanexclamation
markbythelineorsection,o Ifaparticularthoughtpopsinyourheadthatconnectstothereading,writeitinthemargins.
2. Discuss:Afteryouhavefinishedthereading,yourgroup’sFacilitatorwillleadyourgroupthroughdiscussingthefollowingquestion.Besuretotakedetailednotesontheanswersyourgroupshares,sinceyouwillbeteachinganewgroupofstudentsaboutyourexcerptinthenextstepofthisactivity.
3. Answer:
a. WhowasOskarSchindler?Howlongdidhisrescueeffortlast?
b. DidSchindlersetouttobearescuerofJews?Explain.
c. HowwasSchindlerabletorescueover1200Jews?
d. Whatwas“Schindler’slist?”
e. HowwouldyoucharacterizeSchindler?Whattypeofmandoyouthinkhewas?
f. WhatwaysdidSchindlerexhibitcharacteristicsofanactivecitizen?
22
4.PreparetoTeach:Whenyourgrouphasfinisheddiscussingtheexcerpt,eachofyoushouldformaplanofhowyouwillteachfellowclassmatesaboutthepersoninyourexcerptaddressedandtheirexperiencesduringtheHolocaust.Writeoutadraftsummaryofwhatyouwillsayonthebackofthissheettoteachotherstudentswhohavenotreadyourexcerptaboutthisimportantperson.Writeyoursummarytosharewithothershere:
9. Aftereveryoneinyourgrouphaswrittenadraftoftheirsummary,practiceitwithyourgroupandhelponeanothermakethesummarybetter.Wasanythingunclearorleftout?Reviseyoursummarysothatyouarepreparedtodothebestjobpossiblewhenteachingyourclassmates.
10. Jigsaw:Asyoulistentoyournewgroupmembersshareinformationabouttheirexcerptsandthepeople
theylearnedabout,takenotesoneachgroup:a. WarsawGhettoUprising:
b. TheWhiteRose:
c. AristidesdeSousaMendes:
d. EllenNielsen:
23
EllenNielsen
Mrs.EllenNielsen,wholivedinatownnearCopenhagen,lostherhusbandin1941,andbecameafishmongerontheCopenhagendockstosupportherselfandhersixchildren.Sheboughtfishfromthefishermenandresoldthemtopassers-by.Fromtimetotimeshewouldbuyflowersfromtwobrotherswhoalsoboughtfishfromher.Oneday,thebrothersaskedMrs.NielsentohelpthemfindafishermanwhowouldtakethemtoSweden,wheretheycouldescapetheNazis.ThetwobrothersexplainedtoherthattheywereJewish,andthattheGermanshadbegunarrestingDanishJews.Mrs.NielsenhadnotknownthebrotherswereJewish,andhadnotheardofthearrests.Assoonassheheardthestory,sheofferedtohidetheboysinherhomewhileshearrangedforaboatwhichwouldtakethemtoSweden.Inashorttime,theboysweresafelyacrossthesoundinSweden.
Throughthefishermen,theDanishundergroundlearnedofMrs.Nielsen'sact,andcontactedher.Asherworkputherindailycontactwiththefishermen,shewasideallyplacedtoactasliaisonbetweenthemandtheunderground.Sheaccepted,andoverahundredrefugeespassedthroughherhomeonthewaytoSwedenduringthefollowingweeks.Atonetime,shehadoverthirtyrefugeesinherhomeatthesametime.
Whenshewasn'thelpingDanishJewstoescape,shehidsaboteursfortheunderground.ShewasarrestedbytheGestapoinDecemberof1944."ForthreemonthsshewasinVestrePrison,wheretheGestapotriedunsuccessfullytogethertorevealthenamesofhercontacts.ShewasthensenttoFroslevConcentrationCamp...andfromtheretoRavensbruckinGermany.UponherarrivalinRavensbruck,shewassummonedtotheofficeofthecampcommandant.`Mrs.Nielsen,'saidthecommandant,`weknowthatyouhavebeeninvolvedintheillegaltransportationofJewsfromDenmarktoSweden.'Mrs.Nielsenremainedsilent.`Thereisnopointindenyingit,'saidthecommandant,`becausehehaveproof.Weknow,forexample,thatyousavedthelivesofdozensofJewishchildren.Weevenhavesomeoftheirnames.'TherewasnoreplyfromMrs.Nielsen.`Nomatter,'continuedthecommandant.`ThepointisthatwefeelthatsinceyouwereinvolvedwiththetransportationofJewishchildreninDenmark,weshouldgiveyouajobhereinRavensbruckthatwouldusetoadvantageyourpreviousexperienceandinterests.WearethereforegivingyouajobsimilartotheoneyouhadinDenmark_transportingJewishchildren.'Mrs.Nelsonhadnoideawhatthecommandantmeant.Butshelearnedalltoosoon.HerassignmentwastocarrythoseJewishinfantstooyoungtowalktothegaschamberswheretheywereputtodeath.Shewasalsomadetocarrythem,aftertheyweregassed,tothecrematoriumtobeburned.
