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Resistance to the Holocaust

Resistance during the Holocaust faced significant barriers due to the superior armed power of the Germans, the isolation and lack of weapons among Jews. Collective punishment policies meant that any acts of resistance would result in large-scale retaliation against the local Jewish population. Despite secrecy and deception employed by the Nazis, some Jews resisted through small acts of defiance, spiritual resistance, and partisan fighting. The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising saw 750 Jewish fighters hold off German troops for 28 days, marking a turning point as it inspired others to resist through armed struggle.

Education◦Spiritual◦

R ESISTANCE During the Holocaust

B ARRIERS T O R ESISTANCE Superior, armed power of Germans Isolation of Jews, lack of weapons Broken spirit “ Collective Responsibility” Secrecy and deception

C OLLECTIVE R ESPONSIBILITY In Lithuania two boys escaped a Ghetto, when they refused to return the entire Ghetto population was killed.

C OLLECTIVE R ESPONSIBILITY When Meir Berliner, a Jewish prisoner at the Treblinka death camp, killed a Nazi officer, 160 Jews were executed.

C OLLECTIVE R ESPONSIBILITY In Yugoslavia 50-100 civilians were killed for every Nazi killed by local partisans.

C OLLECTIVE R ESPONSIBILITY In Czech an entire village of 700 was wiped off the map because a citizen in a neighboring village assassinated a Nazi officer.

C OLLECTIVE R ESPONSIBILITY How do you fight against this?

S ECRECY AND D ECEPTION Secrecy maintained to impede resistance Despite rumors, many simply did not believe Jews usually told to pack belongings - thus reinforcing the idea they were being “resettled” Many at Auschwitz were forced to write postcards before being gassed, “Arrived safely. I am well.”

S ECRECY AND D ECEPTION

T O R ESIST W AS ... To smuggle a loaf of bread To teach and worship in secret To forge documents To smuggle people across borders To chronicle events and conceal the records To hold out a helping hand to the needy To contact those under siege and smuggle weapons To fight with weapons in streets, mountains, and forests To rebel in death camps To rise up in ghettos, among the crumbling walls, in the most desperate revolt

S PIRITUAL R ESISTANCE Attempting to carry on a semblance of "normal” life in the face of wretched conditions Schools set up The observance of many Jewish rituals, including dietary laws - these were severely punishable by Nazis Held musical and dramatic performances Secret newspapers used to keep Jews informed and to encourage hope

P ARTISANS Irregular troops that engaged in guerilla warfare behind German lines Fought and rescued other Jews from forests around camps and ghettos

T HE W ARSAW G HETTO U PRISING Smuggled in guns and ammunition, Homemade bombs 750 Jewish fighters held off 3000 crack German troops for 28 days. Eventually Ghetto was completely destroyed Turning point in Jewish history - inspired many others to resist.

T HE W ARSAW G HETTO U PRISING

T HE W ARSAW G HETTO U PRISING

T HE W ARSAW G HETTO U PRISING

T HE W ARSAW G HETTO U PRISING

R ESISTANCE IN THE C AMPS Secret political organizations and meetings Attempts to alleviate suffering of camp inmates Attempts to inform the outside world about camps Rarely a violent act was performed Rosa Robota helped smuggle gun powder to blow up a crematorian in Auschwitz

My heart still beats inside my breast While friends depart for other worlds. Perhaps it’s better - who can say? - Than watching this, to die today No, no my God we want to live! Not watch our numbers melt away. We want to have a better world. We want to work - we must not die! Eva Pikova, a 12 year old from the Vilna Ghetto. Fate unknown.

Resistance to the Holocaust