The question asked by both adults and teenagers are "Why didn't they fight back?" With what??? They had no country, no government, no defense force, and no advocates. The Jews were in a state of diaspora when Israel was taken from them by the Romans. Consider the events that are taking place today between the Palestinians and Israelis...Is there any wonder why there is constant fighting over land? But despite this, they did fight back!
In the book The Holocaust, the Jewish Tragedy, the author describes the different kinds of resistance:
"In every ghetto, in every deportation train, in every labor camp, even in the death camps, the will to resist was strong and took many forms. Fighting with the few weapons that would be found, individual acts of defiance and protest, the courage of obtaining food and water under the threat of death, the superiority of refusing to allow the Germans their final wish to gloat over panic and despair. Even passivity was a form of resistance. To die of dignity was a form of resistance. To resist the demoralizing, brutalizing force of evil, to refuse to be reduced to the level of animals, to live through the torment, to outlive the tormentors, these too were acts of resistance. Merely to give witness to these events in testimony was, in the end, a contribution to victory. Simply to survive was a victory of the human spirit."
This view is supported by Yehuda Bauer, who disputes the popular view that most Jews went to their deaths passively. He argues that given the circumstances in which the Jews of Eastern Europe had to endure, what is surprising is NOT how little resistance there was but rather how MUCH.
Also, remember that the Jews were deceived by the Nazis in so many ways and who would think that civilized people would want to exterminate an entire race...Hate, maybe...but eliminate?
One example of physical resistance occurred between April and May of 1943, when Jewish men and women of the Warsaw Ghetto took up arms and rebelled against against the Nazis after it became clear that the Germans were deporting remaining ghetto inhabitants to the Treblinka death camp. Warsaw Jews of the Jewish Combat Organization and The Jewish Military Union fought the Germans with a handful of small arms and Molotov cocktails. Three hundred Germans died as a result. After fierce fighting, vastly superior German forces murdered or deported all remaining to the death camps. There were other uprisings as well as armed struggles in other ghettos, concentration and death camps and Jewish partisan groups.
Vladka Meed, Warsaw Uprising Leader
It is because of Vldaka Meed that I'm on this trip. She started the Holocaust and Jewish Teachers' Resistance Program because she wanted to educate teachers (who would then reach their students) about the Holocaust, the victims, and resistance. Vladka Meed was a member of the Jewish underground in the Warsaw Ghetto from its first days. Meed's book, On Both Sides of the Wall,
recounts how she served in the resistance by passing as a Christian
outside the Warsaw Ghetto. Because of her typically "Aryan" appearance,
and fluency in Polish, she was not only able to smuggle weapons to
the Jewish Fighting Organization inside the ghetto but also to help
Jewish children escape from the ghetto to be sheltered in Christian
homes. She secretly climbed these walls many times and put her life at risk.
After the war, Vladka Meed continued to lecture on the Holocaust, and, together with her husband, Benjamin Meed, was extremely active in Holocaust education and memorialization.
Have you watched the movie "Defiance?" It was about a group of Jewish resisters who lived in a forest for years and defied the Nazis both physically and spiritually. I actually got to meet the son's leader in DC!! He is so proud of his father, and rightfully so.
Tuvia Bielski was born in Stankiewicze, in western Belorussia in 1906. When Germany invaded Russia in June of 1941, Tuvia and his younger brother Zus vowed never to be caught by the Germans. Tuvia's extensive knowledge of the area saved his life, allowing him to move around frequently to avoid being captured by the Germans, who had a warrant for his arrest.
In early 1942, Tuvia began hearing rumors about partisans, and decided that if he and his fellow Jews were to survive, he must acquire arms and organize all-Jewish resistance groups. Along with two of his brothers, Zus, and Asael, Tuvia began
Tuvia Bielski
The Bielski Otriad carried out food raids, killed German collaborators, and sometimes joined with a Russian partisan group in anti-Nazi missions such as burning the ripe wheat crop so the German soldiers couldn't collect and eat the wheat. Additionally, the Bielski Otriad would seek out Jews in the ghetto willing to risk escape to the forest, and send in guides to help them. By the summer of 1944, the group had grown to 1200. The group consisted mainly of the elderly, women, and children. Tuvia's group was the largest of the Jewish partisan groups.
Tuvia Bielski - 1960s
After the war, Tuvia moved first to Israel and later to the United States, where he died at age 81.
After reading all your other blogs, I soon thought that all the Jews had given up hope about surviving. It is great to read a whole page dedicated to the resistance of many Jews. I agree that resistance is not only physical, but it is emotional and mental. There was so many different types of resistance that the Jews did on an everyday basis that it seemed average during the times in the ghetto. It was awesome to read about Vladka Meed. I can’t believe she saved children’s lives during the times in the ghetto. She risked her life to save others and that is so great about her. Many people in the Holocaust only lived for themselves so they can survive, but Miss. Meed lived for others and I look up to her for that.
ReplyDeleteIt is so touching how hard the Jews fought. I honestly never thought that they resisted much because I didn't think they could. To know that they went as far as smuggling weapons into the ghettos is amazing, and it must have been a very hard task because of all the Nazis watching their every move. The people you shared about are very inspirational for all the did for the Jews, and they were the few to actually care about the suffering people. It is also amazing how people risked so much to go to live and the woods an their hard work payed off because the actually made it through the tough times and lived.
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ReplyDeleteIt was great to read about the resistance against the Nazis after learning so much about the cruelty the Nazis enforced. All the different forms of resistance made it seem more common and more possible than I originally thought. I also enjoyed reading about Vladka Meed. She was truly a hero. It must have been difficult to smuggle weapons into the ghetto at that time period. Smuggling children out of the ghetto and into homes outside it was also a great act of heroism that I admire. I was joyed by the fact that non-Jews, such as the one who helped Jews join Bielski, resisted the Nazis to help the Jews. It reminded me that there were still humane people during the Holocaust, which can be easy to forget after learning so much about the inhumane actions.
ReplyDeleteI never would have expected so much resistance; I didn't think it was possible. I knew you could resist, but I always thought you would just be killed for it. I thought it was cool how they found there weapons. Most were unable to obtain real weapons, so they made do with what they had(as always). It made me happy how Yehuda Bauer said that most Jews went to their deaths passively. Obviously, they should not have died at all, but it makes it tiny bit better that they were resisting on their way out. Also, the Nazis weren't getting what they wanted because they were dying passively.
ReplyDeleteI knew that the Jews resisted spiritually, but I didn't know there was so much physical resistance too. It's really inspiring that some people decided to form groups to rebel, and others smuggled weapons into the camps. Without those people, the Holocaust would have had much worse effects. I liked reading about Vladka Meed; not many people would risk their own lives to save children they've never even met before, but she did it numerous times.
ReplyDelete“To die of dignity was a form of resistance,” what a powerful and impactful line. Taking away one’s dignity is the worst one can do to someone, but refusing to let someone take away one’s dignity is powerful. By not allowing one to take away his/her dignity, they are not giving up; this is the best type of resistance. This resistance shows how powerful the Jewish community is. Reading about all of the resistance the Jewish people did proves to me that the Jewish community is a strong and powerful nation. They risked everything by attacking Germans; they knew what would happen to them for resisting, yet they still resisted.
ReplyDelete^agreed Meghal. Their ability to remain strong in such a terrifying situation is so brave to me. I love that they showed the Nazis that they wouldn't be corraled like mindless animals, and did everything they could to make the process harder and less satisfying for the Nazis. Also Vladka Meed is so awesome. Sneaking artillery into the ghetto and children out of it. What an inspiring, wall-climbing role model for women. I really want to learn more about her after this. Bielski was quite the rebel too, I actually had no idea that so many women, children, and elderly people were also partisans.
ReplyDeleteI knew that the Jews resisted in some ways from what you said in class, but I never thought their resistance could be so powerful. They truly did fight back every chance they got, and they put all of their heart and energy into it. I am glad that we got to read about how the Jewish people resisted after hearing about all of the camps. It makes their fight to survive more powerful and surviving. I am so happy that they fought back even when they were put in unimaginable situations. It says so much about a person to know that they fought back even when everyone was against them.
ReplyDeleteBefore reading this, I thought that Jews resisting didn't have that much of an affect on their outcome. Now, I see that even things like surviving would be a sign of resisting. I am happy to hear that Jews stood up and tried to fight back, regardless if it worked or not. These resisters made a difference and saved many lives. If if wasn't for resisting, the Nazis would've won, and even though this was a tragedy, The Jews ultimately won this battle.
ReplyDeleteIt’s very good to read that the Jews did fight back during the Holocaust. I recalled reading an article about a Holocaust survivor who was mad at the fact that people thought they didn’t rebel against the Nazis. I think it is highly important that they fought back because if they didn’t people would think that the Holocaust happened because the Jews let it happened, but that’s not the case. I was really impressed with Vldaka Meed because she started teaching about the Holocaust. I think education is the most powerful weapon anyone could have.
ReplyDeleteI always thought resistance meant physically fighting back. Now I can see that there are so many forms of resistance. The fact that they even tried to resist was so brave. People like Vldaka Meed risked their lives to save other Jews. I was surprised to hear that they resisted as much as they did. I didn’t think they would smuggle weapons into the ghettos. I didn’t even think they would try to physically fight them I would be too scared to die, and because of this I admire their courage.
ReplyDeletei think that it's so cool that vladka meed was the reasons that you were able to go to all of the concentration camps. when people say the Jews did nothing to resist they are dead wrong. The Jews lived through the holocaust, living was the biggest form of resistance. the ones who lived resisted the wishes of the nazis and the wishes of death. i also had no idea that the Warsaw resistance killed 300 Germans. i know 300 is non comparable to 6 million, but the ones who resisted made their point with only 300.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me feel like an idiot for believing that the Jewish people never resisted. Now, I admire the Jewish people even more. Despite having no where to go, no one to turn to, and no weapons to use, they still resisted in any way they could. I'm so glad so many of them refused to let the Nazis deprive them of their dignity, even in death. I can't believe that I used to be not only shocked at how "little" the Jewish people resisted, but I even looked down on the slightly for it. I didn't understand why they would just let the Nazis send them to concentration camps. However, now I have realized that if I were in their situation, I probably would be too afraid to defend myself. Though I would have felt this way, so many of them physically and spiritually resisted. I admire their courage.
ReplyDeleteI love that Jews at least tried to resist! If you think about it, the Nazis were outnumbered so if ALL the Jews joined together they probably could have stopped the Nazis. It was amazing that they actually had at least a little but of success from these outbreaks. It's great to know that people you talked about helped out the Jews, and it's great to see that some people were actually kindhearted and they actually helped the Jews out; unlike others who did nothing.
ReplyDeleteThis blog entry was rather uplifting. My favorite form of resistance was survival. It makes me smile to think about how victims staying alive defied everything the Nazis hoped for. It took about as much strength to make it from day one to day two as it did to actually fight back. That being said, the armed resistance was also impressive. Vladka Meed is so inspiring; she was able to basically arm forces on her own. She was so brave. If I were she, I would be hiding in the corner, praying to be saved. She worked to save herself. Tuvia's armed resistance and methods of escaping capture were impressive. I have so much respect for these and every victim that resisted Nazism.
ReplyDeleteIt upsets me that people expected the Jews to rebel when they had nothing to fight back with. I'm proud of the people who decided to fight back when they had slim chances of actually succeeding. I know if I had been a part of the Holocaust, I wouldn't have the strength to fight back, but I certainly wouldn't have given up on my beliefs. The smaller forms of resistance are what mattered most and inspired others to fight back as well. I knew that there was some rebellion, but I didn't expect it to be this way. I also believed that the Jews were simply letting themselves be taken into the death camps. I didn't know that they fought back at all. If the Jewish people had remained in Israel, I would've expected more rebellion because they had their own defenses and government.
ReplyDeleteI think it it is great to see the lighter -- although still dark -- side of the Holocaust. Those these people were against the odds, they still attempt to fight for their freedoms with bravery, altruism, and righteousness. However, I think it is a little disheartening to realize that many do not focus on the resistance as much as other topics on the Holocaust. True, other aspects are more important and perhaps have a greater impact, but the resisters still should not be undermined. Anyway, I was a little surprised the story of how the Denmark king help all Jews in his nation escape from the Nazi.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Skylar said about this blog being very uplifting because it truly was. It amazes me how these people fought back even though many of them had already lost all hope, and although I am not a Jew, I feel a growing sense of pride knowing what they went through and were able to accomplish in spite of it. My favorite part has to be Vldaka Meed. Not only did she help the people of the Warsaw rebellion, but she also defied a stereotype of this time, that women were the "weaker sex". This entry is especially inspiring to me because it shows another side to the Jews of that time era. It shows the brave and strong side, not just the side that victimizes them.
ReplyDeleteMost of us define winning as being the victor over another by being more powerful, faster, smarter and more. To win for the Jews, didn't mean to stop the Holocaust and stop the Nazis. To win for the Jews, meant to show that they were not giving up. It was to show that they were not degraded beings or animals. It was to show that even through all the trauma, they were truly strong enough to withstand anything that the Nazis through at them. Whether it was disobeying a rule, killing one Nazi or being alive in general. The fact that they even had the will to keep on going , showed that they were truly victorious over the Nazis.
ReplyDeleteI never knew that the Jews resisted so much during the Holocaust! I especially found it interesting how Tuvia was able to run a whole entire Jewish Resistance organization with 1200 members! Knowing that there was a lot of resistance in these ghettos relieved me and put a smile on my face. When I read the part about Vladka Meed, I was surprised that the Jewish people inside of Warsaw were able to resist from the inside by getting help from the outside, all without the Nazis noticing. These actions must have really been like a spit in someones face to the Nazis!
ReplyDeleteThe Jews were very brave to fight back knowing the punishment would be certain death. If you think about the Nazis may have possibly completed their mission of eliminating the Jews if there was no resistance. If the Jews would have given up and stop resisting in anyway possible then they would have died. Because we learned when a Jew in one of the camps lost hope, and they had nothing to strive for that they just died, but the Jews that kept their hope seemed to live longer than the Jews that lost hope.
ReplyDeleteGood for the Jews! This may be the one post on this entire blog having a positive effect as a reaction. Of course its awful what the Germans did but its reassuring that the Jews actually had some resistance considering the nothing they had to fight with. I honestly didn't know that much about how the Jews fought back but after reading this it opened my eyes on that they had a few "rebellions" but it was the little things that really resisted the oppression. Like you said in Class, "surviving was the main source of resistance" which is completely true. In addition to see Vladka Meed in your post was great, I'm astonished that she would run the risk of losing her life to save those of children and their education. There was still a good source of hope in the ghetto.
ReplyDeleteAlso I noticed the "holocaust journey" at the top of this blog. Is the "H" in "Holocaust" supposed to be capitalized when you are talking about this specific Holocaust? I've had points taken off assignments with capitalization like this in the same context. In addition, I've seen the "H" capitalized in this post. I wanted to clarify for further assignments and for you to be aware. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHaving seen the movie "Defiance", this post was very interesting to me. To hear about the real people the movie actors portrayed was intriguing. Reading about Jewish resistance showed that the Jews were more than just victims of the holocaust; it shows that the Jews were fighters, and did all they could to fight back against their Nazi oppressors. This post is the most interesting post that I have read so far. Like the post says, it is important to remember the atrocities of the holocaust, but it is also important to see that the Jews DID resist, and that they really did try their best to resist under the circumstances.
ReplyDeleteIt is very reassuring to know that the Jews resisted against the Nazis. Even though most people today don't know that they did. I like to hear that they resisted in there own way, and that even though it might have been small in some eyes, it was big to them. It was great to see that even in the death camps when they knew that they were going to die they still resisted to the Nazis. Finally, I find it great that they did cause physical harm to some of the Nazis during uprisings... even though they were soon killed or sent to death camps. Overall, I was happy to read that they did fight back physically and mentally.
ReplyDeleteThis clears up the confusion and questions I had about the Jewish resistance. I didn't think that Jews resisted all that much but to have read they resisted almost too much was interesting. I respect the Jews for standing up and trying to revolt against the Nazis. I can't imagine how difficult it was to resist with all that was going on. I think that Vladka Meed should be talked more about by every teacher and student that learns and studies the Holocaust. She played a large role in never forgetting this awful event and making sure that schools teach it to their students. I found your blog to be helpful to my understanding of the Holocaust and to really see the inside view of what happened.
ReplyDeleteFor starters, it’s nice to read about the bravery of Jews rather than the cruelty of the Nazis. While I can’t even imagine the slow, painful deaths many Jews experienced, I doubt that they passed away passively. It’s very inspirational to read that to simply survive was a victory of the human spirit, yet, it’s also nice to read how Jews had the strength for physical action to also be taken. Despite being against more killings, I think it’s only fair the 300 Germans died as a result of one rebellion. People like Vladka Meed and Tuvia Bielski are true faces and heroes for Jewish resistance. This was a much easier blog to read.
ReplyDeleteIt's important for us to know how much the Jews actually resisted while in the concentration camps, and I like how this blog clearly emphasizes that. I've seen the movie Defiance and loved to read about the actual heroes who fought to protect their people. Tuvia Bielski and Vladka Meed are the true face of bravery and heroism. The fact that the Jewish Combat Organization and The Jewish Military Union rebelled and fought with the little weapons they had shows true determination and hope the Jews had to survive.