When,afterseveralweeks,sherefusedtocontinueathermacabrejob,shewascondemnedtodeathandshewasherselfplacedthreetimesonthelineleadingtothegaschamber.ThefirsttimeshesavedherselfbybribingaguardwithabarofsoapwhichshehadreceivedinaDanishRedCrossparcel.ThesecondtimeshewasabletodothesamewiththecontentsofanotherDanishparcel.Thethirdtimeshehadnothingleftwithwhichtobribetheguards.Waitingontheline,strippednaked,shewasresignedtodeath.SuddenlyshewasapproachedbyGermanguardswhoinformedhershehadbeensaved.CountFolkeBernadottehadmadeanagreementwithHeinrichHimmlertohaveallsurvivingDanishconcentrationcampprisonersshippedtoSwedenforinternment."
Articletakenfrom:http://www.remember.org/witness/wit.res.ellen.html
24
Name:____________________GroupInstructions&DiscussionQuestionsfor“EllenNielsen”
1.Read:Carefullyreadtheexcerptprovidedtoyou.Asyouread,markthetext:
o Circleanywordsthatareunfamiliartoyou.o Underlineanypartsoftheexcerptthatyouthinkaremostimportantorthatstickouttoyou.o Ifyouareconfusedbyanypartoftheexcerpt,writeaquestionmarkbythatlineorsection.Youcan
alsowriteoutquestionsonthetext.o Ifanythingsurprisesyouorevokesastrongemotionalresponsefromyou,youcanwriteanexclamation
markbythelineorsection,o Ifaparticularthoughtpopsinyourheadthatconnectstothereading,writeitinthemargins.
2.Discuss:Afteryouhavefinishedthereading,yourgroup’sFacilitatorwillleadyourgroupthroughdiscussingthefollowingquestion.Besuretotakedetailednotesontheanswersyourgroupshares,sinceyouwillbeteachinganewgroupofstudentsaboutyourexcerptinthenextstepofthisactivity.
3.Answer:a. WhowasEllenNielsen?
b. WhydoyouthinkEllenagreedtohelptheJewishbrothers?
c. WhatweresomeofthewaysEllenrescuedJews?
d. WhataresomesimilaritiesofEllen’srescueeffortsandtheUndergroundRailroad?
e. AftershewasarrestedbytheGestapoandtoldtoparticipateintheNaziplans,whydoyouthinkshe
refusedknowingwhatmightcouldhappentoher?
f. HowwasEllenabletoavoidthefateintendedforsomeoftheJewsthatshehadrescued?
g. WhatwaysdidEllenexhibitactivecitizenship?
25
4.PreparetoTeach:Whenyourgrouphasfinisheddiscussingtheexcerpt,eachofyoushouldformaplanofhowyouwillteachfellowclassmatesaboutthepersoninyourexcerptaddressedandtheirexperiencesduringtheHolocaust.Writeoutadraftsummaryofwhatyouwillsayonthebackofthissheettoteachotherstudentswhohavenotreadyourexcerptaboutthisimportantperson.Writeyoursummarytosharewithothershere:
11. Aftereveryoneinyourgrouphaswrittenadraftoftheirsummary,practiceitwithyourgroupandhelponeanothermakethesummarybetter.Wasanythingunclearorleftout?Reviseyoursummarysothatyouarepreparedtodothebestjobpossiblewhenteachingyourclassmates.
12. Jigsaw:Asyoulistentoyournewgroupmembersshareinformationabouttheirexcerptsandthepeople
theylearnedabout,takenotesoneachgroup:a. WarsawGhettoUprising:
b. TheWhiteRose:
c. AristidesdeSousaMendes:
d. OskarSchindler:
26
TheHolocaust:ExcellenceinActiveCitizenshipAward
Congratulations!Youhavebeenselectedtoserveonacommitteethatwillselectthe“ExcellenceinActiveCitizenship”award.
WHAT:AnawardthatrecognizesanactivecitizenfromtheHolocaustwhoeitherresistedHitlerandhisNaziregimeand/orrescuedotherswhoweretargetedbyhistyranny.
WHY:Beinganactivecitizenisourdutyanditisimportanttorecognizethosewhoexhibitsuchpositivetraits.DuringtheyearsoftheHolocaust,thisoftenmeantriskingone’slifetosaveanother.
HOW:Youwillbeassignedaresisterorrescuerandresearchthem.Takenoteson:
• Whotheywere.• Whattheydid.• Howtheyassistedothers.• Whattheyriskedbyresistingorrescuing.• Howtheydisplayedactivecitizenship.• Whathappenedasaresultoftheirefforts.
