Context Jewish Community: Before, During and After WW2 Flashcards
To understand the Jewish community in Europe, before the war, during and after.
Describe the Yiddish culture in Europe from 1933 onwards
Yiddish culture of the shtetls (small villages, with a predominantly Jewish population), towns and urban communities. With music, literature and traditions have virtually disapeared. Yiddish, a language from medieval period was spoken by 11 million european Jews (p. 221)
Explain the relationship between Yiddish and Hewbrew in relationship to memorials
Because most Yiddish people were killed, and Hewbrew was designated as the language of Israel (I think it is because Yiddish is more german based). Therefore any memorials to the Shoah is now in Hewbrew and new culture, rather than old Yiddish of the people who were killed. (p.221)
Explore the Jewish identinty and Jews role in Germany before 1930s
Judaic law and tradition - Jewish identity is passed down the female line (although you can convert to Judaism).
After centuries of anti-Semetic legislations across Europe that enforced separation and discrimination of Jews, changed with liberalising legislation in 19th century that saw Jews being able to join professions, server in army, marry Chrisitians. However undercurrent of hate remaind against Jews if whree were successful in business, arts and politics. Fuelled by antagonism against Jews holding leadership roles in socialist and communist movements. Most European Jews considered themself patriotic citizens. 100 000 Germany Jews fought it WW1. However National Socialists in Germany and Facists elsewhere targeted against Jews on ethnic grounds. (p. 222)
What were the race laws in Germany?
In 1935 the Nazi Nuremburg race laws defined Jews as those who had three or four grandparents of Jewish decent. Those with one or two were mixded blood.
Classification and documentation of racial origin was systematically carried out. (p. 222)
Which other people groups were targeted in the Holocaust, apart from Jews?
Trade unionists, homosexuals, Roma, Sinti and people with mental or physical disabilities. (p.206) Also intellectuals and political opponents from other countries such as Greece, Yugoslavia and Italy. P.231
Describe the Warsaw ghetto and its history.
Before ww2 - Warsaw home to 375 000 Jews, about 30% of population.
After Nazi occupation of Poland 1940, Germans forced Jews from country side to big cities.
Warsaw ghetto swelled in numbers, and was sealed off from rest of the city, leading to death by starvation by 10% of inhabitants.
A rebellion against mistreatment was launched in January 1943, including mass deportations to Treblinka extermination camp in July-September 1942.
Rebellion crushed in April 1943: Buildings razed to the ground, and Ghetto turned into a concentration camp, and most survivors stayed there, but were subsequently transferred to Treblinka. (p.212)
Describe Treblinka.
Treblinka was split into 2 camps, Treblinka 1 which was a forced labour camp, and Treblinka 2 which was one of the deadliest purpose built extermination camp. Over 300,000 people from Warsaw Ghetto were gassed there between June and October 1942. in all total of perhaps 900,000 (including sina and Roma) were detained in Treblinka 1&2 and most died. Revolt in 1943, some jews managed to escape. After Treblinka 2 closed, remainign jews shot, Site ploughed over, leaving almost no trace. Strategy to hide every sign of industrial genocide meant that many concentration camps had been destroyed before allied troops arrived in 1945.
After the war which orginisation classified and documentet Jews, and why? Expand on the organisations origin and work.
Yad Vashem center in Jerusalem, created in 1953 by vote of Knesset. This was to be the one authoritative center for the documentation of the mass murder of Jews between 1933 -1945. Every Jewish victime got Israeli citizenship. Definition of Jewishness was essential.
Yad Vashem attempt to block other organisations from documenting or commemorating Jewish victims from the Shoah. Yad Vashem has to approve of any work (p. 223)
Describe the impact when Germany implemented ‘the final solution’ on Jews from 1933 to 1945. And afterwar in Soviet, and current day Germany
1933 - 520 000 Jews in Germany - by 1939 half left or had been interned - and all but 10% of these murdered.
After 1945 persecution of Jews continued in Poland and Ukraine, forced into exlie or assimilation. 100s of thousands of Russian Jews emigrated to West Germany, North and South America and Palestine.
2010 in Germany - 115 000 Jews - 100 000 from Russia. Most Germany Jews moved to Israel or United States (p. 221)