ReplyDeleteWhile I have always known that the Jews resisted the Nazis, it was interesting to read about all the ways they did. While I agree that the Jews resisted once they were in the ghettos and camps, the Jewish population did very little to prepare for the Nazis move to annihilate them. Many of the Jews were taken from their homes without giving much of a fight, and the majority of them were unarmed. While I understand that the Jews had very little notice that the Nazis were going to attack, if they had been prepared to defend themselves, the Holocaust would have gone a little different. The Jews failed to plan for an attack on their “race,” and because of this, millions of their people were killed. I am not blaming the Jews for the Holocaust, but they made a mistake by failing to plan. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail." We face a similar problem in America today. Many Americans are unarmed citizens who would no defense if they were persecuted. With the government putting more and more restrictions on guns, we must not allow the government to take away the right to defend ourselves.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this I was amazed such a group existed and survived for so long. AND I'M HAPPY THAT IT DID! Tuvia Bielski and Vladka Meed are true inspiration people and HEROS! I couldn't think of a move heroic act then what they did. To put there own life at risk to save other who needed saving. They are both have so much courage and bravery for doing such acts over and over again. They both new that if they got caught that they could be the next ones in there! I'm so happy to hear about the good people in the holocaust. They are true role models and they defiantly should never be forgotten also.
ReplyDeleteI remember you talking about the argument you had with your grandmother. The beginning of this blog reminds me a lot about that. I have noticed that many people think that the Jews didn’t rebel. I have studied the Holocaust many years throughout school but I was never taught that they tried to resist. I’m surprised they tried to resist with such lack of fighting experience and the lack of weapons. I know that if I was in their position with no weapons, I probably wouldn’t try to rebel.
ReplyDeleteMany people are quick to jump to the question "Why didn't they just fight back?" including myself; at least when we first started this unit Though moving past my ignorance and upon my research and mass amounts of learning, I saw that they did indeed fight back in many ways. I find it very intriguing that the best way they fought back was by just living - something we take for granted every day that they fought their hardest fight for. That makes me appreciate my life a little more. But not just by living - they also fought back physically whenever possible and I'm glad to hear that they were able to physically fight back and even harm the officers.
ReplyDeleteI'm very glad you wrote about resistance in this blog because many people, including myself, wondered why the Jews wouldn't fight back if they knew they were going to die. One really good point to think about is that the Jews had nothing. They can't fight a war with no weapons, and a lot of people don't realize that. Also, I'm astonished that Vladka Meed would risk her life to sneak in and out of the ghetto to smuggle weapons and children. She had immense bravery to do what she did, and I don't think I could have done what she did.
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ReplyDeleteThis blog post really shocked me. Although I knew from prior learning and our discussions in class that a select few groups and people participated in the resistance. I had always ignored the impact that the resistance had on the outcome of the Holocaust. While I didn't know previously that resistance could take place in so many different forms, I also hadn't grasped the full concept of people helping out the Jews. Up until this point, I have been doubtful that there was much resistance because of the rapidly increasing number of deaths. I really admire and respect the people that put their own life on the line for others. I love how Vladka Meed was described as working "inside" and "outside" of the walls because of her resistance effort in smuggling weapons or taking Jewish children to safety. I am reassured from this blog that there was more resistance than I originally thought, and we need to remember these brave people and their accomplishments that influenced the end of the war and Holocaust. Without the resistance, the Jewish people would be more vulnerable and susceptible to death. Their resistance showed their strength and the fight they put up to survive.
ReplyDeleteI would have never guessed that the Jewish people resisted in so many ways, especially by forming resistant groups. If it wasn’t for the heroic men and women who formed the groups and helped other Jews escape, a lot more Jews would have died. I’m so happy to read that there were people who were actually willing to help the Jews even if it meant that their lives were at risk. I have asked myself before if I would have helped the Jewish people knowing that I could end up dead and my family could be in trouble. Is that a risk I would be willing to take? It’s hard to say because I wasn’t in the Holocaust, so I will never know how they felt during that time to make a decision like that.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that you allowed me to learn that resistance did exist for the Jews. I think the idea of surviving as a form of resistance is neat. I would have never thought that that could be something used to resist. I only think of physical resisting when I think of resistance.Vladka Meed is a remarkable person. She created great way to educate the youth about the horrible things that man can do. She is a big reason that we learn about the
ReplyDeleteHolocaust today. I wouldn't be able to thank her enough for what she did. The way she smuggled things to the Jews in the Ghettos was something that only a select few people would do. Her bravery was a special quality that helped many people and was an inspiration to all.
I never asked why did the Jews never resist. I always believed they did. I never asked how they resisted. Well... I asked. I was just never given an answer. It is amazing to read about how they did. How difficult must it have been to do gather the weapons and the supplies needed in order to stage an uprising for an entire ghetto to fight against the Nazi regime? Tuvia Bielski was one of the most interesting people of the resistance in my opinion. His men concentrated on guerrilla warfare to attack the Germans and strategically hinder their army.
ReplyDelete-Nicholas Hicks
It is amazing how the Jews who were so harshly treated had enough in them left to be strong and resist. It makes me smile to think that they actually tried their best not to let the Nazis win. I think Vladka Meed is very honorable to have put her own life on the line to help the Jews. This shows their were still good people during the Holocaust. It is amazing that all the Jews came together and killed 300 Nazis despite the malnutrition and mistreatment they were going through. After they did that the remaining Jews were sent to death camps, but it feels good that they died fighting with dignity.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this entry in your blog I have been given a new perspective in what resistance was for the Jews. When I had thought about the Jews resisting in the past I had only thought of physical resistance, I thought of thing like fighting the Nazis and smuggling people, food, and weapons. Now I have realized it was much more than that, it was also being passive and not letting the Nazis have their satisfaction; just to die with dignity was resistance and the biggest form of resistance was to simply survive. The importance of physical resistance was still just as important. Even though the Jews had no country and no true army it is still important that they fought as much as they could.
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I'm happy to know that the Jews resisted this much and the fact that they would combine into groups and do it together. I knew that they resisted sometimes but I never really new that they tried to fight back every chance they were able to get. Vladka Meed was truly a hero, it is incredible that she helped all of the many Jews out when she was risking her own life is amazing. And the fact that there were other main heroes that helped the resistance of the Jews. It is amazing to me to think a lot of the Jews did this because after all the time I have learned about the Holocaust I never really knew about how the Jews resisted.
ReplyDelete^ Alexa Wolf
ReplyDeleteThe biggest thing that jumped out at me was the brothers who vowed to never get caught. They were clearly determined to do what ever it took, and the fact that it grew to 1200 people is astonishing. It really shows something small can grow to something huge. The fact that when the Jews resisted and how much it infuriorated the Nazis brings me some sort of closure. As long as the Jews were surviving or resisting they were letting the Nazis know that they still had hope.
ReplyDeletePrior to talking about it in class, I thought the Jews just gave up because they knew they were overpowered, but hearing that they resistance Nazi terror calms my nerves. I know I wouldve been killed because I can't hold my tongue, I can't be silenced. To hear that there were people like that , that resisted doesn't make what the Nazis did any less severe, it just goes to show that they didn't have complete control over the Jews. The Jews had a mind of their own instead of going along with the whole situation.
ReplyDeleteI had previously had a general idea of the ways the Jews resisted, but this blog post really opened my eyes in seeing many other ways they did. I know it is crucial to understand that the Jews did indeed fight back, and they did not just tolerate the punishments. I’m glad they were able to resist by refusing to be treated like animals. They were human beings with futures ahead of them. Vladka Meed sounds like such an incredible, genuine person. I’m glad she had a hand in being the reason students learn and understand the Holocaust. It is really pleasing to know that not all of the bystanders kept quiet, and they actually helped protect the Jews.
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ReplyDeleteI think that this is the one entry that kind of has a positive connotation to it and that’s not a bad thing either. The Holocaust is a hard topic to teach about because it’s so negative and there is little to no positive aspects. I find myself lucky to be in this class because in any other class, even if we learned about the Holocaust, there would most likely be nothing about Jewish resistance. Teachers would just blow over this immensely important disaster in about two weeks, which, in my opinion, is nowhere near enough time to go over this.
This blog post was a little bit of an eye opener for me. I knew that there were different types of resistances; however, i had never thought of how great an impact they had. Its really nice to hear that people really did try and help. I had always assumed that any efforts made little difference, but I was wrong. Its warming and horrible to hear that people were actually able to save many lives. It is heart warming because it reminds you of the good people. Its saddening because without helpers imagine how many more Jews would have been killed. It's the intentions that matter. I just really respect the people that put their lives at risk for the well being of others. I would like to say that I would do the same, but I just don't know. This blog reassured me that not everyone was a bystander and/or malicious. I think it's important to remember the courageous people because without them, there could be no Jews left today at all.
ReplyDeleteI have always known that the Jews rebelled in many different ways while they were in concentration camps and ghettos; however, it was interesting to read the stories of some of the people that put in immense efforts to save the lives of their fellow Jews. Tuvia Bielski impressed me the most by far because of the insane amount of people he was able to help over the course of two years: 1,200. However, it seems a little strange that the majority of the group consisted of the elderly, women, and children. What about the men? I suppose Tuvia wanted to help those who probably wouldn’t have passed the initial selection to ensure that they were given a chance to survive. Furthermore, I found it interesting that he sent guides into the concentration camps to help people escape. It must’ve taken an insane amount of bravery to willingly go into the camps and subject oneself to Nazi persecution and the possibility of not being able to come back out alive. Tuvia was a remarkably daring and caring man that made a huge impact in the lives of thousands of people that probably would’ve died if not for him, and I have a huge amount of respect for him because of that.
ReplyDeleteI remember learning about the many ways in which the Jews resisted, but I thought it was amazing how they killed 300 Germans by teaming up together and fighting back!! It was sad to read about how everyone that survived was murdered or sent to death camps, but to know that some form of resistance happened makes me feel slightly relieved. It made me so happy to read about Vladka Meed and how she helped the Jewish kids escape from the ghetto! The fact that she risked her life to help a lot of people really shows a lot about her generous character. When I read about how Vladka and her husband did lectures after the Holocaust to inform/teach people, it made me think of this class because of how eager a person is to talk about something they're strongly compassionate about. (I'm talking about you, Mrs. Stone!)
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that the Bielski partisan group consisted mostly of the elderly, women, and children. Granted, Bielski had no intention of excluding anyone, but for the purposes of completing tasks effectively, I'd imagine that he would prefer to have grown men. I suppose that may be a testament to his leadership abilities. That leads me to another point: the Jews seemed to be an incredibly smart group of people. More so than most other demographics, that is. They seemed to always be burdened with the more challenging jobs, or they would lead a resistance group to victory despite all odds. Unfortunately, the chosen people were chosen by both God and by discriminatory groups. Despite their heavenly graces, the Jews would have no holy time down here on Earth.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing that followers of the Jewish fate managed to form allies and bonds within their own to fight back! It's amazing that they had the strength and courage to face these animals known as the Nazis. People tend to think the Jews put up no fight but as we learned earlier they had multiple ways of oppressing German rule. It's unbelievable. I find it Amazing that a group of people could fight against the "almighty" Germany that the viewed them as. Tuvia Bielski and Vladka Meed are such inspirational figures that the Jews must have looked up to a lot. Wow. Finally, we get to hear of the somewhat positive side that the Jews faced and witnessed. It's good to hear that the Jews pushed and pushed no matter the odds being against them at all times. It is truly amazing.
ReplyDeleteI really admire the Jews in any shape or form for how well they resisted. I admire them because despite their physical weakness they still found the strength to keep pounding, and never give up. They still remained mentally strong, and they should be recognized for it. It’s annoying to read that people thought the Jews didn’t resist at all. Before talking, everyone should be well informed because I think it’s disrespectful to those who really fought every single day for their own life. It’s so touching to read Valdka Meed’s story because she put her life at risk to save people and children belonging to her same community, and I really appreciate her passion in teaching about the Holocaust. I also admire Tuvia Bielski for saving as many Jews as possible. Without those who resisted, we wouldn’t be learning important values today.
ReplyDeleteI love that there was resistance. It is a great thing to hear of. In the mindset of many, the Jews did nothing. So it is great to hear that there was some resistance from the Jewish people. That one lady who passed as an Aryan to help the others, deserves a medal. The very fact that they tried is enough to let me know that they were still mentally alive. Because the moment you stop resisting oppression, you are dead in the head.
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ReplyDeleteI think it is good that you mentioned the jewish resistance in this blog because i feel as though it is left out of the curriculum when it is taught. Most teachers just talk about how horrible it is. I think it is really important that the jews fight back even if it wasn't widely known. I like that they at least tried to resist. I’m just now realizing how little the Jews had to rebel with. It's almost a lighter side of the dark Holocaust. My favorite was Vldaka Meed. She helped so many Jews. She also fell into a stereotype and defied it. Meed was a woman and in this time many women didn’t earn the respect they deserved. Meed defied these stereotypes and in the process helped many Jews.
ReplyDeleteEven after learning about the different ways the Jews resisted, I never realized how many ways that they actually did. It irks me when I hear others talk about how the Jews did nothing and let themselves be tortured. It always seemed like the Jews had a gun to their heads. Both literally and hypothetically. They always had some sort of burden and struggle that they had to overcome. I really enjoyed reading about Tuvia Bielski. His help with escaping Jews really inspired me to look out how I am as a person.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much misconception about the Jews and their resistance. Not a lot of people know about how they resisted. I didn't really know either until I started your class! I think it is wrong for people to doubt if the Jews actually fought back and stood up for what they thought is right, they should be crediting the Jews and giving them respect for what they did. Not a lot of people can go and fight back even though they already know what they will face in the future for their actions. The Jews fought back even though they were being starved and had no energy or physical strength left. The people who were fighting against the Nazis should be recognized as hero even if they were defeated. They did something that is almost impossible, fight back with almost nothing.
ReplyDeleteI think it’s important to show the other side of the Holocaust--to show that the Jewish people did resist and fight back against the Nazis. So many people subscribe to the notion that the Jewish people went willingly to their deaths like lambs to the slaughter, and while it’s usually not intentionally malicious ignorance, it’s ignorance nonetheless. It’s ignorance of the extensive efforts made by people like Vladka Meed and Tuvia Bielski to do whatever they could to stop the Nazis. Without this resistance, the Holocaust’s death toll would have been even higher than it is.
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DeleteHearing about the Jews' resistance during the Holocaust is a great relief from their apparent complacency construed in the other posts. If I were in a Holocaust situation, I don't think I'd have the courage to resist against the Nazis; I have the utmost respect for those who did. Even though I'm aware that I would likely die in a concentration camp, I still don't think I could stand up for myself in a ghetto. Vladka's courage and willingness to risk her own life for the Jews astounds me. I am glad that she wrote a book about her experiences; as we said in class, the best thing a survivor can do is prevent another Holocaust through teaching. Tuvia Bielski's story is also amazing; what most resonated with me was that he had a militia together only a few months after he first realized what was going on. Everything he did was amazing, but I was particularly impressed by the speed in which he accomplished these things.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this blog a lot. I liked how these were some people who would risk their lives in order to save others. Honestly, I don't even know if you would be brave enough to do what they did! That took some real guts. I would be scared to climb over the wall of a ghetto and save people. I am just glad that Tuva Bielski and his resistance group had over 1200 people. I am sure it really helped to stop if not slow down a bunch of Nazis. I also like these groups because they taught many people that the Nazis were bad. I wish everyone knew this. Then they could've saved so many more people!
ReplyDeleteIt's alway reassuring too hear how the Jews resisted. When I first learned about the Holocaust, I thought exactly what many other people thought, why didn't the Jews resist? In reality the Jews did resist, in more ways then one. I always think of resistence as some form of physical defiance: rebellion, mob, riot, boycott. However, in all actuality, by not resisting many Jews were actually resisting. This apifiny came to me while we were in our Holocaust unit as well. I never really thought about how not rebelling and just continuing to LIVE really must have pissed the Germans off. After learning about this unit, I got a whole new respect for those who rebelled by not rebelling.
ReplyDeleteMy question isn't really why didn’t they fight back, it's always been more of like "how COULD they fight back?" So, the fact they found ways to fight back is very astounding. Even the small ways of resisting seem so powerful to me. Vldaka Meed sounds like an amazing person. I can't believe the strength, both physically and mentally, to resist the way she did. She lived an insane double life that I don't think I could endure.Tuvia Bielski was as amazing. I can't believe he avoided the Nazis for so long! And he saved so many people while he was at it! I feel that so many more people could have been saved if others cared or acted as these two did.
ReplyDeleteBefore this class, I just assumed that the Jews didn’t try to fight back….how wrong was I?! First of all, they were incredibly outnumbered, so the fact that many Jews had the courage to fight back, assuming their inevitable death, is comforting to know because it means that there are still people who will stand up. I never thought of dying in dignity or simply staying alive to be a form of resistance. These Men and women were incredibly brave! Vladka Meed was an amazing woman. I admire how she risked her life multiple times to sneak children into Christian homes. I am so thankful for Vladka Meed… and this class as well! Without Meed or you, I wouldn’t have learned any of this! This blog was incredibly eye opening!
ReplyDelete- Madison Bain
This blog made me think of one of the questions we discussed in class about Jewish resistance. What form of resistance infuriated the Nazis? Just surviving and living their lives. When I think of resistance, I always think of the physical side; fighting, shooting, rioting and whatnot. In actuality, everything they did was resistance. The fact that the Jews still had there humanity in them and that they were not only able to survive, but to actually live, was enough to infuriate the Nazis. I understand that they couldn't physically fight the Nazis with a high success rate. When people ask that question, "why didn't they resist?", I personally find that sort of arrogant. So many factors come in. It was the Jews, who had no access to weapons, malnourishment, and little numbers versus the Nazi army. Despite this, they still found ways to fight, physically and emotionally. That part inspired me, that they were able to resist in these conditions.