I.WriteandbepreparedtodeliveraSPEECH
Afteryouhavecompletedyourresearch,writeaspeechinwhichyoupresentyourassignedpersonwiththe“ExcellenceinActiveCitizenship”award.Yourspeechshouldsharethedetailsofyourresearchinacreativewayasyoupretendtospeaktoanaudienceaboutwhythispersonisdeservingofacitizenshipaward.Yourfinalspeechshouldbeapproximately2minutesinlength.Youwilldeliveryourspeechatareceptionhonoringallrecipientsofthe“ExcellenceinActiveCitizenship”awards(thereceptionwillbeheldinclasson_________________________(duedate).Youwillturninyourtypedspeechforagradeonthisdate.
II.DesignandconstructanactualAWARD
Attheendofyourspeech,youwillpretendtopresenttherecipientwithanactualawardthatyouhaveartisticallydesignedandcreated.Theawardyoudesignshouldliterallyorfigurativelyrepresentyourassignedcitizen.Awardscanbedesignedasacommonawardtype(acertificate,aplaque,etc.)orcanbemorecreativeandabstract(astatue,aphysicalshapesymbolicoftheperson’sworkorlife,etc.)
Myassignedcitizenis:________________________________________
27
ExamplesofRescuersandResisters
• WładysławBartoszewski-PolishŻegotaactivist.• CountFolkeBernadotteofWisborg-Swedishdiplomat,whonegotiatedthereleaseof27,000people(a
significantnumberofwhichwereJews)tohospitalsinSweden.• Jacob(Jack)Benardout-BritishdiplomattoDominicanRepublicbeforeandduringWorldWarTwo.Issued
numerousDominicanRepublicvisastoJewsinGermany.Only16JewishfamiliesarrivedintheDominicanRepublic(theotherJewsdispersedintocountriesalongthewaye.g.Britain,America)andsocreatedtheJewishcommunityofTheDominicanRepublic
• HiramBinghamIV,AmericanViceConsulinMarseilles,France1940-1941.• JoséCastellanosContreras-aSalvadoranarmycolonelanddiplomatwho,whileworkingasElSalvador's
ConsulGeneralforGenevafrom1942-45,andinconjunctionwithGeorgeMantello,helpedsaveatleast13,000CentralEuropeanJewsfromNazipersecutionbyprovidingthemwithfalsepapersofSalvadorannationality.
• GeorgFerdinandDuckwitz,GermandiplomaticattachéinDenmark.AlertedDanishpoliticianHansHedtoftabouttheimminentGermanplansdeporttoDenmark'sJewishcommunity,thusenablingthefollowingrescueoftheDanishJews.
• FrankFoley-BritishMI6agentundercoverasapassportofficerinBerlin,savedaround10,000peoplebyissuingforgedpassportstoBritainandtheBritishMandateofPalestine.
• AlbertGöring-Germanbusinessman(andyoungerbrotherofleadingNaziHermannGöring)whohelpedJewsanddissidentssurviveinGermany
• PaulGrüninger-Swisscommanderofpolicewhoprovidedfalselydatedpaperstoover3,000refugeessotheycouldescapeAustriafollowingtheAnschluss.
• KiichiroHiguchi-lieutenantgeneralintheImperialJapaneseArmy• WilmHosenfeld-GermanofficerwhohelpedpianistWladyslawSzpilman,aPolishJew,amongmany
others.• PrinceConstantinKaradja-Romaniandiplomat,whosavedover51,000Jewsfromdeportationand
extermination,ascreditedbyYadVashemin2005.[18]• JanKarski-PolishemissaryofArmiaKrajowatoWesternAlliesandeye-witnessoftheHolocaust.• NecdetKent-TurkishConsulGeneralatMarseille,whograntedTurkishcitizenshiptohundredsofJews.At
onepointheenteredanAuschwitz-boundtrainatenormouspersonalrisktosave70Jews,towhomhehadgrantedTurkishcitizenship,fromdeportation.
• ZofiaKossak-Szczucka-PolishfounderofZegota.• CarlLutz-SwissconsulinBudapest,managedtoprovidesafe-conductsforemigrationtoPalestinetomany
thousandsofHungarianJews.• LuisMartinsdeSouzaDantas-BrazilianinchargeoftheBraziliandiplomaticmissioninFrance.Hegranted
BrazilianvisastoseveralJewsandotherminoritiespersecutedbytheNazis.HewasproclaimedasRighteousamongtheNationsin2003.[19]
• GeorgeMantello(b.GeorgeMandl)-ElSalvador'shonoraryconsulforHungary,Romania,andCzechoslovakia-providedfictiveSalvadorancitizenshippapersforthousandsofJewsandspearheadedapublicitycampaignthateventuallyendedthedeportationofJewsfromHungarytoAuschwitz.[20][21]
• PaulV.McNutt-UnitedStatesHighCommissionerofthePhilippines,1937-1939,whofacilitatedtheentryofJewishrefugeesintothePhilippines.[22]
• HelmuthJamesGrafvonMoltke-advisertotheThirdReichoninternationallaw;activeinKreisauCircleresistancegroup,sentJewstosafehavencountries.
