Historical Background on Night

Setting: Setting: Time (1940s) Time (1940s)

Place (Sighet, Transylvania and various Place (Sighet, Transylvania and various concentration camps) concentration camps)

Rise of Nazism Rise of Nazism Conditions: Conditions: Germany before Hitler – Germany before Hitler –

Poor country, unstable democracy, Jews Poor country, unstable democracy, Jews were scapegoatswere scapegoats

Historical Background ContinuedEvents: Events: Rise of the Nazi PartyRise of the Nazi Party German Workers’ Party createdGerman Workers’ Party created Hitler becomes leaderHitler becomes leader German Workers’ Party became the German Workers’ Party became the

NazisNazis Hitler imprisoned for takeover attemptHitler imprisoned for takeover attempt In prison, Hitler wrote In prison, Hitler wrote Mein KampfMein Kampf

Historical Background Continued

Hitler gained power quicklyHitler gained power quickly Became dictator around 1930-1933Became dictator around 1930-1933

*Identify the difference between a *Identify the difference between a dictatorship and democracydictatorship and democracy

Description of Holocaust: Restrictions on Jews Synagogues were closedSynagogues were closed Jews were quarantined in their housesJews were quarantined in their houses Could not own objects of valueCould not own objects of value Must wear yellow Stars of DavidMust wear yellow Stars of David Could not go to restaurants, could not Could not go to restaurants, could not

travel, could not go outtravel, could not go out

Restrictions on Jews

Their citizenship was revokedTheir citizenship was revoked Forbidden to marry AryansForbidden to marry Aryans Jewish ghettos were located near Jewish ghettos were located near

railways (deportations – concentration railways (deportations – concentration camps)camps)

Germans boycotted Jewish Germans boycotted Jewish stores/goodsstores/goods

Weisel’s Purpose for writing Night For 10 years after his liberation, For 10 years after his liberation,

Weisel was silentWeisel was silent Wanted to bear witness in order to Wanted to bear witness in order to

never forgetnever forget Wanted people to learn about evil Wanted people to learn about evil

so they could guard against itso they could guard against it

Definitions HolocaustHolocaust:: Greek root: a whole burnt Greek root: a whole burnt

offering; destruction of 6 million Jews offering; destruction of 6 million Jews and 5 million non-Jews and 5 million non-Jews

GenocideGenocide:: “Genos” means race + “Genos” means race + “cide” means to kill; total annihilation “cide” means to kill; total annihilation of a race or ethnic groupof a race or ethnic group

Final SolutionFinal Solution:: Hitler’s systematic Hitler’s systematic elimination of Jews throughout Europeelimination of Jews throughout Europe

What questions do you have about Night? Why didn’t Jews rebel?Why didn’t Jews rebel?