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I would definitely agree that the resistance and endurance of the Jews are the biggest misconception. The Jews fought through it all, mentally or physically. I personally really admire the people that risked their own lives to help Jews escape. I’d like to think that I would, but I don’t know. It was already hard enough to escape yourself but thousands of people, wow. They deserve more credit than I think they’re given. I’ve never heard of any of the people you wrote descriptions about, but from what you said, they are heroes and they deserve to be immortalized. There is something about the holocaust that opens you eyes. Before this class I knew a fair amount of holocaust history but didn’t quite grasp all the effects, I only acknowledged them. Now I can go about most any other situations in the real world with a bigger picture view of what might happen and less of an in-the-moment view. Thank you so much for opening my eyes.
ReplyDeleteThe Jews' resistance is incredible. I'm pretty sure I would have led into death. I would want the pain and torture to be over. But after reading your blog and being in your class, I believe that I would have resisted. The anger towards the Nazis could have fired my will to resist. It's so amazing that these victims had so little left, but they still resisted.
ReplyDeleteYour blog has taught me many things. Never stop teaching this amazing unit. Not only has it allowed me to have self thinking skills, but it has allowed me to discover the person I want to be. Your class is and was awesome. Never change. This unit has been the most valuable lesson to me in my life so far, and probably forever.
Thank you, Mary Banks Farmer
I'm pleased to see the active resistance these people took. I understand how the indirect resistances people took still functioned as resistance, but the people who took a more active form of resistance will hold a much stronger appeal to me. Vladka Meed's program sounds excellent to me. The fact that she took a very active step to participate in the Holocaust and started a process to educate future generations is very inspiring. This woman had a plan and the motive. The Bielski partisans sound like heroes and I esteem them for not giving up.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure on how to feel about the perception of Jewish resistance because, on one hand, they resisted, but, on the other hand, the large majority didn't take part in active resistance like the partisan groups. With these factors, I understand how many people think that the Jewish people were completely helpless victims. All the fighters still hold much more respect to me than those who strove to survive.
Through life, most of us thing that winning is about who actually survives and about who is smarter and powerful. But this blog has given me a different perspective. Winning is not particularly about being the last one to stand. Winning is making sure that atrocities don't get to your head. The fact that the Jews are still here, surviving and making the world better is astonishing.After all the torture and horrific events the Nazis put the Jews through, it is amazing that they even resisted at all. It is completely understandable why someone might think that resisting is not a good idea. I would be scared for my life, the lives of my parents, and my other relatives if someone tried to convince me to resist. I would be scared. But it is evident, as written in this blog, that the Jews overcame that fear and resisted against the Nazis. I remember when you said that resisting does not have to be physical. Not giving up, making sure that you stand up for yourself, and surviving psychologically are the various forms of resistance the Jews implemented. And it does deserve to be remembered. One of the interesting ideas you said was that the Jews also resisted so that others can look up to them if such atrocities happen to them. You, in one way, are part of the resistance. You seek to make sure the Holocaust is never forgotten. By doing that, the events are never repeated.
ReplyDeleteIt annoys me how people expected the Jews to physically fight back when they couldn't, but in my opinion, physically fighting back is not always the best choice. Resisting in any way possible was commendable and brave though. After reading this blog, i have also come to the understanding that the Jews at some point did not realize that they needed to resist because at the time they needed to resist the most, they believed nothing was wrong. It makes me so angry that the Nazis deceived the Jews. It was really interesting to read about all of the people who supported resistance and did resist themselves. They are really really brave. I also love that they fought for what they believed in. I liked reading about Vladka Meed because she educated people about the awful things that were happening and that could set an example for others. I do not blame the people that did not resist, but the people who did resist, in my book, are heroes.
ReplyDeleteI will admit that I am one of the many who didn’t understand why the Jews didn’t fight back. Wow! These people were already strong because they were victims of the Holocaust, but for them to resist makes them so much stronger. I can’t even imagine being treated like crap and just not letting it affect me. After reading this, Vladka Meed is one of the most inspiring women I’ve learned about. She risked her life to make sure that children got out of living hell. I honestly don’t know if I could do that. I don’t even know if any men would be strong enough to do that. I am so grateful that I got switched into your class two weeks into the semester. Although I was a little nervous, I really learned more than I ever imagined. I don’t think I could thank you enough!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to have this account of examples of when the Jews fought back. It is really inspiring to hear the things that they did even when they sadly had so little power. Also, Vladka Meed sounds like such a passionate, hardworking and great woman. The fact that she risked her life to save other people makes her one of the greatest people of all time in my opinion. Plus, without her I wouldn't have these blogs to read and learn from. Again, it is really great to hear these stories about how the Jews resisted. This post was truly heartwarming and inspiring!
ReplyDeleteWhen I originally thought about resistance, I thought of it in a negative way, but you showed me how inspiring and uplifting it could be. I never though of death as a resistance before. The Nazis admired the Jews who never backed down and never fought back. They wished they had that much strength within themselves. I am SUPER glad that Vladka Meed came around and started the Holocaust and Jewish Teachers' Resistance Program because I don't what I would do with out this subject in your class. She sounds like a stellar women who inspired many. Tuvia Bielski is another example of an AWESOME human being. He was so courageous to risk his own life to help hundreds. They are the try heroes of the Holocaust and who gave happiness and hope to the Jews.
ReplyDeleteI was one to think that the Jews could have resisted more. I knew about the Nazis' power, and the endless fight to remove all strength from the Jews, but still secretly thought they could do more. Reading this and reading all they did is truly empowering. To read they killed 300 Soldiers was amazing. Although they were killed or sent away to death camps, their act of rebellion, and standing with each other rubs it in the Nazis faces that they are not backing down. Another thing that stood out to me was the groups that would help the Jews that were in the camps escape, or bring them supplies, really shows the power of humans when we come together even in rough times.
ReplyDeleteBefore we started learning about the Holocaust, I never knew that the Jews try to resist. I just thought that they weren't trying anymore because they couldn't physically and mentally, and I myself asked “why didn't they fight back?” Now I actually know that they fought for what they knew was right and unjust. I had never thought about it the way you described when you said that survival was the biggest form of resistance because now that I look at it, I realize that the one thing the Nazis didn't want was for the Jews to come out alive, and if they did, that proves they resisted. I like how the Jewish military risked their lives in order to save their lives and the lives of their people, if that make sense.
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ReplyDeleteWhoops I commented on the wrong post. Now for this. I am glad to hear that the Jews fought back with force and that it actually worked out for most of them in the end. It makes me thing if more of them fought back what would have happened. Maybe the holocaust would have not happened or at least a lot less people would have been killed. It's nice to end on a good note with these blog posts; it gives me a feeling of relief to know that Jews fought back.
ReplyDeleteTuvia is clearly a great example of leadership and strength. I wish I knew how he did it and what made him so great because I would love to learn from him. The fact that he saved 1200 Jews by the end of the war(or at least got them to join him) is phenomenal. He must have been really prepared for this! This actually surprised me, because I thought that the one and only way that the Jews fought back was by surviving and keeping the will to live. I thought that was the best and only way they could resist. Clearly, though, I was wrong! Also, I was reading about the Jews that escaped, and I couldn't help but imagine how it would be to be one of the Jews who knew that their friends were being rescued but no one came for him or her. Just think about it - am I the only one who would get extremely jealous and quite possibly even wished (to some extent - maybe just until I actually thought about it) that they stayed so they could go through the camps too? I don't know; maybe that's just the way it would seem if jealousy took over.
ReplyDeleteIt’s unbelievable to think that Nazi Germany took everything from the Jews and that disabled them to fight back in some ways. I would've never thought that you could resist without any type of physical involvement. To know that the Nazis wanted you to die without dignity and not be able to bear everything they put you through is enough to do some mental damage. I see what you mean by saying why would they want to eliminate an entire race (even though it wasn’t a race; it was a religion) over hate. I want to try and relate it to the time of the Civil Rights Movement but I feel like it can’t compare. Blacks weren’t eliminated, but they were definitely discriminated against. They were hated strongly just because they were different.
ReplyDeleteThis bog was so inspiring. Vladka Meed was not only amazing, but incredibly brave and heroic. Risking her own life just so she could help her fellow jews fight against the nazis was so incredible. Not only Vladka, but all the jews who resisted against the nazis were incredibly brave because they died doing the right thing. before this learning about the holocaust in this class, i thought that the Jews didn't really do much resisting or fighting back because when learning about the holocaust in history/social studies, they don't teach us things like that, which i think is the most important because the jews were people just like everyone else, and the discrimination against them was truly sickening. Luckily i know now just how hard the jews fought for their lives and what was right, and that is truly inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised how well the people worked while they tried to resist. It's interesting how people who looked Aryan were willing to help in so many ways. But it is still surprising how little it is talked about. i find it more depressing that it is lees talked about.
ReplyDeleteI think the big reason why people ask "why didn't they fight back?" is because we associate fighting with actual combat. I liked what you said about dying with dignity was a form of resistance. I agree that not succumbing to the Nazis is resistance because a person's values and views of themselves means so much more than someone else's opinion. I admire them for staying strong in their beliefs even when faced with s o much adversity.
ReplyDeletePeople like Tuvia and Meed are so inspiring to me. They put so much at risk to put others before themselves. Sure the allied soldiers are the ones who won the war, but it is people like them who are the real heroes of the Holocaust. I only wish that more people were like them and tried to help save more lives, but I would take a small number of helpers over none at all.
Under the conditions the Jews faced, I am astonished by how much they did fight back whether it be spiritually or physically.
I never realized how much the Jewish people rebelled. I had never considered all of the ways one could resist. I am astonished by the courage and bravery that the rebels had. It is sad that we don't learn about Jewish rebellion because I feel as though it is a vital part of learning about the Holocaust. The idea of survival as a form of rebellion is not often taught, yet I think it was a very powerful way for the Jews to stand against the Nazis. This is because it was the Nazi's goal to kill all the Jews, so by surviving, the Jews were derailing their plan.
ReplyDeleteAt first glance it seems that the Jews just stood and watched as the where slowly murdered. That they did nothing to over throw the Nazis. When in reality they were some of the hardest fighter. Not only did they physically fight back, but also mentally. By not dying as quickly or by doing more work than expected it could bring down moral of the Nazis. If you see people defying your expectations it hurts a little, and overtime this can have a trendiness effect.-William Smith
ReplyDeleteI think that I actually liked this blog better than the past ones, probably because it is not as sad as the other ones. I felt relieved that people outside the ghetto actually helped the Jewish community. It also surprised me with how many people actually risked their lives in order to save others. Of course I understand why those who don't know too much about the Holocaust would believe that the Jewish people did nothing to save themselves, But in all honesty they were saving themselves in discreet ways in order to have a higher chance of survival. I think after reading this blog, I understand that a rebellion cannot just happen in a second. I realized that it actually takes a lot of preparation, especially with people who didn't even have more than a sack of belongings. The Jewish community were actually very intelligent to think up a rebellion. I don't think that the Germans or the Nazis realized that before the Holocaust, the Jewish people learned with them and lived in the same society as they did. I don't think the Nazis or the German people saw that the Jewish people are also very intelligent because of the education in Germany. I think that is what gave the Jewish people their leverage for rebelling. The germans and the Nazis underestimated the Jewish people, so they did not expect a rebellion coming out of them.
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine the amount of sheer courage that it took for these people to show even the slightest rebellion. I think that Vladka Meed's story was remarkable. She knew that she was at an advantage compared to the other Jews and she took advantage of that. She used her slight advantage to help so many people. I also loved hearing Tuvia's story. It is incredible that he was able to start such an impactful resistance group when he had to try to keep such a low profile.
ReplyDeleteThe bravery of the Jewish people to resist is a touching end to your blog set. The fact is that the Jewish people always resisted. However, they did it in spiritual ways more than physical. The simple acts of resistance by the Jews shows the strength they had to keep fighting. The story of Vladka Meed was very inspiring. The fact that she used her looks to an advantage to help and save many other Jews is inspiring. The story reminds me of a book I read called The Nightingale.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm being honest, I think this entry is my favorite. It is so uplifting to see how Jews alive at that time resisted the Nazis. They were all so brave. I think the story of the Bielski Otriad is especially interesting. It is amazing how many people there were hiding together and saving others. I agree that a lot of resistance in that time spiritual, rather than physical. Most of it was people refusing to give the Nazis the satisfaction of watching them die the way they wished for them to die. I think that alone is incredibly brave.
ReplyDeleteThis blog changed my view on the Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. I use to believe that the Jewish community didn’t fight back, which, use to enrage me. However, knowing they tried to fight back is liberating to my previous angered accusation. I have always wondered why the masses of Jews that were in the concentration camps didn’t rebel. I don’t want to come off as cocky or ignorant but most of them knew they were going to die so why not try and kill a Nazi before death. That’s atleast what I would’ve done. However, some did survive so it could go either way depending on how long you want to hold out. I personally don’t think I could wait for the allied powers to liberate the concentration camps.
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing end to your great series of blogs, throughout our journey through the Holocaust unit it was clear that the Jews resisted, but i never really knew how. I feel like the silent and spiritual approach to resistance frustrated the Nazis more because they knew it was going on, but it was behind closed doors so they never had the chance to stop it. Even if they did the fight and hope inside most Jews would've made them do it more. There was of course the violent uprising like in Warsaw, but the main form of resistance was in spirit and peace. The courage it took for them to organize an uprising is a level I will never be able to reach Vladka is a true hero and all the other Jews who stood up to protest when they knew the consequences were and still are pure examples of heroes and leaders.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly touching to read about all the people who were willing to sacrifice themselves for the Jewish community. Before reader this, I was still unaware of how much the Jews resisted, and this blog enlightened me. It was also nice to read a blog that wasn't heartbreaking and gruesome. Thank you for sharing this blog with up, Mrs. Stone.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great thing that people within the ghettos fought back and resisted as much as they could. I'm confused why there's the misconception that they did not, when it's clear they struggled and made it as difficult to give in as possible. The bit about Defiance was especially interesting. I think it would be cool to watch the movie. It sounds like a side I've never heard of before.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that the sole purpose of treblinka was to murder people. The Nazis were so sick minded they made camps just to murder people that just make me think of the pissiable scenarios that could've happened if the rest of the world never found out what the Nazis were doing. The camp was very small so it must've been hard to find and 99% of the people who arrive were dead within an hour; like what they just killed them off when they got there I can't believe that. - james mallis
ReplyDeleteI find it amazing that the Jews who were being put through so much did find ways to resist with what little they could. The fact that they did not lose their religious beliefs and that they held onto their strengths shows that resistance is not just physical, you can resist without looking like it. I am very grateful that you share the information you were able to learn on your trip. In my opinion, even if its not strictly Jews, the nazis are still being resisted because of the amount of information we learn about and how much we learn on how to not let it happen again. I think what Vladka Meed and Tuvia Bielski did for everyone they could help is what shows true selflessness. The amount of times Meed and Bielski risked their lives for the benefit of someone else is truly amazing and shows that all you need is mental toughness to be the best you can be. -Liz Montgomery
ReplyDeleteIt is so great that the Jews didn't give up and resisted against the horrible acts inflicted upon them. They had every right to try and fight against the Germans for their freedom. Some died trying to save themselves but at least they weren't doing nothing. It makes me happy to hear that survival is somewhat a form of resistance because it shows that they were stronger than the torment that they were put through. I am glad to see Jews grouping together to kill the Germans, but it's sad to hear that after other Germans caught them that they were all killed. It was worth it to show that the Jews weren't going down without a fight. Vladka Meed is very inspiring and I like her acts of selflessness. Tuvia Bielski is also very selfless and risked his life for the Jews. Him and his brothers led a group of people to save other Jews, and I admire their bravery. These people who risked their lives to save others are the best kind of people. They don't care if they are caught as long as they know that they helped to save someone from a bad situation. I admire people who created organizations to help others after the war because it shows that they care about them. Any kind of resistance was good for the Jews to show that were going to fight and not succumb to the Germans.
ReplyDeleteI’m glad that the Jews never gave up fighting because if they had who knows where we would be now. It takes courage to keep fighting, even if you know you will die that way. It amazes me how everyone came together to fight back, that takes a lot of courage and bravery. Even though they all died, they died with dignity. Vladka Meed sounds like an amazing person, wanting to educate children on the Holocaust and saving children from being killed in the holocaust is breathtaking. She risked her life for others constantly, who even knows how many people would actually do that. It is amazing how people hid in the wood from the Germans for years. It is so impressive and amazing, I don't even understand how and where they did that. I admire Tuvia Bielski for risking his life to save many Jews.
ReplyDeleteI think it’s so amazing that despite the persecution and threats they were facing, Jewish upstanders never gave up and continued to fight the vicious Nazi’s with everything they had. I think that every action of defiance is something to be extremely proud of. Whether it was dying with dignity, saving Jews from the ghettos, or fighting back with guns they all deserve to be recognized as those who didn’t allow the Nazis to scare them or to shake their faith in humanity and God. It’s so inspiring that these people risked their lives and went against the overwhelming power of the Nazis to fight for what they believed in thought they knew that they had little to no chance of succeeding. They weren’t like the rest of the world who ignored what was blatantly occuring, they were the few who took action and were ressilinant in their efforts, which were futile, but nonetheless they pressed on. It makes me sad that their efforts aren’t more recognized and that before this class I didn’t know of any counter attacks, but after reading this I realize that because the Jewish people didn’t have an army or country it was a lot harder to have a defense against the powerful Nazis. I’m so thankful for these upstanders because without them who knows what would have happened and how diffrent our world would be now?
