STUDYING THE STUDYING THE CHAPTER CHAPTER HOLOCAUST: HOLOCAUST: RESISTANCE, RESCUE AND SURVIVAL 3 RESISTANCE, RESCUE AND SURVIVAL 3
The Nuremberg Laws:Increasing Isolation These laws separated and isolated the Jewish people from general society. The Nuremberg Laws:Increasing Isolation These laws separated and isolated the Jewish people from general society. With few legal rights and protections,the Nazis could increase With few legal rights and protections,the Nazis could increase and Persecution persecution of the Jewish people. and Persecution persecution of the Jewish people. By Ilana Cone Kennedy,Education Coordinator, Washington State By Ilana Cone Kennedy,Education Coordinator, Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center Holocaust Education Resource Center In order to uphold their laws,the Nazis needed to legally define who was In order to uphold their laws,the Nazis needed to legally define who was a Jew.On November 14,1935,the Nazis defined a Jew as "a person with a Jew.On November 14,1935,the Nazis defined a Jew as "a person with Little by little things got worse and our rights were taken away. In the Little by little things got worse and our rights were taken away. In the two Jewish parents,or three or four Jewish grandparents." The Nazis two Jewish parents,or three or four Jewish grandparents." The Nazis smaller cities you felt the anti-Semitism more than in the bigger smaller cities you felt the anti-Semitism more than in the bigger went back to the Nuremberg Laws they passed in September 1935 and went back to the Nuremberg Laws they passed in September 1935 and cities. In the bigger cities you didn’t feel it as much at first. I grew up in cities. In the bigger cities you didn’t feel it as much at first. I grew up in wrote in this definition. wrote in this definition. Berlin, but I was going to trade school in a small city. I could no longer Berlin, but I was going to trade school in a small city. I could no longer sit on a bench in the park.And then I couldn’t use the street cars.In sit on a bench in the park.And then I couldn’t use the street cars.In 1937 I received a letter saying,‘You are hereby expelled from going to 1937 I received a letter saying,‘You are hereby expelled from going to school.’To tell the truth, I was relieved.Things were getting bad — I school.’To tell the truth, I was relieved.Things were getting bad — I was attacked at school because I was Jewish. The Hitler youth were was attacked at school because I was Jewish. The Hitler youth were everywhere. I used to wait to go into class until the teacher was everywhere. I used to wait to go into class until the teacher was there hoping for her protection. there hoping for her protection.
Klaus S.,a survivor of Auschwitz,who grew up in Germany and currently Klaus S.,a survivor of Auschwitz,who grew up in Germany and currently lives in the Seattle area.Klaus is a member of the Holocaust Center’s lives in the Seattle area.Klaus is a member of the Holocaust Center’s Speaker’s Bureau. Speaker’s Bureau.
In the early 1930’s,the Nazi party began passing laws that limited the In the early 1930’s,the Nazi party began passing laws that limited the movement and choices of Jews and others in German society.In one year, movement and choices of Jews and others in German society.In one year, 1933,42 anti-Jewish measures were passed.Nineteen more were passed 1933,42 anti-Jewish measures were passed.Nineteen more were passed in 1934.Each law was designed to protect “Aryan blood” from in 1934.Each law was designed to protect “Aryan blood” from contamination with "Jewish blood." contamination with "Jewish blood."
In September 1935,Hitler announced another set of new laws at the In September 1935,Hitler announced another set of new laws at the annual Nazi party rally in Nuremberg.These laws,which came to be annual Nazi party rally in Nuremberg.These laws,which came to be known as the Nuremberg Laws,stripped Jews of their German known as the Nuremberg Laws,stripped Jews of their German citizenship and all related rights,outlawed marriages between Jews and “Jews must sit only on the yellow citizenship and all related rights,outlawed marriages between Jews and “Jews must sit only on the yellow non-Jews,and forbade Jews from employing young German women. benches in Bayerischen Square. non-Jews,and forbade Jews from employing young German women. benches in Bayerischen Square. Excerpts from the Nuremberg Laws are below. Eyewitness account 1939.” Photo by Excerpts from the Nuremberg Laws are below. Eyewitness account 1939.” Photo by I. The Reich* Citizenship Law Judith Adler. Berlin Holocaust Memorial. I. The Reich* Citizenship Law Judith Adler. Berlin Holocaust Memorial. Supplementary decree Nov.14,1935 Supplementary decree Nov.14,1935
Article 3. Article 3. Who you were no longer depended upon how you defined yourself or Who you were no longer depended upon how you defined yourself or (1) A Jew cannot be a citizen of the Reich.He cannot exercise the (1) A Jew cannot be a citizen of the Reich.He cannot exercise the your beliefs.People could be defined as Jewish even if they didn’t see your beliefs.People could be defined as Jewish even if they didn’t see right to vote;he cannot occupy public office. right to vote;he cannot occupy public office. themselves as Jewish,and even if they didn’t participate in the Jewish themselves as Jewish,and even if they didn’t participate in the Jewish (2) Jewish officials will be retired as of December 31,1935… (2) Jewish officials will be retired as of December 31,1935… religion. This definition meant that people with Jewish grandparents religion. This definition meant that people with Jewish grandparents II. The Law for the Protection of German Blood who had converted to Christianity were also defined as Jews. II. The Law for the Protection of German Blood who had converted to Christianity were also defined as Jews. and Honor As the power of the Nazi party increased,more and more laws against and Honor As the power of the Nazi party increased,more and more laws against the Jews,and against other groups they identified as "asocial" were the Jews,and against other groups they identified as "asocial" were Article 1. Article 1. passed.Who were the victims of the Nazis? What were their lives like passed.Who were the victims of the Nazis? What were their lives like Marriages between Jews and citizens of German or kindred blood are Marriages between Jews and citizens of German or kindred blood are when the Nazis were in control? In the next two articles we will look when the Nazis were in control? In the next two articles we will look hereby forbidden… hereby forbidden… at the groups the Nazis targeted and we will hear stories from those at the groups the Nazis targeted and we will hear stories from those who survived. who survived. Article 4. Article 4. Jews are prohibited from displaying the Reich and national flag and Jews are prohibited from displaying the Reich and national flag and from showing the national colors. from showing the national colors.
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5 5 THE SEATTLE TIMES newspapers in education • holocaust • PAGE 2 THE SEATTLE TIMES newspapers in education • holocaust • PAGE 2
activities activities
1. Look through The Seattle Times for an example 1. Look through The Seattle Times for an example
of a law that has recently passed, or that is being of a law that has recently passed, or that is being
debated. Who does this law affect? Do you agree debated. Who does this law affect? Do you agree
with the law? Why or why not? with the law? Why or why not?
2. Discuss the role of laws in a democracy – what 2. Discuss the role of laws in a democracy – what
is the purpose of laws? For whom are laws? is the purpose of laws? For whom are laws?
Write an essay that expresses your opinion on the Write an essay that expresses your opinion on the
importance of laws. Include in it your opinion on importance of laws. Include in it your opinion on
their role, purpose and for whom they should their role, purpose and for whom they should
be written. be written.
3. Look for articles in today’s Seattle Times where 3. Look for articles in today’s Seattle Times where
peoples’ rights have been limited or that represent peoples’ rights have been limited or that represent
oppression. oppression.
www.wsherc.org www.wsherc.org Published APRIL 26, 2005 Published APRIL 26, 2005 0305238 0305238
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