Holocaust ResistanceHolocaust Resistance

Kristen Kristen MumawMumaw

Mr. McClainMr. McClain

Period 1-2Period 1-2

Auschwitz UprisingAuschwitz Uprising

• Gassings at Auschwitz increased, and Gassings at Auschwitz increased, and so did the number of so did the number of Sonderkommando (workers in killing Sonderkommando (workers in killing areas).areas).

• When gassings slowed, members of When gassings slowed, members of the Sonderkommando feared for their the Sonderkommando feared for their lives. They then decided to form a lives. They then decided to form a resistance.resistance.

• The women at the camp agreed with the idea. The women at the camp agreed with the idea. They helped smuggle gun powder to the They helped smuggle gun powder to the Sonderkommando. Sonderkommando.

• On October 7, 1944 they blew up Crematoria On October 7, 1944 they blew up Crematoria IV and killed several SS guards. They were IV and killed several SS guards. They were soon captured.soon captured.

• Everyone in the Sonderkommando was Everyone in the Sonderkommando was killed, and the four women who helped were killed, and the four women who helped were hung.hung.

Chelmo ResistanceChelmo Resistance

• Aktion 1005 (code used by the Aktion 1005 (code used by the Germans erased all evidence of mass Germans erased all evidence of mass murder by forcing prisoners to dig up murder by forcing prisoners to dig up graves and burn the bodies) began on graves and burn the bodies) began on September 1944. September 1944.

• As the Soviet Army approached the As the Soviet Army approached the Germans attempted to kill all remaining Germans attempted to kill all remaining Jews. Some resisted and escaped. Jews. Some resisted and escaped. Only three survived.Only three survived.

Treblinka RevoltsTreblinka Revolts• In Early 1943 Germans In Early 1943 Germans

began Aktion 1005. began Aktion 1005. Prisoners, fearful for their Prisoners, fearful for their lives, decided to revolt. lives, decided to revolt.

• On August 2, 1943 On August 2, 1943 prisoners stole weapons prisoners stole weapons from the armory, but were from the armory, but were caught.caught.

• Many were killed, but Many were killed, but more than 300 escaped. more than 300 escaped. Most were recaptured and Most were recaptured and killed, leaving only 150-killed, leaving only 150-200 left.200 left.

SobiborSobibor• The Germans decided to use Aktion 1005.The Germans decided to use Aktion 1005.• In Early 1943 deportations slowed, and the In Early 1943 deportations slowed, and the

prisoners suspected the worst. They formed prisoners suspected the worst. They formed a resistance on October 14, 1943.a resistance on October 14, 1943.

• They began to quietly kill German and They began to quietly kill German and Ukrainian guards. Open fire broke out Ukrainian guards. Open fire broke out forcing the prisoners to escape through a forcing the prisoners to escape through a minefield. 300 escaped, but many were minefield. 300 escaped, but many were recaptured and shot. 60 survived and joined recaptured and shot. 60 survived and joined the partisans.the partisans.

Warsaw GhettoWarsaw Ghetto• On January 9, 1943 the ZOB (a Jewish On January 9, 1943 the ZOB (a Jewish

Fighting Organization) led by 23-year-old Fighting Organization) led by 23-year-old Mordecai Anielewicz resisted deportation.Mordecai Anielewicz resisted deportation.

• The resistance included hiding, refusal to The resistance included hiding, refusal to report, and violent struggle. This resistance report, and violent struggle. This resistance was only temporary. Out of the 8,000 Jews to was only temporary. Out of the 8,000 Jews to be deported, 5,000 were.be deported, 5,000 were.

• Zivia Lubetkin helped to Zivia Lubetkin helped to develop the ZOB recalling the develop the ZOB recalling the use of grenades, guns, iron use of grenades, guns, iron rods, and light bulbs filled rods, and light bulbs filled with sulfuric acid. In this with sulfuric acid. In this revolt the Germans retreated.revolt the Germans retreated.

• For the 50,000 Jews in the For the 50,000 Jews in the camp, the wait wasn’t long. camp, the wait wasn’t long. On April 19, 1943 (The eve of On April 19, 1943 (The eve of Passover) General Stroop Passover) General Stroop entered the Ghetto. The entered the Ghetto. The streets were deserted, and streets were deserted, and they expected trouble. The they expected trouble. The Jews were hidden in secret Jews were hidden in secret bunkers.bunkers.

• For the 700 – 750 Jewish fighters they For the 700 – 750 Jewish fighters they were no match for the Germans. were no match for the Germans. Though they backed off at first, they Though they backed off at first, they soon set fire to the ghetto.soon set fire to the ghetto.

• On May 16, 1943 General Stroop On May 16, 1943 General Stroop reported that the Jewish Quarter of reported that the Jewish Quarter of Warsaw no longer existed. Zivia Warsaw no longer existed. Zivia Lubetkin and some others escaped to Lubetkin and some others escaped to Warsaw’s Aryan side through the Warsaw’s Aryan side through the sewers where they continued to resist.sewers where they continued to resist.

The Unarmed PartisansThe Unarmed Partisans

• The unarmed partisans worked to resist The unarmed partisans worked to resist the Germans nonviolently.the Germans nonviolently.

• They passed information, smuggled They passed information, smuggled food to the troops, and helped to boost food to the troops, and helped to boost the moral.the moral.

• They would also work on damaging They would also work on damaging German equipment they were German equipment they were supposed to be repairing.supposed to be repairing.

• They would post They would post radio listening radio listening groups to listen groups to listen for the latest for the latest news.news.

• The unarmed The unarmed partisans had to partisans had to hide in hide in underground underground bunkers so that bunkers so that the Germans the Germans would not find would not find them. them.

• They had a whole They had a whole economy economy underground, underground, selling illegal selling illegal newspapers , and newspapers , and holding classes for holding classes for children.children.

• They would They would smuggle goods smuggle goods into the ghettos to into the ghettos to help the Jews help the Jews there survive.there survive.

The Armed PartisansThe Armed Partisans• They worked together to They worked together to

gather intelligence.gather intelligence.• They destroyed They destroyed

telephone lines, burned telephone lines, burned German supply barracks, German supply barracks, and damaged bridges.and damaged bridges.

• Many times their Many times their progress was slowed by progress was slowed by lack of arms, radios, and lack of arms, radios, and even people betraying even people betraying them.them.

• The Germans were The Germans were aware of the danger the aware of the danger the partisans could put partisans could put them in.them in.

• The Partisans got their The Partisans got their arms for fighting the arms for fighting the Germans by Germans by scavenging off battle scavenging off battle fields.fields.

• The partisans would also attack The partisans would also attack German tanks, setting fire to the woods German tanks, setting fire to the woods surrounding it.surrounding it.

• The Germans hated the partisans – The Germans hated the partisans – they would not just kill them, but they would not just kill them, but torture them.torture them.

• Then they would publicly hang them, or Then they would publicly hang them, or shoot them.shoot them.

• The resisters helped to save numerous liveThe resisters helped to save numerous live• Because of them risking their own lives, Because of them risking their own lives,

camps were even shut down after a revolt. camps were even shut down after a revolt. • Though many of the resisters were killed, Though many of the resisters were killed,

they helped to save others, before thinking of they helped to save others, before thinking of themselves.themselves.