ReplyDeleteBefore listening to when you talked about Jewish Resistance, I never actually thought that the Jewish Prisoners had done so to safety alive; when that in itself is resistance. There didn't seem to be much of anything that the Nazis could do to stop their resistance. The Jewish Prisoners never gave up their beliefs even in the camps no matter what. That makes me very happy since they didn't seem to care what would happen to them, and they were merely just being who they are. This blog compared to all the other blogs probably shocked me a little bit more than others. In the sense hat it doesn't emphasize the torment, torture, and famine they faced but how they counter acted these event. I bet this was like a slap in the face to the Nazis whenever they either realized what thy were doing was resistance or the Jews having done it right under their noses. I just thought about how right now I could be taken out of my house and sent to a camp or straight to my death, and how I would attempt resisting. It's a lot more than I would have thought without reading this and hearing it in class. The woman, Vladka Meed, is an amazing woman to the Jewish communities she helped. It is truly amazing what she did to help the helpless. When I read her husbands name, I thought of the movie "We bought a Zoo" and how he made something that was a literal zoo into a happy place which was full of beauty. And then looked back at the picture you had of the wall. That wall was a symbol of refinement and now it is beautiful. For the Jews who saw this every day as an obstacle, and now they could look at it as a symbol that once haunted them and now something that they overcame. Resistance in the Holocaust was much more than I had ever though of.
ReplyDeleteXan Brien
ReplyDeleteWow. I had no idea the the Jews resisted so much. It amazed me when I read about the uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto. They killed 300 German soldiers! I liked the picture of the last remaining section of the wall. I hope the wall continues to stand as a reminder of the crimes committed there. It's great to hear about people like Vladka Meed who was fearless and determined to free the Jews from this terrible place. It's nice to hear that she took Jewish children into her home and was able to smuggle weapons into the camp.
In the past, I have never read about any resistance from the Jews and other groups. I have know idea why this was not part of all holocaust history websites, books, and classes. I love that it made the SS officers and other Nazis mad that the Jews inside would stay alive against all the hardship. I think the largest protest and resistance effort was the people inside and outside the camps keeping their faith and staying true to their beliefs. It makes me so happy to hear that a resistance group killed 300 German soldiers. The resistance group kept fighting knowing what would happen if they got caught. I would love to personally thank Vladka Meed for teaching people about the holocaust and spreading her vast knowledge of the holocaust to others. Warsaw must have been a very scary place as all concentration camps.
ReplyDelete-Brady
The question that you mentioned at the beginning of this blog is something that has I have wondered forever: Why didn't they fight back? I always wondered why they didn't fight back with fighting and violence but, I never realized how they could fight back both spiritually and emotionally. Something that perked my interest was the story of the Jewish resistors who hid in the forest much like the story of Sidney Shachnow, one of my "Sunflower" collaborators. The other thing that perked my interest was the parallels that could be drawn between Vladka Meeds resistance and the Underground Railroad created by Harriet Tubman. I think that Vladka's after-war program is something that every teacher, no matter the subject, should go through in order to make sure that a Holocaust must never happen again! I want to thank you for partaking in educating young people of this atrocity and it effects and ramifactions on society and history as a whole.
ReplyDeleteWho ever said that Jews went to their deaths passively? I never expected anyone to think that. What I imagine is just millions of people almost broken but not broken enough to stop fighting for their life or to go down without a fight. Those people still had their dignities as they died and that what is most important. Death was not something that could have stopped them from being who they are. I always find reading about resistances very interesting because these random people feel so compelled to others that they feel the need to risk their own lives in order to save many. It is not just the resistance leaders who help but the people who in the camps who help whether they be Jewish or not. It's cool how the resistance leaders usually start an organization afterwards in order to inform everyone on what happened and how it should never happen again.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that the the Jews fought back even when they had nothing is really amazing. It shows how brave and determined the Jews were. They could have easily given up but they didn’t and that’s very admirable. Even when the Jews had nothing they were still determined to live and to rebel. The Jews were being beaten and murdered. They were in a constant state of fear so the fact that anyone, even if it was just one person, could fight back is really amazing. When he Jews rebelled and killed 300 Germans it’s very inspiring to me because it shows that even when you have nothing you can still succeed in what you want if you have motivation and perseverance. Vladka Meed is truly an amazing person. She put her life at risk many time in order to help other Jewish people. She put others before herself and because of that she was able to help hundreds of other Jews. When I used to think of the Holocaust I would only think of the Nazis attacking the Jews not once did I think about the Jews rebelling against the Nazis. I never would have thought that the Jews would be able to fight back against the Nazis because they were striped of everything. Their perseverance to survive is amazing and it shows what bravery can do for someone. All the Jews that died or survived in the Holocaust were extremely brave, and those who were brave enough to resist are truly inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the beginning. Everyone at first when thinking about the Jews is why they didn't they fight back. You added that they had nothing to fight with or over. They were like caged animals in the Ghettos, and if they escaped, they would still be ridiculed. But they did fight back for their well being and to be treated not like animals, but like people.
ReplyDeleteI also liked how you added the multiple types of resistance. The Jews tried multiple methods instead of one, which show they were willing to use their strength and their wits to earn their humanity. They showed bravery when protecting and when they got threats when in their heads they were mostly thinking that they were going to die, but they were also thinking for the others in the ghettos.
You added that the Nazis were also deceiving the Jews and not just the Germans. They told them in the camps that they didn’t want anyone to die and that everyone would get out of the camps, but Hitler’s whole plan was to kill every last Jew. The Nazis also told the Jews that they were going to get their fair share and that everything that was happening to them was only temporary.
I was extremely shocked and happy when I saw that three hundred Germans were killed in the Warsaw Ghetto. I never knew they killed that many people. They rebelled proudly and made a statement about fighting back, and they didn’t even have weapons! It made me feel amazing that they showed that they were strong and that they were willing t fight for themselves and for all of the other Jews around them.
I’m extremely glad that resisting made a difference. People always tend to focus on the Jews being herded to one place like cattle, and no one ever stops to think whether they fought back or not. This blog helped me realize that they didn’t just poke sticks at the Nazis or had protests, but they fought hard to get out of the ghettos! They weren’t as weak as everyone sees them to be. They did not win in the ghettos, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore the fact that they did what they could to be free.
I like this article a lot. I never was taught what the Jews did to fight back because it is rarely mentioned in social studies classes, and mainly focuses on what happened to the Jews. I also didn't know all the forms of resistance they could have with such finite resources. I'm honestly amazed at how much they defied the Germans, and how brave they were to stand up even in those tough situations. I'm also glad you put in the types of resistance, because everyone automatically goes to physical resistance and how they fought back, but in this case it was that and not giving the Germans satisfaction in their deaths, and not dying passively. I'm not only surprised, but happy when seeing that in the rebellion of Warsaw, they successfully killed 300 Germans before being overrun by the more powerful opponent. I also just felt really mad about the fact that the Nazis tricked not only the Germans, but the Jews to think that this was temporary and they would all be freed. When in reality that wasn't the case at all, and the Nazis knew it.That somehow tricking the Jews and giving them a false sense of certainty, is worse then telling them straight up what was going to happen to them. The more and more I learn, the more It shows how deceptive, and malevolent the Nazis were, and how cunning they were to not get caught for so long. It's sad that in schools and in classes that people only teach about how the Jews were sheep to the Nazis, and they were “herded around and slaughtered.” They should teach about the immense bravery they would need to have in order to revolt in such effective ways. To show how strong a united force can be rebelling for things that are right. To show how strong these people were and how they did not die passively but valiantly and bravely. I think students should be more educated on such details so they get the full story, and not just what is in the curriculum so I thank you for that Ms Stone, for teaching us what other teachers don't or are too lazy to.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your article, I am more clear as to why the Jews couldn’t fight back. Yes, the Jews did try to fight back but it was so hard for them because they got demonetized as citizens in Germany. They didn’t have a voice and had nothing to help them fight back. They got everything taken away from them. It shocks me how cruel the Nazis were to the Jews. How can you treat one of your own people like that? Yes, they are Jews but they live in the same country as you. The Jews tried their best to resist and it took a lot of courage for them to do so. Going through the concentration camps counted as resistance because you have to be physically and mentally strong to do so. In Warsaw, the Jewish military fought the Germans and killed 300 Germans as a result. I am very proud that the Jews fought back. When I read about Vladka Meed, I was very happy. I’m happy that someone took a role in teaching people how bad the holocaust was. She also did many good things like helping the Jewish children escape. The fact that she sacrificed herself for others inspired me a lot. Tuvia Bielski also did many good things. He helped organize the Jews and was in command of a small group. He killed many Germans and helped a lot of the Jews survive. His determination made a difference. He was an upstander when it came to this situation and that showed that the Jews did resist although we might not realize so.
ReplyDeleteI aspire to be as brave, and courageous as the people such as Vldaka Meed, and Tuvia Bielski. It is hard to think that when out in a situation with their life on the line they stood up not only for themselves but helped others too. I know for a fact that if I were put in their position I would only try to save my family and myself. As of right now when it comes to living I do not have the mindset of others over me. It is incredible to think that a Brave woman would climb a wall over 10 feet tall and risk being no only captured, and put into a camp, but she would more than likely be interrogated, and tortured. My reaction is one of confusion and understanding at the same time. I am confused because I would much rather preserve myself and my immediate kin than to save people who I do not know, but I also come from a place of understanding because I do know what a real sacrifice is and why people make them. I also understand why they went back to help others. Even if these individuals could not stop the Holocaust they could save one to two hundred people at a time which is not a lot in the whole scheme of things but in 40 to 50 years time is the equivalent of thousands of people who would not be here if those one to two hundred were not saved. In the moment these people could not react with a logical manner because anyone who sat down and thought the plans through would see that these were almost suicide missions with very little room for error. These heros reacted with emotion and spur of the moment thinking, and without this the tragedy of the Holocaust would have claimed many more victims that it unfortunately had already taken.
ReplyDelete-Mitchell
The second paragraph of this blog resonated with me because I, too, had wondered why Jewish people didn’t fight back against the Nazi. I thought the Jews ultimately gave up and were willing to let the Germans treat them in such a horrific way because they were too scared to speak up. They feared that the consequence of speaking up would be their death. After learning more about the Holocaust in your class and reading this blog, I now know that wasn’t the case. Many of the Jewish people spoke up and resisted against the Germans, despite their fear. I believe that not all of the resistance was physical, but it was also emotional and mental. After reading this blog, I now have more respect towards the Jews for fighting back for themselves, and revolting against the Germans. I could not imagine being in that position and having to oppose such a powerful force without knowing what the result would come to. The Jews had nothing left but they still rebelled against the Germans, which I think is immensely impressive. It was extremely interesting to learn about Vladka Meed and her story. I had never heard of her before, and personally, I think more students should hear her story. The fact that she risked her life to save others makes her a truly inspiring woman. She also wanted to educate students about how the Jews resisted during the Holocaust. If her story was more known even to this day, fewer people would have the impression that the Jewish people did not fight back during the Holocaust. Maybe I would never have assumed, to begin with that the Jewish people were passive in their own deaths. This was truly inspiring and I enjoyed reading it!
ReplyDelete-Ashley LeBlanc
In the first paragraph, I’ve only related resistance with something physical. I’ve never thought of it as you could resist emotionally or spiritually. I’ve always asked myself why the Jewish people never fought back or why they didn’t just move if they were treated so poorly. The answer was so obvious yet I couldn’t see it. Having two very capable eyes and having two functional ears I couldn't hear or see the answer. It’s not that they wanted to stay and it not that they didn’t want to fight back, it’s that they couldn't, but that’s the thing there were people who did escape and did fight and did resist in many ways and not just physically, but, we the students never get taught this. I’m so grateful that you made this blog, because, before all of this I wouldn't have known about half of the people who actually did something about the disrespectful and inhuman acts of the Nazis. The fact that there were people who would risk their lives for strangers just because they felt they needed to protect them, shows that there was still hope. When all the odds were against the Jewish people they still found the courage to somehow in some way to fight back. This shows how powerful their hope was to see some change even if it was just a little. They were fighting an uphill battle way before the Nazis ever showed up and they NEVER GAVE UP even after… Even after the Nazis took everything away from them. That.. is the most impressive part. I truly respect every single Jewish person who didn’t lose hope in spite of everything that was being taken away from them and every person who was willing to risk their lives and go to extremes just to at least save one more human being.
ReplyDelete-Jacqueline Ayala Gomez
I think the impact a single person could have on a large amount of people is amazing. In this case, we see a few individuals risk their lives to save other. We need more people like Vladka Meed in today's society. Not many people nowadays would even think about putting everything on the line to make a difference. She knew that her life was at risk, and the odds were against her. Yet, she still goes on with her mission and ends up making one of the biggest impacts seen in the Holocaust. I think it is crazy that untrained, malnourished and unequipped Jews could end up killing 300 trained Nazi soldiers. That shows that you can do anything if you have the drive and determination to do so. What the Jews were able to do can teach a lesson in almost any situation. I think the resistance needs to be a more focused on topic when it comes to the Holocaust because without it, everything that the Jews stood for is discredited. How would you feel if you risked your life trying to help people and no one acknowledged it or maybe even say that it didn't happen. I like how you said how even just surviving was a form of resistance. Staying alive was sending a message to the Nazis that they failed and aren't they superior beings. I was also astonished how the prisoners in the death camps resisted. Not many people realize that these prisoners were on the brink of death and were insanely malnourished. Most of the prisoners were under 90 pounds, so you wouldn't expect them to try to retaliate. Also, you would expect them to lose all hope and just give up, but the Jews kept hope alive. Everything the Jews did to survive is incredibly inspiring, and more people need to be educated on this section of the Holocaust.
ReplyDeleteWhile I did know that Jews resisted the Nazis, I did not know how great of a length they went to in doing so. I don’t think I would have the strength and toughness to try and combat them. Just imagining how scary it must be to climb the ghetto walls, shoot at a massive army, and run away to the forest petrify me, and I esteem the Jewish people for this. I totally agree with Yehuda Bauer, this was a David versus Goliath story where the Jews were never supposed to stand a chance. However, reading that they fought back with literally everything they had makes me proud to learn about their resistance. The bravery that they showed really inspires me to never give up. Not only did the Jewish people never gave up they fought back. Reading about the resisters gives me hope that there are still amazing people like that in today’s world. Vladka Meed’s story is just one out of hundreds where bravery shines through to me. How someone can risk their own life by leaving the ghetto??? That’s the definition of bravery. By Vladka’s actions she saved so many innocent people and gave hope to others. Reading that you met one of the Jewish resisters sons in person truly makes me happy for you. We see and experience how much you care about this subject everyday in class, and you deserve that moment. I think it’s super interesting how such a large group can survive in the forest while evading the Nazis. I really respect the leader of that group for his leadership. Leading that many people, finding food, and keeping hopes up can not be an easy task. After reading this post I was filled with hope, respect, and esteem for all of the Jews and the lengths they went to, to not go down without a fight.
ReplyDeleteThis blog was very interesting to me because I always wondered why the Jews didn’t fight back. It is crazy that the Jews fought back in so many ways that I didn’t even know about. The Jews risked their own lives to save each other, and I think that is amazing. The Jews were at a major disadvantage in the Holocaust and I admire them highly in their ability to fight back. The part about Vladka Meed was just amazing. She put her whole life on the line and it resulted in a great way. She is a true hero for her actions and I admire how brave she was. The Jews played a big role in influencing future generations. They showed that you can do anything even in situations like theirs. Minor setbacks didn’t stop the Jews. They persevered so much and it ended up with a win on their part. I could not imagine having my life on the line just to save the lives of others. The Jews were truly amazing people because they did whatever they could to save each other. What stood out the most to me was that even the prisoners of the death camps resisted. They were close to death but still spent their time resisting because that’s who they were. I admire them so much for this because they risked everything even when they were on the verge of death. The Jews were incredible people in how they never gave up and only wanted good for each other. Without them resisting, the Holocaust might have gone different, and that is amazing to me. I highly admire the Jews and am astonished by what they did.
ReplyDeleteThis article was very eye opening because i knew the jews resisted but not like you mentioned in this article. I don’t have words to show how much i respect and look up to these people and their actions. I didn’t realize that they did multiple methods just to be treated like human beings. I hate how the the nazis tricked the jews into thinking that they won't be there forever. The jews didn’t have to resist, they wanted freedom for themselves and for their families. They even saved people they didn’t know. The story of Vladka Meed is truly something. She risked her life climbing the walls of the camps to smuggle weapons and helped jewish children from the ghetto. She doesn’t know any of these people might i add. I would’ve never done something that risky, i’d be sweating my balls off. Yehuda Bauer says that the jews went through painless deaths, that’s obviously false. Did the nazis really just lie their way to power? That really gets under my skin. The jews went through a very hard time but they never lost hope and fought as hard as they could.People don’t realize how the jews resisted but its not mentioned during your average history class. One of my close friends is jewish and is touchy around this subject and i don’t blame him. His ancestors probably went through hell like all the other jews and i have to comfort him each time it's brought up. People around the world deserve to have a teacher like you to teach them all the things you teach us in such detail. I know i don’t talk much but i really listen on to what goes on in class and am forever grateful to learn this. To conclude my response, I will remember that the jews did resist.
ReplyDelete-Wilson Hawes
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ReplyDeleteI am very glad that you are writing about how the Jews resisted because before this I really did not know that they resisted at all. I guess I was completely ignorant on this subject because in world history we spent a week on the Holocaust and learned very little about it. That's why I am very appreciative that you are teaching us this because this needs to be taught, and you’re doing an extraordinary job. I think it is incredible that the Jews were able to fight back in the conditions they were in. It was not an easy task by any stretch I mean they were continually being deported to camps, and the threat of getting killed by the Nazis was growing every day. I was also very pleased to hear that the resistance was not only in the ghetto but also in the deportation trains, the labor camps, and even in the death camps. Also, I think what Vladka Meed did is amazing. She risked her life climbing the walls to deliver weapons to the Jewish resistance, and she helped rescue Jewish children and house them in Christian homes. I'm glad that there were upstanders in the holocaust because it is not a light hearted, upbeat subject and in fact, it is the very opposite of that; it can be hard to remember sometimes that there were exceptional people that helped the Jews resist and retaliate against the Nazis. I mean not only were they risking their lives but they were liable to be put in a concentration camp or even death camp for helping the Jews. This kind of heroism should not be kept from the public but should be shared and remembered. The Holocaust was a very dark time in history but reminding us about the rescuers and upstanders is a great way to keep it from getting too dark and depressing.
