Resistance

Resistance

THE MYTH

Jews did not fight back.

THE TRUTH

Resistance was carried out in every German occupied country. Ghettos Concentration camps Killing centers

What Do You Need

Role Play

You have actively decided to fight back against the Nazi Regime… what do you need?

With a partner, make a list of the things necessary to fight back.

Things Necessary For Resistance: Food Weapons Plan Plan B Communication Money Training Medical Manpower Organization

Hideout, haven, and headquarters

Goal (and consensus about the goal)

Leadership Followers (committed,

loyal, healthy, trained) Knowledge (of the

enemy’s resources, plans, etc.)

Help (inside and out)

What Deters Resistance

Think-Pair-Share

With a partner, come up with some things, conditions, beliefs, realities that would delay people from fighting back?

Things That Deter Resistance: Hope:

Americans/Russians are coming soon Resettled, maybe will be better

Deception: Signs at camp entrance:“Arbeit Macht Frie” “Work Makes You

Free.” Signs before gas chambers: “Put your name on your luggage so

you can get it later” Lack of information:

Knowledge: What do you know, can you accept it Denial:

“Night” That didn’t/couldn’t happen

German Policy of Collective responsibility: Risk punishment of self and others you may or may not know

Fear: Of collective responsibility

SobiborJewish Resistance:

Sobibor Killing Center Uprising Jewish prisoners in

Sobibor devise plan for revolt

Alexander “Sasha” Pechersky

October 14, 1943 SS officers killed Prisoners fled

Sobibor Killing Center Uprising Results:

300 prisoners escaped ▪ Only about 50 survived WWII

100 recaptured/shot

11 SS Officers killed

Shortly after, Nazis close extermination center

Esther Raab

Survivor of Sobibor Describes uprising http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/media_oi.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005213&MediaId=1

126

1. What does she say about why they planned?

2. What are your reactions to her determination to escape?

WarsawJewish Resistance

"They will consider it a victory if the enemy's forces are weakened a bit, and finally they will consider it a victory if they can die with weapons in their hands." Polish Home Army newspaper, 29th April

1943

Jewish families arrested by Nazis during the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto in Poland

SS officers walking through the destroyed Ghetto after the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

Sophie SchollGerman Resistance

Sophie Scholl and the White Rose Watch the trailer for “Sophie Scholl:

The Final Days.” http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=sophie+scholl+trailer

&aq=f

1. What was Sophie accused of doing?

2. What do you think happened to Sophie and her brother?

Sophie Scholl and the White Rose

Peaceful resistance

Leaflets

University of Munich

February 18, 1943 Sophie and Hans

caught

Trial

Sophie Scholl and the White Rose

“What we wrote and said is also believed by many others. They just don't dare to express themselves as we did.”

- Sophie Scholl

“One day there will be another kind of justice! One day they will go down in history!”

- Robert Scholl

Sophie Scholl and the White Rose Sophie, Hans (among other White

Rose members) found guilty of treason

Executed by guillotine

Do you think this is a fair punishment for the type of resistance they performed? Why or why not?

Oscar SchindlerGerman Resistance

Schindler with some of the Jews he saved

Oscar Schindler: Why?

"The persecution of Jews in occupied Poland meant that we could see horror emerging gradually in many ways. In 1939, they were forced to wear Jewish stars, and people were herded and shut up into ghettos. Then, in the years '41 and '42 there was plenty of public evidence of pure sadism. With people behaving like pigs, I felt the Jews were being destroyed. I had to help them. There was no choice.“

- Oscar Schindler, 1964

Oscar Schindler: Why?

"I hated the brutality, the sadism, and the insanity of Nazism. I just couldn't stand by and see people destroyed. I did what I could, what I had to do, what my conscience told me I must do. That's all there is to it. Really, nothing more.“

- Oscar Schindler

Writing Prompt:

In your own words, write one paragraph about why Schindler said he did what he did.

Who was Oscar Schindler?"He drank, yes, he drank. He liked women. He

bribed. But he bribed for a good purpose. All of these things worked. If he were not this kind of person he probably wouldn't have succeeded. Whatever it took to save a life he did. He worked the system extraordinarily well. He was a true human being in the best sense of the word .. His actions in those circumstances were absolutely extraordinary and I know of no one who has matched them."

Who was Oscar Schindler?"In spite of his flaws, Oscar had a big

heart and was always ready to help whoever was in need. He was affable, kind, extremely generous and charitable, but at the same time, not mature at all ..“

- Emilie Schindler

Who was Oscar Schindler?"He could have taken the money and

gone to Switzerland ...  he could have bought Beverly Hills. But instead, he gambled his life and all of his money to save us ...“

- Poldek Pfefferberg, Schindlerjew

Who was Oscar Schindler?"What people don't understand about Oscar is the

power of the man, his strength, his determination. Everything he did he did to save the Jews. Can you imagine what power it took for him to pull out from Auschwitz 300 people ? At Auschwitz, there was only one way you got out, we used to say. Through the chimney! Understand ? Nobody ever got out of Auschwitz. But Schindler got out 300 ....! " 

- Abraham Zuckerman, on how Schindler got 300 Schindler-women released from Auschwitz

Who was Oscar Schindler?“The man rose to an occasion. Why the

story is remarkable is that he did something when it appeared that the Germans were winning, and he did it over a long period of time, about four years, and he did it in the worst area, Poland, and he did it openly ... He did it for strangers.”

- Irving Glovin, Schindler’s attorney

Writing Prompt

In your own words, write one paragraph about what kind of man Schindler was based on the quotes.