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1 The Holocaust: Exploring Active Citizenship through Resistors and Rescuers Overview In this activity, participants will explore the active citizens who resisted the tyranny and atrocities committed by Hitler and the Nazi party, as well as those who worked to assist and rescue those targeted. Upon exploring these brave people, students will choose a person from the Holocaust who exhibited active citizenship, deliver a speech in their honor, and present them with a citizenship award at a mock reception. Grade 7 North Carolina Essential Standards for 7 th Grade 7.H.1.1 - Construct charts, graphs, and historical narratives to explain particular events or issues over time. 7.H.1.2 - Summarize the literal meaning of historical documents in order to establish context. 7.H.1.3 - Use primary and secondary sources to interpret various historical perspectives. 7.H.2.1 - Analyze the effects of social, economic, military and political conflict among nations, regions, and groups (e.g. war, genocide, imperialism and colonization). Essential Questions What are the characteristics of an active and effective citizen? What are some ways people resisted the tyranny of Hitler and the Nazi party during WWII? In what ways did active citizens assist those targeted during the Holocaust? Why did some citizens exhibit apathy or choose not to resist Hitler and the Nazis? Materials A large strip of paper (bulletin board or butcher paper) Markers Analogy graphic organizers (attached) Photo of milk can used by the Oyneg Shabbos resistance group (attached) Reading excerpts and questions attached “Excellence in Citizenship” Award, assignment attached Examples of Resistors and Rescuers, list attached Duration 2+ class periods Time varies depending on the amount of class time provided for working on “Excellence in Citizenship” Award Assignment Student Preparation This lesson should be introduced after students have developed an understanding of the events of the Holocaust as well as its contributing factors. Please see “Introduction to the Holocaust” and “Hate & Anti- Semitism in the Holocaust” in the Database of K-12 Resources.

The Holocaust: Exploring Active Citizenship through ... · • 7.H.1.2 - Summarize the literal meaning of historical documents in ... Ask students to think about a time they assisted

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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

13

guiltyoftreasonandRolandFreisler,headjudgeofthecourt,sentencedthemtodeath.Thethreewereexecutedbyguillotine.

However,theWhiteRosehadthelastword.TheirlastleafletwassmuggledtoTheAllies,whoeditedit,andair-droppedmillionsofcopiesoverGermany.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_rose

14

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.