ReplyDelete“Why wasn’t there more resistance?” Resistance against the Military Dictatorship of the Nazi? Seriously? “With What?” Contemplating on this “With What” concept expanded my viewpoint, in regards to the plot of the Jews in Europe during post World War I.
ReplyDeleteI had not taken into consideration that since the time of the Roman invasion of Israel, the Jewish people had “no country, no government, no defense force, and no advocates. It is amazing that they were able to keep their culture, their values, their religious beliefs, and their traditional Jewish way of life alive and vibrant throughout the ages.
Vladka Meed. The story of this Warsaw Uprising Leader is inspiring. With the harsh conditions of the war and the constant threat of death, that individuals such as Vladka Meed would become a part of the “Jewish underground”, and repeatedly go back into to enemy territory to save other from the plight of the Nazis. I can only imagine what she must have felt like climbing that Warsaw Ghetto wall, putting her own life at risk time and time again.
Tuvia Bielski. The Bielski Otriad, commanded by Tuvia Bielski, was the largest Jewish partisan group made up of mostly the elderly, women, and children that grew to a number of 12,000 is pretty impressive, to say the least. One does not typically think of the largest, strongest, and most effective defiance group being made of this gender and age groups.
Also found it interesting that “after the war, Yuvia moved first to Israel and later to the United States.” Wonder what brought him here and what life was like for him in the states. Imagine Holocaust survivors were continuously tracing their tracks back to their rescuers and once there, finding ways to continue to encourage and support one another.
Yes, sadly it is no wonder why there is still fighting over land between Palestinians and Israelis.
First of all, thank you so much for writing this blog! It is such a fresh perspective on the Holocaust, and I definitely think other teachers need to share it with their students! Now, when learning about the Holocaust in previous clases, I can't recall a time when I ever asked myself “Why did they fight back” Of course, i’ve now heard that question a bunch of times, but before, I don't think I ever asked that question. It seems like such an obvious question with an obvious answer: it was hard. You made an excellent point in paragraph two when you said “With what?” It’s not that they didn't want to fight back, it's that they really couldn't. Despite their limited resources for retaliation, so many Jews still found a way to fight back. They used what they had, although it was little, and, most importantly, they risked their lives to help and save others. It is incredibly amazing, and honestly, it is very inspiring. If I were living in this time, I don't think I would have the courage to stand up against the Nazis and fight back. The story of Vladka Meed was especially inspiring. It is so amazing how she pretended to be someone else, smuggled things in and out of the Ghettos, and climbed over the wall a bunch of times. It was probably hard enough just trying to survive herself, but to try and help others at the same time is absolutely astonishing. I also enjoyed reading about Tuvia Bielski. He had so many people in his “group,” the Bielski Otriad. They did so much during the Holocaust! It is absolutely incredible! I feel like I am at a loss of words of how crazy and inspiring these people are. Learning about Jewish resistance, and how these people risked their already endangered lives has blown me away. These resistors need to be talked about much more in standard curriculum! When we learn about the Holocaust, it is all bitter and melancholy, but these resistors definitely have shed some light on the subject.
ReplyDelete-Kyla Hannan
I honestly think that it's easier for people to believe that the victim or victims of any sort of persecution didn't fight back. That way, they can easily say, "Well, they didn't fight back; it's no wonder that the Nazis persecuted them, they let ‘em walk all over them. They didn't even try!” Maybe it makes it seem more excusable? But in a twisted kind of way, it's almost comparable to rape. Many people assume that if someone gets taken advantage of, it's as much their fault as it is the rapist; it's either because of their clothes, their behavior, or the assumption that they didn't fight back.
ReplyDeleteResistance comes in many forms, and a great deal of the time, it doesn't always make a huge dent or difference. It's generally small acts of defiance or an effort to maintain dignity that displays resistance. The story of Vladka Meed is particularly inspiring; one woman tricks and defies an entire regime and tries to help those being targeted. The fact that she, alone, scaled a thick wall on numerous occasions to save men, women, and children and to smuggle weapons shows physical and moral strength, and she wasn't the only one. Other people risked their lives by staging armed assaults and organized revolts against the Nazis, and many did pay for it with their lives.
This is an important topic to talk about; people need to know that the Jews didn't just sit back and let this happen. They thought. They bled. They died. They may have been the primary victims, but they were also crucial upstanders. On a different note, it's astonishing to me that there are still people who not only believe that the Jews didn't fight back, but there are legitimately people out there who believe that the Holocaust didn't happen at all. People are really stupid.
-Maya.M
I am so used to thinking about the Jews during the Holocaust as victims. Strictly victims with no ability or opportunity to fight back. Reading this post, I realize how false that is. While it is true that Jewish people’s resources were extremely limited, they had a strong will. I never knew how many people actually attempted to stand up for themselves and their fellow Jewish friends and family. It must have taken immense bravery to fight back. Knowing the Nazis had weapons and manpower, and still trying to stand up for what they believed in shows just how strong willed the Jewish community was. We don’t ever learn about the resistors in history class. We always see the Jews portrayed as helpless, hopeless, desperate people with no future in sight. People who were forced into horrible situations without one sign of resistance. It makes me happy to know that the Jews would not be forced out of their lives without a fight. I had no idea that the Jews in the Warsaw ghetto fought the Nazi soldiers and managed to kill three hundred of them. Three hundred Nazi soldiers. While this number is statistically small compared to the number of Jewish people killed in the Holocaust, it is still a remarkable thing that one ghetto was able to do that much damage to these horrible people. I never really thought about how strong the victims of the Holocaust must have been. I cannot imagine going through what they went through. Another thing that struck me while reading was Vladka Meed’s strength and leadership. Back then it was rare to have a woman in a leadership position. Not only was she a great leader, but she was essential in providing resources to the people fighting in the Warsaw ghetto. She also helped save many children by providing them safe places to stay. It is people like this that give me hope in humanity. I wish that we were taught more about the resistance of the Holocaust in school because it is equally important to honor the people who risked their lives for what they believed in.
ReplyDeleteAt first, I thought the Jews didn't fight back because of the strength of the Nazis. After reading this blog, I have learned a lot about the resistance force within the Jewish community. The Nazis outnumbered the Jews by population and weapons. They overcame this and fought back with whatever they could. The Nazis held the Jews and toturted them with without a care. They showed the Germans that they won’t be treated like animals and did whatever they could to get back at them. The bravery and accountability the Jews took into their own hands amazes me. They fought against one of the strongest armies in the world and did damage.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly amazing to see the determination within all of the Jewish people who resisted during the Holocaust. The jewish resistance groups refused to give up and because of this future generation are alive today. The single most shocking part to me about this blog was the resistance of the warsaw ghetto. Against all odds the Jewish resistance organization sacrificed their own lives to give a very strong message of denying defeat. The Jews refused to give up and persevered through an immense amount of torment. The whole motive of the jews was “Simply to survive” and because of this they did win in human spirit. I couldn’t believe that the Jewish Resistance Organization manage to physically fight back with weapons. I would think that finding weapons in the circumstances that the resistance groups were in would be nearly impossible. Although at the end of the war many jews died. Because of the Nazis, the courage shown by resisting Jews astonished me. The damage done by confiscated guns and molotov cocktails is remarkable. 300 germans with heavy force taken down by the struggling Jewish community. I have gained even more respect for the after these acts of resistance
Why do people ask, “Why did the Jews not fight back?” Even if a person has little knowledge of the Holocaust, or World War 2 in general, I would think they would be able to deduce that the Jewish population was severely outnumbered in terms of manpower and weapons. How could such a small percentage of a countries people, while also being attacked by a majority of the “Aryan” citizens, have a fighting chance in terms of survival? This doesn’t mean that the Jews didn’t fight back. Even though they knew the situation they were in was drastic, they continued to fight on with dignity and pride. This truly shows how, no matter how ambitious Hitler’s plan was, the Jews would live on. Even as grim as it was, it brings a smile to my face to know that people like Vladka Meed would risk their own lives to help a group of people being oppressed. Meed knew the risks of being caught, yet she continued to help the Jews in Warsaw all the way through the war. She went on to educate people about the Holocaust, making sure that such actions would never be forgotten. I have watched the movie “Defiance” before, and I was hooked after the first 10 minutes. The movie really opened my eyes about things not known by the masses. Knowing that the events portrayed in the movie were in fact true made me feel gratitude towards the two brothers. Risking their own lives to save the lives of thousands for no other reason than to do the right thing. In conclusion, I found both stories very interesting. It was reassuring to know that not all people were bystanders. To know that some people risked their lives to save the innocent people being persecuted by a massive evil confirmed that not all people are bad. There are people out there who do good for others before thinking of themselves.
ReplyDelete- Caeden Barker
When i started the article i was a little biased, wondering, “Does anyone actually wonder this?” and, “Does resistance even matter?” Because after all, the resistance didn’t stop the events that happened from happening. So i had already made up my mind that resistance was not pertinent in the holocaust. But once i started reading i realised a few things, people do think that the Jewish community didn’t fight back, because then there wouldn’t be a need for so many articles on resistance. I also realised that resistance is less about how much of an effect you caused in the moment, and more about how that action affected other people around you. Resistance is much more than fighting back in the moment, it brought Jewish moral up, arised hope, and armed struggles, and alos unified a huge amount of people. All that the people in concentration camps during the holocaust had in common was there religion, people were willing to die, by the sides of strangers. “There were other uprisings as well as armed struggles in other ghettos, concentration and death camps and Jewish partisan groups,” in this paragraph you discuss other uprisings, this idea ignited others flames, and led to higher morals in the concentration camps. Although this doesn’t seem like much when Jewish men, women, and children felt uplifted that people were still fighting back, and taking a stand for them, so they held onto hope. And with hope, more people started to band together, and decided that they didn’t want to be put down forever. But fighting wasn’t the only way people resisted, people also hid from German Nazis. This didn’t seem like resistance at first but hiding from Nazis, and not getting caught makes you more confident that you can do something about your current situation. I believe thats why he was so set on creating resistance groups, and getting guns. With the confidence he gained from the German, nazi population repressing him and his brothers for so long he decided he need to take a stand for himself, and all the Jews that were being persecuted.
ReplyDeleteAmanda rissew
After reading this blog, I truly only learned about one or two more new things. I mean, we kind of already went over this topic about a week ago as a class discussion I believe. So yeah, that’s kind of how I feel about the topic itself . Now, I do agree with basically everything that you were saying about the different kinds of resistance and I loved how you once again stated that the true question was not, “Why didn’t the Jews fight back,” the real question was actually, “How could the Jews have fought back so much,” or , “How could the Jews had resisted so much?” I say that because as I read more and more about what happened to the Jewish people during the Holocaust, I just can’t help myself but to put myself in their shoes and I could truly only imagine what kind of agonizing and painful life the Jews must have lived in those concentration camps. I mean, just think about it. You are a Jew living during the Holocaust. One day, you are separated from your friends and family against you will, and you are taken to a concentration camp, where you are overworked, deprived of food and water, tortured, harrassed and even killed. Going from a relatively happy life to such a state is enough to make anybody give up on everything. So the fact that the Jews actually found a way to have any kind of hope to cling on in their grim situation is truly a testament of their extremely strong and unwavering faith. That’s why people like Vladka Meed and her husband deserve a special day to honor their efforts. In fact, I think all the upstander during the holocaust deserve a special day to honor their bravery and courage during one of the darkest times in the history of the world.
ReplyDeleteThis blog post had me in shock. Before coming into your class I wouldn’t have thought the jews fought back at all. From what I remember in History class they only taught us about what the Nazis did to the Jews. They didn’t explain anything about how the jews fought back at all, but in your post you explained how the jews decided to resist. They decided to resist against the Nazis in their own way that they thought was special to them because it made them feel like they had a purpose, even if they barely made an effect on what they were doing they still resisted and managed to save their lives.. However, they did form a small group of jews who would kill the Nazis so they could save their own lives and protect themselves, which I thought was pretty cool. What I also thought was really cool how Vladka Meed managed to save so many children while she put herself in danger at the same time. She put herself in a dangerous position so she could give those children a good life, which was very thoughtful of her. She had also smuggled guns into the camps by climbing the walls, which only a few select people might’ve done. Earlier this week, I saw a video on a social media app about a man who had saved the lives of so many jewish children, just like Meed had done. Both these people are the same because they both did good acts of kindness out of their hearts.These two people weren’t like some of the other people who would just sit idly by and watch their friends get tortured; they wanted to do something about it. They wanted to stand up and fight back. That’s why I think more people should learn about the jewish resistance and people who fought back because it is very important to understand. -Riley Dilsworth
ReplyDeleteReading your blog made me really think about what I would do if I were a Jewish person during the Holocaust. I’d like to think that I would fight back, but I don’t think in reality I’d be strong enough to do so. I’d definitely let the fact that I don’t have the resources get in the way. I would be so fearful to resist. I wouldn’t just be fearful for my life, I’d be fearful for everyone else’s around me also. The Nazis would already hate me and I’d be afraid to do anything to farther taint my image at all. I admire the bravery of the Jews who were strong enough to fight back.
ReplyDeleteI especially enjoyed reading about Vldaka Meed. She is such an inspiring woman and I can tell she has greatly influenced you! It was interesting to see how she put her typically Aryan appearance to use to help herself and others.
Just like how Vldaka Meed inspired you to spread awareness of the things she is passionate about, you inspire me to better myself and spread awareness of the issues I am truly passionate about. It really inspires me to see the hours upon hours of research you’ve compiled to help us be aware of everything we need to know about the Holocaust to better ourselves, help stop the spread of hate and false information, and prevent another atrocity like this from happening.
Overall, your blog was just very interesting. I always figured at least a few people must have tried to fight back during the Holocaust. I never really thought about how, why, or what was stopping them from resisting. Reading your blog made me think deeper and helped answer some questions I did have.
-Aislinn Antoon
In my head, I have always thought of all the Jews being trapped and taken away from all they knew, even with the previous knowledge that not all of them went to camps. My mind only associated all Germans being Nazis, and all Jews being trapped. While reading this post it was eye opening because I was able to fill in the missing puzzle pieces. There were Jews who escaped capture, or as I read were able to pass as being Christian because of their looks. I began learning about the holocaust on 7th grade, but it still just captivates my thought and is so enjoyable because it helps us fill in the pieces and learn about some amazing people who helped save so many lives. After learning about my rescuer, I was able to connect some of the uprisings you mentioned to what I had just learned and create a better understanding. It’s also so humbling to think about how not all the Germans and surrounding populations hated the Jews. For example, how some of the Christian families would help take in the children that Vladka Meed saved. For someone who is an outsider to the Jewish religion, I just can’t imagine how you take in all this heartbreak yet still find the bright side while learning about how your ancestors had to suffer under idiotic beliefs. Learning about all the people who helped change the fate of so many is just fascinating to me but also must be so joyful to you. Even if we might not do any more responses to your blog, which I hope we do, I do want to sit down one day and just read all you’ve written and truly understand and study more in-depth about what you had seen and what took place not long ago.
ReplyDeleteIt is extremely strange to me that, although having learned about the holocaust for many years, I have always believed that the Jews had no other choice except to follow orders. Resistance had never crossed my mind as something they had ever tried to do. I had always believed the only type of resisitence was escaping from the trains on the way to their camps. I don’t understand why this is the first time I have read or been taught about how the Jews DID try as hard as they could to resist against the Nazis.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this post I am more interested in reading about other ways the Jews tried to resist and who else had a major roll in helping. Vladka Meed is such an inspirational woman and along with you she is the type of person to inspire me to continue learning about the holocaust. After reading this blog post and a few others, I decided to talk to my dad and see what he knew about the holocaust. We had a long discussion about how he learned so much from just reading a few posts and how he had never actually learned about the different aspects of the holocaust. In school he had only learned the bare minimum and overall “concept”.
The holocaust is such an upsetting yet interesting topic because it seems as though many people do not actually know what happened despite what they think happened. I’ve enjoyed reading a few of your blogposts and will continue to read more because the holocaust has always been an intriguing topic to me.
Thomas Simmons- Absent
ReplyDeleteI thought it was really cool that you could share your experience there with us. Even though, I personally didn’t know about some of the information that you wrote and I can’t believe that your students would just skip through it all in one hour. If I went on the trip I would want to know more about the Holocaust because the way that you teach us in class. You enlighten us with all these facts and how someone could possibly do what they do to another human being. You don’t just give us facts about it and give us work to do; you go into detail and make us think more about the information us. You challenge us to think about the how someone in their right mind could do this. It was very interesting when you went into detail about how Hitler rose to power and the events that led up to it. It makes you think that what if this or that didn’t happen then Hitler might not have rose to power and those two thirds of jews that died might have lived and started their own families. Also, the Nazi party wouldn’t have grown bigger. After finishing reading this I really think Hitler just wanted to get rid of some people to downsize the population of Germany and also how evil he is. I also think he wanted revenge on the United States and United Kingdom for what they did to Germany during World War I. Also, I think Hitler a crazy and cruel person. I really want to go on this trip with you. It seems really cool to go on.
test
ReplyDeleteTo keep it real I was pretty shocked. I felt very ignorant as I never realized that the Jews resisted back. I am now aware that the reason it may have seemed as if they weren’t fighting back is because they had nothing, no country, no government, no defense force, and no advocates. I was in disbelief as I was informed that a Ghetto of Jews were responsible for the death of three hundred Germans as they made the effort to physically resist with small arms. Although this was still a dark time, it was uplifting to me as I read about the Jew’s determination to converge and make the effort to free themselves. Yes they were sent to death camps, but at least they went out fighting for their religion, freedom, and for what was right. If I were in this situation it would be tough but I would remember to remain beside my beliefs and religion. Vladka Meed is someone who I admire and who is a true hero. For someone who is totally unaffected to step out of his/her way and sacrifice their life is inspiring. I look up to her determination, courage, and caring actions towards the Jews. The next time I hear someone make a false comment about the Jews failure to resist, I will make sure to correct this ignorance. I believe Jewish history and the holocaust aren't incorporated enough in education. Many people have the wrong ideas about what actually took place as they are only taught mainly about American History and everything that had to do with the United States. I have been greatly informed in both this and the previous blog with just ten to fifteen minutes of reading at most. The Holocaust is very eye opening and should be talked about more in the classrooms.
