During World War II in Germany their was a lot of resistance. Some resistance was major like shooting a nazi or little acts like hiding a Jew. The punishment for hiding a Jew was jail or concentration camp and to hide a jew and lie that you weren't you would be shot. No matter what kind of resistance it was very risky. Many people who resisted were killed. Many people gave their lives doing what was right and that is why I decided to do my report on these unknown heroes.
The Warsaw ghetto was the first and largest resistance of the war. Sixty thousand Jews fought with concealed guns and grenades. Many Jews were driven to the ghettos throughout the war. Many were starved to death while others beaten and shot. Some committed suicide rather than be killed by the nazis saying ''I would rather kill myself than let a nazi get the privilege. The nazi intended for the resistance to last a few days but it lasted for four weeks. After the Warsaw resistance many tried to escape through the sewers but many failed and were gunned down. Many Jews helped the nazis because the they were told their families wouldn't be harmed. The helping Jew was hated by everyone in the ghetto. Jews were rounded up and took off the streets no matter what age, height, or sex to concentration camps from the ghettos and when that time came the Jewish helpers were treated and took to concentration camps just like any other Jew. Soldiers would shave rabbi's beards shaved and made everyone's life as miserable as possible.
After learning of Jews being educated Adolf Hitler said it was stop immediately but their were many underground libraries to insure kids got their education. Many Jews had plans to finish their education after the war was over. Lots of technical instructions were given in the ghettos so people could learn traits like woodworking, metal working, and leather tanning. The Jews even set up a medical center in the Warsaw Ghetto. Jews practiced their religion in their attics, basements, and any other secret places. The punishment for practicing their religion which hitler called being "disobedient'' was punishable by death. Culture in the Ghettos still existed their were orchastras, plays, and poets. Many Jews used humor to lessen the suffering.
In Eastern Europe many who escaped from a ghetto or concentration camp had a chance for survival if they could get to the nearby woods. Although many still died from starvation and other problems some found small bands of people with guns who were in the same situation. Most of these groups were thought to be guerrila like resistance. Lots of Soviet soldiers were caught behind enemy lines after Hitler's quick advancement in to Poland. The Soviet soldiers to hid in the woods. These people were called people of the forest.
The high point for resistance was after American and British advancements in Normandy. Bombs were detonated on depots to delay supplies to German Soldiers. With the war coming to an end Hitler tried to quicken the extermination of Jews. A lot of resistance started in the concentration camps. The average kind of resistance in the concentration camps was to escape because if they didn't try the life expectancy in a concentration camp was six months. Most attempts failed and the escapees were gunned down, but some escaped only to starve.
After the camps were liberated by the Allies they were in shock as they saw the starving people and loads of corpses. Thanks to the resistance some people weren't with those dead bodies. In my personal opinion I think people who were part of the resistance were just as much heroes as and survivors because they starved and were sent to camps as well as killed like a soldier. They are the unsung heroes of World War Two. To end my report I would like to say a quote I heard , "The dead pay the debt for the living''. I think that quote is very true because so many people die for what they think is right. To make the living peoples life better.
Researched by Derek Brunin
Researched at:
www.weremembertheholocaust.com
www.nationalholocaustmuseume.com
The Resistance by Deborah Bachrach
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