• DeliaMurphy-wifeofDr.ThomasJ.Kiernan,IrishministerinRome1941-1946,whoworkedwithHughO'FlahertyandwaspartofthenetworkthatsavedthelivesPOWsandJewsfromthehandsoftheGestapo.[23]
• GiovanniPalatucci-Italianpoliceofficialwhosavedseveralthousand.• GiorgioPerlasca-Italian.WhenÁngelSanzBrizwasorderedtoleaveHungary,hefalselyclaimedtobehis
substituteandcontinuedsavingsomethousandsmoreJews.
28
• DimitarPeshev-DeputySpeakeroftheBulgarianParliament.• FritsPhilips-Dutchindustrialistwhosaved382JewsbyinsistingtotheNazisthattheywereindispensable
employeesofPhilips.• WitoldPilecki-theonlypersonwhovolunteeredtobeimprisonedinAuschwitz,organisedaresistance
insidethecampandasamemberofArmiaKrajowasentthefirstreportsonthecampatrocitiestothePolishGovernmentinExile,fromwheretheywerepassedtotherestoftheWesternAllies.
• KarlPlagge-aMajorintheWehrmachtwhoissuedworkpermitsinordertosavealmost1,000Jews(seeTheSearchforMajorPlagge:TheNaziWhoSavedJews,byMichaelGood)
• EduardoPropperdeCallejón-FirstsecretaryintheSpanishembassyinPariswhostampedandsignedpassportsalmostnon-stopforfourdaysin1940toletJewishrefugeesescapetoSpainandPortugal.
• TraianPopovici-RomanianmayorofCernăuţi(Chernivtsi):saved20,000JewsofBukovina.• ManuelL.Quezon-PresidentoftheCommonwealthofthePhilippines,1935-1941,assistedinresettling
JewishrefugeesontheislandofMindanao.[22]• FlorencioRivas-ConsulGeneralofUruguayinGermany,whoallegedlyhidduringKristallnachtandlater
providedpassportstoonehoundredandfiftyJews.[24]• ÁngelSanzBriz-SpanishconsulinHungary.Saved,togetherwithGiorgioPerlasca,morethan5,000Jews
inBudapestbyissuingSpanishpassportstothem.• Abdol-HosseinSardari-HeadofConsularaffairsattheIranianEmbassyinParis.HesavedmanyIranian
Jewsandgave500blankIranianpassportstoanacquaintanceofhistobeusedbynon-IranianJewsinFrance.
• EduardSchulte-Germanindustrialist,thefirsttoinformAlliesaboutthemassexterminationofJews.• IrenaSendler-PolishheadofZegotachildren'sdepartment:saved2,500Jewishchildren.• HoFengShan-ChineseConsulinVienna,whofreelyissuedvisastoJews.• HenrykSlawik-Polishdiplomat,saved5,000-10,000peopleinBudapest,Hungary.• ChiuneSugihara-JapaneseconsultoLithuania,2,140(mostlyPolish)Jewsandanunknownnumberof
additionalfamilymembersweresavedbypassports,manyunauthorized,providedbyhimin1940.• SelâhattinÜlkümen-Turkishdiplomatwhosavedthelivesofsome42JewishTurkishfamilies,morethan
200persons,amongaJewishcommunityofsome2000aftertheGermansoccupiedtheislandofRhodesin1944.
• RaoulWallenberg-Swedishdiplomat,savedupto100,000Jews.WallenbergsavedthelivesoftensofthousandsofJewscondemnedtocertaindeathbytheNazisduringWorldWarII.HedisappearedinJanuary1945afterbeingcapturedbytheSoviettroopswhotookcontrolofBudapest.
• SirNicholasWinton-BritishstockbrokerwhoorganizedtheCzechKindertransportwhichsent669children(mostofthemJewish)tofosterparentslnEnglandandSwedenfromCzechoslovakiaandAustriaafterKristallnacht.SirNicholashasbeennominatedforthe2008NobelPeacePrize.[25][26]
• NamikKemalYolga-Vice-ConsulattheTurkishEmbassyinPariswhosavednumerousTurkishJewsfromdeportation.
• GilbertoBosquesSaldívar-GeneralConsulofMexicoonMarsella,France.HeissuedMexicanvisastoaround40,000Jewsandpoliticalrefugees,allowingthemtoescapetoMexicoandothercountries.HewaslaterimprisonedbytheNazis.