ReplyDelete-moose
Just after reading the first paragraph I can already tell how strong the Jews were. Even when at their worst they “lived through the torment.” It just flat out shows how resilient they were at the time. I think when you look at how much they resisted you can go both ways. You could say “well they didn't show any signs of passion for freedom”, but at the same time how could you? They were worked to death and malnourished; there is not much they could've done physically and mentally I'm sure they were just drained. Yehuda Bauer argues about them not fighting, but once again we can go back to that at their worst thing. After ultimately being removed from society and put in ghettos, the Nazis essentially just kicked them while they were down. The Jewish we’re taken out of their home and thrown in poor conditioned concentration camps. They fought back and look what happened. The Nazis just regrouped and completely annihilated them, it really just wasn't fair. Vladka Meed is just one of those people you wish you had more of in a time like this. Just as the Nazis made it a necessity for the population to see “how bad” the Jews were, Vladka made it a prerequisite for her own to know about the holocaust. Not only that, but she used her God-given appearance to help her smuggle things like weapons without getting caught. Her ability to take risk portrays her resilience that was carried in the Jews throughout this whole process. The Bielski Otriad is another argument against Mr. Bauer. You can say they were oppressed. You can say they were treated inhumanely. You can say they were on the wrong side of the spectrum, but the one thing you can't say is they didn't try to fight back.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing I didn’t know was that the jews actually tried to resist. I always thought they didn’t try to form a resistance because the nazis were to overpowering. I was really surprised on how the jews resisted in many ways because it wasn’t just them fighting back all the time. They resisted mainly with spiritually wins and not giving the nazis that moral victory of seeing them suffer. The jews died with their dignity still in tact which for them was a huge victory because then the nazis couldn’t gloat over killing them. The jews sometimes outlived their tormentors by stealing food or water when they were close to death. That's just crazy how those little things were huge victories for the jews because they really were. The jews were going to suffer and die either way. They decided to not give the nazis that good feeling of knowing the jews were at the level of animals. I had no clue who Vladka Meed was. She risked her life to save many jews. She faked being a christian and climbed the wall in the Warsaw Ghetto just to get guns and other supplies to the jews. She helped form a resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto. I feel like she was a hero because even after the war she went on to teach children about the Holocaust. The jews knew they were going to die so they decided to take out as many nazis as they possibly could. This made their deaths meaningful because the less nazis their were the better chances the Holocaust and war would end. The resistance formed by Tuvia Bielski was one of the best resistances formed in my book. It started out small but by the end of the war there were 1200 people in it. His resistance was mainly in the woods which he knew the area very well. He was an amazing person and a true hero and helped save many jews from death.
ReplyDeleteMatthew Adams
j
DeleteIt was almost upsetting to imagine that people thought the Jews could simply stand up one day and fight. When in reality they had little to no means to do so. They weren’t even citizens! And because something like this never happened people tend to think nothing must have happened then. But in reality there was so much resistance that I hadn’t heard of. It was so interesting to read this and realize that they not only fought back physically but also spiritually and emotionally. It was also interesting to read about a few women who were part of uprising because they are so often forgotten and shadowed by the men who resisted. All and all, I think it was fascinating to read about how the myth of Jewish people peacefully dying was absolutely wrong.
ReplyDelete-Madison lastoria
Another amazing article. When we talked in class about the Jews resisting I did not think it was to the extent to what it actually was. I believed it was only small resistance pieces here and there but not the wide spread resistance across the board as you have talked about. A piece that I learned in the article was when you said that some of the resistance would burn crops so that the Nazis could not eat. I thought that was insanely smart and a great strategic move. It is crazy to learn about stuff that you have never even heard of that had such an influential impact on many Jewish peoples lives. An example of this is Vladka Meed. I have never heard of this women but she had such an important role in helping Warsaw Jews. I was very impressed with this article and the amount of things I learned in it about the different styles of resistance and the people that had such a huge impact. It is truly crazy the things you don't ever hear about.
ReplyDeleteBenjamin Speir
I found this part of the blog very informative because it addressed the question that frequently comes up while discussing the holocaust: Why didn’t they fight back. Before reading this, my thoughts were that many of the Jews were women and children, and why should they be expected have fought against heavily trained German soldiers. I was surprised to hear about the techniques and methods used to help other prisoners escape. One of the being the rebellion in the Warsaw ghetto. I admire the courage that it must’ve taken to go up against an army that has more men, better weapons, and more advanced training than you have. They probably knew that didn’t have a chance but still attempted to resist. These actions shouldn’t be overlooked and disregarded during talks of the holocaust because people lost their lives trying to resist, and it is disrespectful to not acknowledge their efforts. I am glad that I now have a better understanding of all the Jews did to resist against attempts to destroy them.
ReplyDeleteDavid Winslow
Before reading this blog and learning about it in class, I would have to admit that I blindly assumed that the Jews did not resist. It is truly eye opening to learn that they did have successes in resisting. What really stood out to me was the quote, “...surprising is NOT how little resistance there was but rather how much.” I agree with this because I understand how hard it must have been for them to resist considering they were striped of their citizenship, ultimately, meaning they had no protection. Many of the items that they needed in order to resist (money, food/water, weapons, communication) were not available. Their ability to have the strength to resist despite all the other factors is impressive. Another quote that resignanted with me was, “Simply to survive was a victory of the human spirit.” I think many people forget a way they resisted was continuing to live. Surviving another day was defying the Nazi’s. It was reassuring to read the powerful people who helped the Jews resist and escape. Vldaka Meed and Tuvia Bielski represent two strong leaders. I felt gratitude for them because they risked a lot by starting these organizations. I believe that their courageousness had a tremendous effect because it brought more active supporters and helped establish ways of resistance.
ReplyDeleteElla Page
Before starting this unit, I was not aware that Jewish people even tried to assist. Most of what is taught about the Holocaust is about Jews being herded like sheep going to the slaughterhouse. It never occurred to me that Jews fought back as hard as they did. However, after reading this blog, it makes sense that they would. In history, it is common for powers trying to take over the world to be overthrown. Something that surprised me was how essential women were to resisting. From the blog, it seems that any really important forms of resistance were performed by women. This is very eye opening to me because not only did I not think Jews resisted, I especially did not think women resisted. This is because there seems to be no point in resistance. However, this blog shows that there was a point in resisting. There is a point in smuggling weapons. There is a point in hiding books. Otherwise, the Jews may not have been completely terminated, but their culture most definitely would have been.
ReplyDelete-Nate Reiney
After reading about the various ways in which Jews resisted, I am amazed that people were defiant to the Nazis when so much was taken from them. The act of resisting by dying with dignity or refusing to die from concentration camps is surprising because these people literally had their citizenship stripped away. Originally, I too did question why didn’t they resist more. However, I now know that they did in fact resist. I never looked at resisting the Nazis as a battle of fighting whatever mental roadblocks you have to overcome. Additionally, I can sympathiize with the Jews in the idea that one couldn’t possible exterminate a race. The fact that people came to the realization of Hitler’s true goals and chose to help people escape the Ghettos amazes me. The actions of these people who risked their lives to rescue people from their imprisonments made all the difference. I am fascinated by the people who found ways to prepare a retaliation effort to the Nazis. The most appealing factor to me was that a person organized a group of people who would resist the Nazis and rescue people. I was unaware that the Jews fought back with Molotov. I was unaware that there were people who ran through the line of fire to rescue the Jews. I know understand the importance of not allowing your ideals and beliefs to be corrupted by oppressors.
ReplyDelete- Myles Norman
Before reading this blog and discussing the Holocaust in class, I thought that acts of defiance were rare. Nobody ever explained or taught me that they frequently happened. This is probably because they didn’t know that information themselves. I also began to realize how easy it was to rebel. Even writing in a diary, standing in line for a sick person’s roll call, and reading books were viewed as acts of defiance. In this portion of the blog, the two things that stood out to me were the amount of rebellion and how Vladka Meed was able to join the rebellion in the Holocaust. The sheer amount of rebellion throughout the Holocaust amazes me. I am confused as to why more people do not know about the forms of rebellion, let alone teach them. The thing I really don’t understand is that nobody knows of the armed rebellions. They are clear acts of defiance while reading a book might not be as clear. The second thing that stood out to me was Vladka Meed’s determination to help the rebellion. She could have just saved herself, but she decided to risk her life over and over again to save others. Meed was able to smuggle weapons to a Jewish Rebellion group within a ghetto. She was also able to save children and foster them in caring Christian homes. Thank you again, Mrs. Stone, for writing this blog portion. This blog is extremely helpful, and it has amazing pieces of information that I wouldn’t know otherwise.
ReplyDeleteElyse Duley
This blog post really touched me. I did not know that some individuals were able to resist that much during the Holocaust. Standing up for yourself and others during a time when everyone else is oppressing and hurting you shows true bravery. If I try to imagine myself going through something like the Holocaust, I'm not sure that I would have the courage to resist. I want to think that I could but I think that fear would get in the way.
ReplyDeleteTuvia Bielski's story was truly inspirational to me. I didn't know it was possible to organize 1200 people undercover. His strength and bravery saved so many people when all of the odds were against him. Vldaka Meed's story is also interesting. It is so great that she was able to use her appearance to her advantage, but she also chose to help other Jews.
Moriah Campbell
I can not believe what some of these Jewish people did even when everything was taken away from me. I used to wonder why they never resisted before we talked about it in class, but then, I learned that they had nothing and no one to help them resist. I think that it is amazing what Tuvia did. He organized a group of 1200 people which may have been bigger than many of the towns around the area and they did not just hide but they fought back. I think that it is very impressive how Mrs. Meed risked her life many time for others who she did not have to save. I honestly to not think that after I already risked so much to escape that I would have the courage to go back and help others. I just do not think I could. I really do think that it is amazing how all of these people and group resisted through physical means even though they knew they may not have a great chance of success. I think all of these people are very admirable.
ReplyDeleteCharlie Robinson
Reading this was eye opening because of the acts of courage from the prisoners that chose to defy the Nazis. I was especially impressed with the resistors that did it by themselves through defiance and protest. This took an immense amount of bravery because they knew that they were most likely going to die from doing this because the Nazis took down anyone who defied it, but they did it anyway because they knew their cause was important. I was also awestruck by the Warsaw Uprising Leader, Vladka Meed. Her smuggling in weapons to help the resistance is astonishing enough, but the fact that she helped Jewish children out of the ghetto is just astounding. She is the definition of a strong women, and she should be held at the highest esteem. Another person I moved by was Tuvia Bielski. Him being able to lead a large group of people to free so many prisoners(among other actions) is more than commendable. I really admire him for his bravery and for risking death to save his fellow Jews. Lastly, I was really stunned by the prisoners that were able to live through the torment and demoralization of the Nazis. There strength is exemplary, and it is because of them we get to learn about what happened in the holocaust. It is this knowledge that will help us prevent it from happening again. Thank you Mrs. Stone for writing this. It is important that we learn about this because, like I said before, this information will be used to fight another holocaust god forbid it starts to happen again.
ReplyDeleteHalsey Patrick
In the past I have read many books about the Holocaust and have heard about small resistance against the Germans. However, I did not know that the protests were taken to these extents. I thought that maybe one person in an entire barrack in camp would be rebelling, but instead there were entire forces of Jews working against the Nazis. It is so inspiring for me to hear about these people because they were undergoing so much violence, hate, and murder and it is a miracle that they even gathered the courage to speak a few words against the Nazis, let alone organize entire movements against them. The part of your blog that stood out to me the most was when you talked about the rebels in the Warsaw Ghetto. Even though the Jews were eventually overpowered by the Germans, it is still extremely impressive that they were able to delay them at all with their resources.
ReplyDeleteI do not understand why people do not think the Jews didn't fight back. If one person fights that is a resistance.I was awed that Bielski was able to shave thousands of people was amazing, and he was only one group of anti-Nazis. I am thankful that there were people who were kind enough to risk their lives for people. This blog post also highlights the fact that people will forever fight against what is wrong. The Jews did what they could with what they had. If they had weapons they would attack. If they needed food they would fight their way for some. All of these people risked their lives everyday to resist the wrongs of their nation.
ReplyDeleteThis is by Katy Masotti
DeleteBefore talking about the Holocaust in class, I had no idea that the Jews resisted. After learning that they did, in fact, fight back I became annoyed. I was annoyed because that was the first time hearing that they tried to fight back against the Nazis, which is something that should be talked about way more than it is now. I always asked why the Jews didn't fight back or why they couldn't just leave. No one could ever answer those questions when I asked them. I was so intrigued when I read about the examples of people resisting during the Holocaust. Also, I thought it was crazy the amount of people that were in the group that carried out anti-Nazi missions, because I would have thought there would have been way less than 1200 people.
ReplyDeleteSamantha Donovan
This post really surprises me because at first, I thought that the Jews simply didn’t resist the Nazis. It makes sense that they wouldn't have resisted the Nazis because they had no rights and much less manpower. In fact, there were many forms of resistance that the Jews used. I didn’t realize that a lot of the things the Jews did, like finding food to survive, were actually forms of resistance. Basically, anything the Jews did to not be treated like animals was a form of resistance. This is very saddening because it shows that the desperation that the Jews were in to have to resist by not being treated like animals. The resistance that surprised me the most was the physical resistance where Jews actually rebelled against the Nazis at the camps so they wouldn’t be sent to the death camps like the people who already went. Sadly, in a lot of the Jewish uprisings, the Nazis still prevailed because of their vastly superior firepower and numbers. I’m glad that the Jews did what they did, though, because them showing any forms of resistance was a step in the right direction. Seeing the stories of people who risked their lives for their fellow people really made me appreciate all of the people that help me in my life because I don't think I would ever be brave enough to risk my life fighting against a far superior army.
ReplyDelete-Mac Patterson
Annie Vedder
ReplyDeleteReading this post instilled my desire to do even more research about the Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. Previous teachers painted the Jewish people as, for the most part, a historically pitiful group; however, after reading, I’ve realized that this conception is not only blatantly false, but the Jewish inmates are some of the most valiant men and women in the history books. Vladka Meed and Tuvia Bielski, mentioned in your blog, are people whose stories seem directly out of a superhero movie. Their willingness to lend a helping hand no matter the circumstances is truly inspiring and a character I hope to model myself after. It’s upsetting to say that I haven’t heard these names, and I haven’t been exposed to practically any Jewish resistance before your class; I wish I had because the lives and dedication of these people is extraordinary. It sets the stage of the Holocaust in a new light and gives the Jewish people the depth they deserve.
I head never heard about Vladka or Tuvia before reading this blog. What I found suprising about the Jew's resistance is how courageous it was. Before reading this blog post and listening to our lesson in class, I didn't think that the Jew's ever resisted. I had fallen for the same Holocaust myth that plagues a lot of the population. I couldn't imagine the bravery that all these men and women had. They were also super selfless and put themselves in danger to help others. I think it is sad that these amazing people have been forgotten in history. We do not learn much about their incredible accomplishments.
ReplyDeleteIt seems natural that the Jews would resist, but I've never really thought about it. It's very surprising to me that I've never even heard about anything mentioned in this post. Although we've learned about the Holocaust almost every single school year, I've never heard of Vladka Meed, Tuvia Bielski, or even the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. It seems like an incredibly important part of history, yet it's been left out of all history classes I've taken. It makes me think what else has been dismissed as unimportant.
ReplyDelete-Brian Ramsey
Ryan Szeker
ReplyDeleteI find it so interesting that one of the, seemingly, most profitable stories about the Holocaust is never told. I literally have never heard of anything that included Jewish People and resistence together, but it all kind of connects the dots of what really happened during the Holocaust. Logically, it does not seem that the Jewish people who had heard rumors of the deportations, concentration camps, or death camps would just sit still and hope that nothing would happen. It just makes sense that the Jewish people would fight back, but this degree of fighting back amazes me. You have the underdogs holding off the Nazis at Warsaw, Vladka literally saving, or at least bettering, the lives of countless Jewish people, and Tuvia fleeing from the Nazis. It is just amazing how this is not talked about, and I really do wonder why.
These stories about resistance in the Holocaust are truly remarkable to me as a result of how many people these heroes were able to help. I never knew that 1200 Jews were saved from the camps by just two people who wanted to assist these innocent Jews and resist the Nazi party. While reflecting on these incredible acts of Vladka and Tuvia, I wonder why I have never learned about either one? Why is it that when learning about the Holocaust we never learn about the resistance of Jews? With the surface level of information I am given in world history, I would conclude that these Jews were helpless. I came to this conclude through several pictures and stories from people such as Anne Frank. I now realized that I am completely wrong about my conclusions. Now, not all of the Jews saved 1200 people with their resistance, but there were other forms of spiritual and religious acts of resistance in which they participated in. One thing that really stuck with me that pertains to this kind of resistance is when it said, "To die of dignity was a form of resistance." This statement made me take a step back and readjust my mindset of thinking about their resistance.
ReplyDelete-Sophie Slayden
I originally thought that the Jewish people could not resist because they were so physically weak after being abused and tortured by the Germans; however after reading this, I realized that I could not have been more wrong. Not all resistances have to involve weapons and killing Nazis. For the Jews in the camps,survival was a form of resistance because it was the opposite of what the Nazis wanted them to do. I was also very surprised by the role of women in the resistance because I was really only think about armed revolts, which women did not have as large of a part in at the time. Women were very important in gathering information and helping prisoners escape. Overall, I was very impressed by the Jews courage and strength when resisting the Nazis.
ReplyDeleteJane Jeffries
I cannot believe that so many people, specifically those with a substantial understanding of the Holocaust, didn’t think that the imprisoned Jews resisted against the Nazis. One can wonder how, if they didn’t resist, could so many of them have survived the Holocaust. I have been familiarized with the fact that many Jews “spiritually resisted,” but it did come as a surprise to me that many others used a form of defiance known as “armed resistance” to retaliate against the Hitler. I can imagine that their weapons would be inferior to those of the Nazis’, but I never knew that the Jews were given ammunition in the first place. Furthermore, I loved reading about Vladka and Tuvia, two individuals who saved the lives of thousands of Jews. I have had some knowledge of Vladka prior to reading your blog, and I just find it amazing that this strong woman had the courage to risk her life by freeing Jewish children from the ghettos and housing them in Christian homes. From your blog, I also learned a lot about Tuvia Bielski, who after hearing rumors about partisans, decided to take command of a large group known as the Bielski Otriad and worked to free as many of his fellow Jews as possible. I was amazed by Tuvia’s willingness to take control, seek out Jews in the ghettos, and send in guides to help the Jews escape. Additionally, I was surprised to hear that Tuvia’s group consisted mainly of elderly, woman, and children! Thank you for including this section in your blog! I have gained so much insight on the topic of resistance during the Holocaust.
ReplyDelete-Sara Trochanowski
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ReplyDeleteWhen I first learned about the holocaust, I thought that since the Jews were stripped of their resources they wouldn't be able to retaliate. After reading the article, I can now understand that the Jews actually found ways that they could resist the Nazis; these ways being both armed and spiritual resistance. The armed resistance was formed from gathered weapons that the Jews had found and smuggled, and groups of people who were willing to use those weapons; while spiritual resistance was through the Jews' incredible ability to keep their humanity through the threats of death and chaos. Both forms of resistance no matter large or small helped the Jews to resist the Nazis and live to see another day. - Lawson Swisher
ReplyDeleteBefore this class, I’d never learned about anyone attempting to resist the Nazis. We did learn that other countries mostly tried to stay out of the Holocaust, which lead me to surmise that the Nazis were largely unopposed in their subjugations. I also believed that it would’ve been difficult for the Jews to resist since they had no power or resources. This article taught me that this was definitely not the case, and the Jews did resist in numerous ways. Vladka’s story stood out to me the most in this article. I loved how she stayed to help other Jews, even though she could’ve passed as Aryan and escaped. Her story reminds me of Harriet Tubman and the underground railroad. Both could have escaped, but instead, they chose to risk their lives to help others escape as well. This requires a great deal of courage, and there are few people who are selfless enough to resist in this way. The story of the Warsaw ghetto also stood out to me. While 300 German deaths are not even close to the 6 million Jews that died, I love that the entire community worked together and physically resisted, resulting in the death of some of their perpetrators. I believe that schools should put more focus on the Jews that resisted when teaching the Holocaust because the Jews that had the courage to resist their perpetrators definitely deserve more credit than they receive.
ReplyDeleteClaire Porier
Clay Tobin -
ReplyDeleteBefore reading this section of the blog, I looked at the passiveness as just going along with it. However in other conflicts I have looked at the victims willingness to keep there dignity as resistance. So I don't know why I never connected that with the millions of jews who kept there dignity by not acting the way that would make them seem like animals as the Nazis did. One thing new I learned from this part of the blog is that the Bielski Otriad was comprised mostly of elderly woman and children. I watched the movie Defiance a while back and in there it was mostly men with there families. Can we watch Defiance in class? Another thing that I learned was the amount of work that Jews did to smuggle each other out of the ghettos. I had formerly learned about the Warsaw ghetto resistance, however now I know that they were so up against the odds, but still defied the odds until they couldn't anymore. I think that the holocaust should be tought much more in the school systems and not only glazing over it, but to dig into it deep.
I noticed that many people think that the Jews didn’t rebel.t the Jewish people always resisted. However, they did it in spiritual ways more than physical. The simple acts of resistance by the Jews shows the strength they had to keep fighting. if i was to escape i would not have the courage to go back and help others.Resistance in the Holocaust was much more than I had ever though of.
ReplyDeleteI never knew Jews fought back this much. I have always thought that they never really fought back at all until I read this blog. I never knew they would go to such extreme lengths such as building underground religious schools. Just to build a school like that is hard enough but to build it underground while the Nazis are coming for you is very impressive. The Jews fought back in numerous ways, physically, like shooting Nazis and hunting them.
ReplyDelete- Brad McKewon
First of all, it’s crazy to think that many people would or were able to resist, and it’s inspirational. They were beaten and enslaved and they still had the energy to resist. The multiple types of resistance were somewhat surprising as well. They would do anything down to die with a serene mindset. Even them fighting to survive as a form of resistance! This was also the form of resistance that the Germans hated the most because their main goal was to kill the Jewish population. You don't even need multiple people to show resistance, and Vladka Meed did a great job to show that. She would risk her life every day and try and help Jewish people and take them to safety. This all goes to show that even the little things matter.
ReplyDelete-Carson Bahr
It's a new idea for me to consider that the best form of resistance was simply to not give up. I had previously considered resistance or meaningful resistance to be some forms of warfare. However, the worst the thing Jews could do was to deny the Germans their goal. At the end of the day, the Germans' true goal wasn't to kill Jew; they wanted to break them. When the Jews continued to persist, it angered the Germans beyond all else. Even in the face of concentration camps, humiliation, and murder the Jews denied the Nazis the ultimate victory. Furthermore, I was surprised that the Jews managed to kill 300 Germans in the Warsaw uprisings. I assumed that very few casualties were inflicted upon the Germans by the Jews. I was not aware of the extent to which some Jews did rebel. I'm curious as to why we aren't taught this.
ReplyDelete-Ely Altman
This is the first time I’m learning about the courageous heroes during the Holocaust. Prior to reading this blog post, I didn’t know of the heroic leaders who lead other Jews to resist Nazi orders or the other fearless Jews who helped to sneak-out Jews into Christian homes. I was shocked to learn the Jews in the Warsaw ghetto managed to kill three hundred Germans! Since they had limited weapons, the Jews must have killed so many Germans because of the amount of rage they had towards the Nazis. Vladka Meed is also a true inspiration. She contributed a great amount towards helping educate and saving the Jews. Educating children on the real meaning of the Holocaust was a smart and effective way to spread the word. Tuvia Bielski was another hero of the Holocaust who I was stunned to read about because he organized a resistance group which grew to 1,200 people by the end of the war. It’s neat to hear of all the different people who took action against Hitler even if their actions couldn’t make a great enough impact to stop the Holocaust altogether. ---Marin Boulware
ReplyDeleteWhen I previously learned about the holocaust in other English classes, I never heard a word about resistance. I always assumed that there was nothing for the Jews to do, and they just went along with the Nazi's plans. From reading this post, I see that there are all sorts of small but impactful ways the Jews resisted like smuggling food and water. I also learned about the large armed movements by the Jews that I had never heard of before. It is inspiring to know that the Jewish people were able to come together and organize effective military campaigns. I had no idea that there was resistance by a ghetto that was able to kill 300 German soldiers. It is nice to know that even in terrible times like the Holocaust, people were able to use courage and bravery to stand up for the suppressed.
ReplyDelete-Macey Smith
DeleteCaroline Mecia
ReplyDeleteI thought that this post was extremely interesting because throughout my years of learning about the Holocaust, I had never been taught about Jewish resistance. The only person I knew about who had resisted against the Nazis was Anne Frank, who hid from the Germans in an attic. Before, when I had thought about military resistance, I had always pictured a strong group of men fighting against the military with weapons and guns. It had never occurred to me that the primary source of resistance throughout the camps was survival. The Nazis even considered dying with dignity to be a form of resistance. This was shocking to me because it further expressed the cruelty of the Nazis; the only thing that they allowed the Jewish people to do was die.
I was surprised to learn that some prisoners did physically rebel against the Nazis. I knew that many Jewish families hid and ran from the Germans, but I did not think that they would have the strength to actually fight against them. I would have assumed that they were too weak, starved, and hopeless to even think about physically fighting back. I had never learned about the Warsaw Ghettos uprisings; it was a new perspective for me because I always assumed that the prisoners passively accepted their deaths. I now know that the Jewish people within the Warsaw Ghettos didn’t want to die without a fight.
Initially, My first reaction was shock because as it turned out, the Jews fought back many times in many different ways. However, when I thought more about it; I wasn’t surprised. I asked myself the following question: Why would the Germans say that the Jews fought back if they were trying to hide the evidence of camps and torture. Since there is so much history about the Holocaust that has been left behind, it actually didn’t come as a surprise to me that they fought back. It is logical that the Jews would’ve fought back for their survival because that’s human instinct. It wouldn't make sense if they let the Nazis torture them without resistance. However, one thing that I am surprised about is why the surviving Jews or historians were not adamant about the resistance of the Jews. It said in the blog that one group of Jews were able to kills hundreds of Nazis. I think that if the Jews were to tell outsiders about that it would bring shame to Germany and Hitler. It would also prompted Hitler to create more destruction and have a bigger desire for extinction of the Jews, which is why I think that no one knows about the Jewish resistance.
ReplyDeleteCooper Owens
ReplyDeleteThis was a definite eye opener because I had no idea about the acts of courage from the prisoners that chose to resist the Nazis' commands. I was particularly mind blown with the resistors themselves who resisted through defiance and action. This took a colossal amount of courage because they knew they would be targeted and, subsequently, likely to be killed because the Nazis sent anyone who defied it to concentration camps, but they did it anyway because they believed in their cause. I also was particularly impressed by how much I was able to learn about Tuvia Bielski. After listening to rumors about partisans, she decided to command of a group known as the Bielski Otriad and worked to free as many of his fellow Jews as possible. I was amazed by the size of her group. While it does not seem like a whole lot, the fact that she could bring together so many disseminated people. I was blown away by her ability to take control, to seek out the Jewish people in the ghettos, and to send guides into dangerous areas to help the Jews escape. Furthermore, I was surprised to hear that her group consisted mainly of elderly, woman, and children. I was under the misconception that traditionally only men fought back but boy was I wrong.
Without prior knowledge, it is easy to assume that the Jews did not try to do anything. Of course, it is easy to ask why they didn't just do something, but without perspective, what could they have done? They did not have access to weapons, food, or organization. If they were found to possess any weapons or malicious plans, they would most likely be killed. This was also the first time I had ever heard of any Jewish resistance. I am glad to know that they tried something, though I am saddened that their efforts were futile. If anyone ask me why they didn't do something or try to escape, I now have the proper response to answer their questions. -Ben C.
ReplyDeleteIt’s very inspiring how despite all odds the Jews still fought back. When the Holocaust is normally covered in history classes, the Jews are described as docile sheep, and it’s surprising to know that is not the case. The variety of ways that the Jews resisted amazed me as well. Dying with dignity and survival aren’t normally things that people think of when talking about resistance. However, you have to take into account that the Nazis wanted to dehumanize them, so resisting that would be the greatest form of resistance. I think that the idea of the Jews being meek, docile sheep lead to slaughter is just a way for the rest of the world to cunningly alter history.
ReplyDelete~ Savannah Shelton
Ava Clark
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this blog, I finally was able to understand the extent of the Nazis’ power over the Jews. Ever since we started the Holocaust unit, I have been confused about why they didn’t revolt. I thought they were simply naive or apathetic towards the Germans; however, this blog entry made me realize that the Jews did the most they could to defy the Nazis. Every Jew will to live was resisting the Nazis, and the fact that they never let their spirits be broken amazes me. The fact that people still think the Jews were indifferent towards the Nazis basically perpetuates their goal and furthers their tactics of deception! I feel that it’s important to remember people such as Vladka Meed and Tuvia Bielski, who did help to rebel. Though it’s important to recognize the Nazis’ atrocities, it’s equally important that we remember what was done to stop them.
My reaction to finding out the many ways that the Jews resisted was shocked. I never understood why they didn't "fight back", but which in reality they resisted in multiple different ways. I always assumed they were all to scared to fight back. This blog post taught me the most important resistance the Jews did was not give up....they survived. It makes me feel disappointed that most of their efforts of resistance were not as successful. Although, I learned something new about the Jewish people and their resilience.
ReplyDelete-Taylor Henderson.
Before learning about the Holocaust in class, I had no idea that the Jews did anything to resist. It amazes me that the Jews were able to persevere through all the harship that they were put through. For example, they were able to sneak weapons, etc. into the Gettos. Through all the hurt that they were put through, they stayed true to their beliefs. The story of Tuvia Bielski particularly spiked my interest, because he was able to gather a group of nearly 1200 people and revolted againsta the Nazi party.
ReplyDelete-Giuli Iannitti
While reading this blog, I was shocked in the ways the Jews fought, and how it was not so much physical resistance, but mental and spiritual resistance. This post showed the true extent to the resistance the Jews showed, even when faced with impossible odds, still at least attempted to fight for what they believed and stood for. The story of Tuvia Beliski is very interesting, just because he was able to organize a complete underground movement, and the fact that so many people survived due to this network is quite extraordinary.
ReplyDelete-Filip Weil
With how I had always been taught about the Holocaust, I had been made to view the Jews as poor defenseless victims. This article completely changed that. Reading about how the defied the Nazi's in any way possible was truly amazing. The fact that even in death they rebelled was unbelievable, and it showed the true strength and bravery of these people. Furthermore, learning about the outside forces and organizations I was impressed by the intelligence of these people. They were able to strategically find ways to avoid capture while simultaneously helping other Jews. The fact that Jews that escaped capture didn't run when they had the chance but instead fought for their brothers and sisters was amazing. They put themselves back into harms way for their people, and I think that's the strongest form of resistance.
ReplyDelete-Ailish Coughlin
I am glad to see some of the story being told on why the Jews couldn't resist n some situations, but also how they did. It is sad to think how badly the Jews had to feel and how badly they wanted to resist. The main issue is the fact that the Germans were so much more equipped than the Jews that they stood no chance in an all out firefight. I love the story of the Jewish girl, who looked Aryan, that smuggled weapons and supplies into the camps for the Jews. The most courageous thing I thought the Jews did, was to stay behind after escaping. The amount of loyalty and mental determination to stay in hell to help others escape is truly astonishing. The loyalty and ingenuity the Jews had in the face of death is truly inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to see some of the story being told on why the Jews couldn't resist n some situations, but also how they did. It is sad to think how badly the Jews had to feel and how badly they wanted to resist. The main issue is the fact that the Germans were so much more equipped than the Jews that they stood no chance in an all out firefight. I love the story of the polish girl that smuggled weapons and supplies into the camps for the Jews. Poland as a country did a lot to contribute to the Holocaust, but the citizens helped the Jews in one way or another. The most courageous thing I thought the Jews did, was to stay behind after escaping. The amount of loyalty and mental determination to stay in hell to help others escape is truly astonishing. The loyalty and ingenuity the Jews had in the face of death is truly inspiring. Taylor Fleeman
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that Jews resisted, which was beyond brave. I would've just accepted my inevitable faith, but they fought back with what they had. Many people weren't shocked of how little resistance they gave, but how much they gave, as am I! I am sorrowful to hear that not all the efforts against the Nazis were effective. But I am pleasently suprised to read that there were upstanders, some Jewish and some not.-Jayden Childress
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this blog, I understand better that it was hard for the Jews to fight back. Despite the Jew’s effort to fight back, it was still hard for them because they were demonetized as citizens of Germany. They had no voice and none of the requirements for a rebellion. Everything was taken away from them. The Jews tried their best to resist, and it took a lot of courage. Jews going through the concentration camps resisted because they had to be physically and mentally strong. This was hard in their hopeless scenario, and they were given little food or water. However, there were some successful rebellions. In Warsaw, for example, the Jewish military fought the Germans and killed 300 Germans as a result. After reading about Vladka Meed, I was surprised someone took a role in teaching people how bad the holocaust was. She also did many helpful acts like helping the Jewish children escape concentration camps. Tuvia Bielski also defended the Jews during this time of war. He helped organize Jews, and was in command of a small rebellion. He killed many Nazis and saved a many Jews. He was an upstander during the holocaust and shows Jews did their best to resist the holocaust.
ReplyDeleteI am very shocked and happy how hard that the Jews fought. It is sad to think how hard the Jews wanted to fight back and how badly they wanted to resist. The Jews tried their best to resist and it took a lot of courage. The craziest thing and very exciting thing that the Jews did was to stay behind after escaping. The main issue was that the Germans were way more equipped than the Jews , they stood no chance in a fight with them. The loyalty that the Jews had in the face of death really is truly inspiring. And I learned that never give up even if u don’t have anything at least try and the Jews really inspired me to not back down.
ReplyDeletei am very shocked and excited how hard the jews fought back with not much too fight with. it is sad to think that the jews couldnt resist even tho they wanted too. The most exciting thing that the jews did was to stay behind after escaping. Vladka Meed She started the Holocaust and Jewish Teachers' Resistance Program because she wanted to educate teachers (who would then reach their students) about the Holocaust, the victims, and resistance. The loyalty that the jews had to face is very inspiring. And i learned to never give up and always fight back even if u dont have anything at least try the jews inspired me to never back down.They were able to find ways to go and help other jews out.
ReplyDeleteI think it is important to realize that the Jews did resist the best they could but it was hard considering the harsh circumstances they were under. I thought it was a valid point that the Jews truly had nothing to fight back with. With no government, country, or resources, it was nearly impossible for them to do anything without being killed or facing consequences from the Nazis. With their primary goal of surviving, it was hard to risk their lives trying to resist. I think the information about the steps they took to resist was important because it tells people that they were taking action in the ways they could. They would hold small protest, fight the few weapons they found, and refuse to follow the German’s commands. I thought it was a good argument to flip the idea of how little the Jews were resisting, to how much they actually were. In one case where we see physical resistance, several Jewish men and women took up arms to fight against the Nazis in a ghetto. This was their response after they learned many prisoners were being taken to death camps. As a result of this form of resistance, nearly 300 German soldiers died. This surprised me because obviously the Germans would have had better training and resources. The fact that the Jews were able to kill this many is impressive due to the fact they were weak and untrained. I would have expected the Nazi’s to be able to quickly stop the Jews from their rebellion resulting in many of them being killed or shot. I also found it interesting to learn about Vladka Meed, and her role as apart of the resistance. She was not a Jew herself, but was able to help them by sneaking them weapons and helping children escape. This gave me a new perspective on how someone who is not directly affected could show resistance by helping those in danger.
ReplyDeleteEmary Gordon
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading this blog post, it surprised me that many people thought the Jews would not try to resist. This is because I thought that if they knew they were in danger, then they would do something about it. I then became curious about how they resisted because of their lack of resources during the war. I learned that the Jews would steal food and collecting things from others outside of the camp. It made me feel good that a woman, named Vldaka Meed escaped from the Nazis and helped the Jews, still in the camp. She passes as non Jewish and would climb the walls of the Warsaw Ghetto to smuggle food and weapons to the Jews still inside. This contributed to the survival of many people. The survival was the best form of resistance. This is because the Nazis wanted to kill all of them, so it angered them when the Jews lived. Partisan groups were also formed. These groups were made up of escaped Jews and good citizens, who worked night and day to help the other Jews survive. Knowing about these groups made me feel good. This is because many of the Jews would not have survived without them. Members of these groups also went on after the war to teach people about everything that happened and what they did to help. The blog also talked about a man named Tuvia Bielski, who was the leader of the largest resistance group. This group had over 1,200 members. This made me feel curious about how they group got to be so big and what they did. This group was made up of escaped Jews. They dedicated their lives to helping the Jews that were still suffering all over Europe. After the war, Bielski dedicated the rest of his life to teaching people about the holocaust.
ReplyDeleteAnn Slegelmilch
Soren Gautam
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this blog, I am surprised but also very proud of the Jews' will to fight back even though they had little to no resources to fight with. They also had no voice and nothing that could aid them in their rebellions. They had no one leader as African Americans had Martin Luther King, and Indians had Gandhi. However, they were still very courageous and resisted in the limited ways they could. In fact, there were 2 ways in which they resisted. One was physically such as rebellions or fighting. In one rebellion in the Warsaw ghetto, the Jewish military fought the Germans and killed 300 of them as a result. The other way they resisted was spiritually through diaries, photos, etc. One thing was for certain: The Jews resisted constantly. Unfortunately, they were never able to make great strides in their resistance to where millions would have been saved. There were still people like Vladka Meed, who was one of the more prominent influences in the resistance as she helped kids escape the camps and be put into Christian homes. She also supplied weapons to Jews in camps. She even took a step further and started the Holocaust and Jewish Teachers Resistance Program as she wanted teachers to be educated about the Holocaust, so future generations can learn more about it from their teachers who participated in the program. Tuvia Bielski was another great influence of the Jews during the devastating Holocaust. He organized Jews and was the leader of a small rebellion. He also killed many Nazis and saved a lot of the Jews too. Even at times of crisis, he and Vladka showed that there were still people who took the initiative to help out those who had no voice or drive and lead them in resistance.
Previous to learning about the resistance in class today, I had never really thought about the different forms of resistance. I had sort of accepted the fact that the Jews did not have the means to resist, but I was wrong. The different forms of resistance that were listed in The Holocaust, The Jewish Tragedy, came of great surprise to me. I had never thought of dying with dignity or outliving the tormentors to be a form of resistance. I now understand that anything the Jews did that did not comply with the Nazi plan was a form of resistance. I am in awe for people like Vladka Meed. After living through the hell that the Holocaust was, she dedicated her life to teaching others about what had happened, which means constantly remembering the awful experience. One thing that I do not understand was how she could pass as an Aryan. I thought that the Nazis traced all Jews back to their relatives and things like that so that none of them could get away. I guess there were some holes in the Nazi’s system. As is continued reading, the first thing that popped into my head was how do you say Stankiewicze? I quickly got over that as I read about that brave actions that Tuvia Bielski carried out. I was shocked at how simply knowing the wooded area that he lived near saved his life. I believe that Bielski made a good choice in creating resistance groups. I think that these groups showed how strong and determined the Jewish people truly were even during this time of constant hate and fear. Meed and Bielski not only lived for their own sake, they lived to help others survive. This type of selfless mind set is what I think our world needs more of. Our current society is so concerned with themselves and how to save themselves that other people's well being is not taken into consideration.
ReplyDelete- Ashley Szymonski
After reading this blog, I believe that I am very proud of how hard the Jews fought back. I was unaware of their determined resistance. They had no country, no support, and no advocates. It seems impossible for them to fight back. The Jews had to resist in order to achieve survival. Before reading your blog, I was unaware that the Jews fought back at all. I had never learned this in previous lessons about the Holocaust. It is very important because without their resistance, the Holocaust may have been put to an end, much slower. They had to be spiritually and physically strong in order to do so. The courage and dignity it must have took them to fight back was huge. I am fascinated with Vladka Meed’s heroism to educate students on the Holocaust and how her real experiences affected her identity. Being the head of the Jewish Teachers’ Resistance Program must have taken a lot of bravery. She needed to spread the word to as many people possible. Another thing that surprised me was that a form of resistance is just staying alive. This is the most cruel thing for German and Nazis to believe that living is a bad thing. I am proud of Tuvia Bielski’s ability to stand up for the Jews. SInce they had no support or advocates, Tuvia was able to contribute his beliefs to others around him. It is crazy how much her group grew in such a short period of time. Eventually, the Jews’ deaths became meaningful because the more Nazis that were killed, the bigger the chance for the holocaust to be put to an end. Overall, this article made me to better understand the way that Jews resisted and how their determination contributed to their overall freedom. The Holocaust is very interesting and resistance should be discussed more through education.
ReplyDelete- Emma Grace
I never thought the Jews were so resilient thought the holocaust. I didn't know all the ways the Jews were resisting. Before, I thought the Jews would only pray as a way of resistance. After reading your blog, I realised that the Jews also resisted by rebelling and protesting against the Germans. Also, the Jews doing what they could to survive was a way of protesting because it made it harder for the Germans to continue their “ Final Solution.” It’s also striking how the partisans were able to fight against the Germans and kill 300 German soldiers. It touched me how they kept on fighting even though they were at a disadvantage. I personally feel like I would have given up if I was in this situation because there are so many things going against you, and you have almost no power to stop it. But i'm happy the partisans fought back and tried to stand up for their religion and family knowing that they would probably die. It is inspiring how Vlaka Meed would smuggle weapons and smuggled children out of the ghettos. She used her physical appearance as an advantage to deceive the Germans. She is very selfless she risked her life for the lives of the Jews. Its also very important that she started the Jewish teachers’ resistance program, which teaches teachers about the Holocaust, so they can then teach their students about the Holocaust which is a very important event to learn about. I believe that if the Jews would not have fought back the Germans would have won because they would not have to divert their attention to the Jews. That is why it was so important to have groups like the Bielski Otriad that fought against the Germans. I found it surprising that this group had grown to 1200 people. This made me change the way I look at the Jews persistence throughout the holocaust.
ReplyDeleteSebastian Zarta
Sofia Christofaro
ReplyDeleteI think that it is important to address the common misconception that the Jews didn’t try to fight back, and I think this blog entry does an excellent job of bringing light to people who think that. I was very interested in your approach to address this. By asking a rhetorical question that I often ask myself and following it with a direct answer, it successfully gave me an explanation and hooked me to keep reading. I was surprised by how many things the Jews actually did to fight back. Before this unit, I had no idea that something as simple as just surviving was a form of resistance. After covering how they survived, I like how you went back to the original question and made your answer more in-depth about why a lot of them chose to not fight back. I do think the blog was a bit choppy by then going back to physical resistance after this paragraph. Besides that, I think this paragraph is very effective by showing what would happen if they did try to resist by giving an example of an attack that occurred. I like how this paragraph exaggerates the risk that the Jews were taking by attacking the Nazis. I thoroughly enjoyed the section about Vladka Meed because it shows the readers how other people could be upstanders. I was surprised that she was willing to put her life at risk to do whatever she could to preserve the Jews. Although the cruelty of some people blows my mind, the kind and loving upstanders who are willing to fight and resist the perpetrators amaze me even more. I found it interesting that she took many measures to create awareness and make a difference even after the Holocaust. Without Vladka, you wouldn't have as much information and intelligence about the Holocaust, and we wouldn't get as much taught to us in your classroom.
Despite the Jews' dire circumstances and condition, I find it amazing that they had the courage and motivation to fight back. I never thought that Jews carried out such thoughtful and effective resistance. In class today, we discussed that there was both spiritual and physical resistance. I think spiritual resistance was particularly important because simply surviving exhibited the Jews' determination to keep pushing through tough situations. I find it incredible that some did not loose hope and choose to die. Physical resistance was also important because the Jews collaborated to fight against the Germans. I think that the Jews were smart to work together so they could have strength in numbers against the Germans. I was also surprised by the fact that outsiders such as Vladka Meed were willing to risk their lives to help the Jewish people. She is extremely brave for going out of her way to provide the Jews with weapons and help children to escape to Christian homes. I find it interesting that an 'Aryan' appearance was so much more superior to the Jewish people. Because Meed had the 'ideal appearance,' people did not see her as subhuman, and she was able to escape persecution. I was also unaware that resistance groups were so large. For example, Tuvia's group consisted of 1200 people. This shows how many people were willing to risk their lives to help others. If I were a Jew during the Holocaust, it would be extremely difficult for me to resist because I would be putting my life in danger. However, many Jews were courageous and joined forces to resist the Nazi forces. With this new information, I now honor and respect the persecuted Jews so much more because of their efforts and resistance.
ReplyDeleteabove is Ava Harrell
ReplyDeleteHaving read this blog post, I learned that the determination and will of Jews to fight back was much more powerful than I believed. Jews were stripped of most, if not all, of their possessions, yet some were able to rebel against Nazis with small items that they had. In the blog, I learned that some tenacious Jews fought against soldiers with weapons that they still carried. It surprised me to hear that any weapons were not taken away by officials in case of retaliation, but I applaud the people who put them to use to display their perseverance. Fighting back against the injustice was incredibly dangerous, but I am now able to understand that those who fought were showing that they could not sit still and watch terrible treatment occur. They were not scared of the outcome of their resistance because they knew that they were acting with integrity and justice. While reading this blog, it occurred to me that if one was going to resist during the Holocaust, it was to show their defiance and fearlessness. Although some fought back, it was incredibly difficult to get away with it, and there were usually damaging outcomes. Some people on the outside of the fence wanted to resist the inequality and discrimination as well. The description of Vladka Meed showed me that some people resisted even if the unfair treatment didn’t even affect them. She displayed that she did not tolerate the inhumane superiority that Germans felt, so she did as much as she could to relieve Jews from their power. The dedication that Meed had towards helping Jews was inspiring to me because she continuously put her life in danger for innocent people. In addition, Tuvia Bielski and his brother aided many people during the Holocaust since they had not been caught. They organized all-Jew resistance groups, and they truly attempted to make a great impact on those struggling. Many people turned their backs to the appalling and abhorrent actions, but those who wanted to resist actually attempted to make a change despite precarious outcomes.
ReplyDeleteGillian Morano
This blog excerpt showed me how there are many more kinds of resistance than most people think. When I first hear the word “resistance”, I immediately think of armed rebellion and attacks on some sort of overbearing authority. I realized that dying with dignity, surviving, and simply living through constant torment was resistance. I realized how optimistic the Jews became during the Holocaust because they would rejoice simply if they survived, despite their terrible circumstances and unimaginable day-to-day life. It was assuring to know that the Jews didn’t let the Germans use such force against them without any form of resistance, although it was saddening that they had minimal outside support. The word passively is used frequently throughout the blog, which means to accept (fate) without resistance. One of the points made in the excerpt was that, despite common belief, many Jews didn’t go to their death passively. I recalled how in “Night” before prisoners were executed, they shouted an encouraging message or optimistic saying to let everyone know that their deaths weren’t in vain. This was a form of resistance, even prior to death. It was humbling to learn of the courage and selflessness of Vladka Meed, who risked her life to smuggle weapons and place children in safe houses. To know that there were people like Vladka who could’ve easily passed for Aryan and walked outside of the camp freely but instead chose to help those who were imprisoned and saved children’s lives was reassuring and inspiring. I was surprised to hear that that the largest partisan resistance group amassed to over 1,200 members. What surprised me even more was that the group also contained a considerable amount of non-Jews whom provided arms and physical support. It was inspiring to know that even in times where association with Jews would almost certainly result in death, so many people were willing to support the oppressed. Although the number of outside supporters was much less than it should’ve been, it was good to know that there was support of Jewish resistance and that not all those who lost their life died in vain.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this blog post, I was shell shocked. The amount of resistance that the Jews showed despite their constant oppression was staggering. How could they have had the courage to continue on when being beaten and abused day after day. Almost no food and almost no water, but they continued to resist, spiritually or physically. I don’t think that I would have had the courage to do what they were doing. They were so strong despite being so frail of body. They prayed, they drew art, took photos, fought back, and so much more. Most of them did not let their constant state of halfway between death get to them. They continued fighting and resisting the tyrannical Nazis. Vladka Meed especially surprised me. I, until this day, have never even heard of her. She was an amazing person who did so much for the Warsaw Ghetto and the Jews but I never heard of her. It’s proof that the world wants to hide the fact that there was a Holocaust and that it still can happen again! Every day someone is abused because of their race, religion, or even gender. How does the world respond? They cover up the stuff that they don’t want people to see and show the stuff they do. It’s like the man who had the crowd sing antisemitism songs(one of the articles people did for homework 11/18/19). The colleges covered that up and nobody would have even heard about it if it hadn’t leaked out. The world is not going to be a fun place in 50 or 60 years. We will be so worried about being politically correct that we will ignore the antisemitic killings and focus on whether kindergarteners have enough crayons. I am ashamed that the world is becoming this way.
ReplyDelete-Ethan
Ethan Fronapfel ^
DeleteSorry. I forgot to put my last name.
Lila Barenberg
ReplyDeleteBefore reading this blog post and our discussion in class today, I was one of the people who wondered why the Jews did not fight back I thought the Jews were pitiful for not resisting the Nazis; Now I feel guilty for thinking the Jews did nothing to counter the malicious Nazis. They truly did fight back every chance they got despite having no country, resources, or outside support. The Jews tried to withstand the Nazis physically with the limited weapons they could find and by protesting the Nazis. Other ways Jews resisted was that they would keep themselves composed, so the Germans would not get their “final wish,” which was to “gloat over panic and despair.” This resonated with me because the Jewish refused to allow the Germans the satisfaction of killing them and taking their self-worth away too. The way Jews held out against the Nazis that surprised me the most was that they created Holocaust Resistance Programs. For example, Vladka Meed, a member of the Jewish underground in the Warsaw Ghetto, was able to pass as a Christian because of “her "Aryan" appearance, and fluency in Polish” she was able to avoid being recognized and prosecuted as a Jew. She would secretly climb the ghetto concrete walls and put herself in jeopardy to smuggle in weapons into the Ghettos for the Jewish Fighting Organization and help the Jewish children escape to find new homes with Christian citizens. This completely shocked me, no one ever talks about the diligence the Jews put into their countless efforts to resist the Nazis. She was already in danger pretending to be a Christian, but despite that, she continued to strive to help her fellow Jews. Vladka was willing to risk her life to help save her fellow Jews and I respect her and the other victims of the Holocaust who resisted the Nazis.
It is amazing to hear that the Jews did resist the Nazis with little power and back up. It is surprising to hear that little things like just living were considered resistance against the Nazis. It is also hard to remember that the people who had a goal to eliminate the Jews, along with other ‘races’, were normal people. The Jews still stood up for themselves with little to no weapons, risking being killed and were, which demonstrates the amount of wit they had. I love how Vladka Meed and Benjamin Meed continue to spread stories of the Holocaust, regardless of all the gruesome experiences they may have had. They housed Jews and rescued them, regardless of the consequences they would have if caught, which shows their determination and the risks they took. Even though many Jews were killed during the Holocaust and at death camps, it is amazing to hear that the Nazis did not catch all of them and some were able to help the ones that were caught escape. The stories that Jewish Holocaust survivors have lived to share are extremely eye opening and amazing to hear. I especially love the story of Tuvia. The fact that he was able to avoid the Holocaust soldiers and never gave up, shows his dedication to saving the Jews from the anti-sematic Nazis. The anti-nazi groups he organized really seemed to motivate the Jews to stay alive and gave them an effective leadership through a horrible time period. Also, hearing that a high percentage of the Jews he led survived shows how amazing his resistance campaign was. I think that the most interesting part of the Holocaust by far is the amount of people that survived and resisted the Nazis. Even though those that died largely outweigh the ones that survived, it is still amazing to hear the stories of the ones that did survive and can tell of the horrorous stories that occurred during the Holocaust.
ReplyDelete- Emma Groves