Thursday, May 3, 2007
Humble Opinion...
After reading this book, I thought of something that seems stupid. In my opinion, Hitler is a man who God sent to punish the Jews just like he did to the Jews in the Bible. Jews are the people who believe in God, but not in God's son, Jesus. This belief led the Jews into many problems that has been occurred from the year 0. As Gilbert mentions, “The percentage of the Righteous was so small compared with the numbers of Jews who were killed.” I think this indicates that humans cannot stop what God has planned. Although humans tried hard to stop Holocaust, this event is remembered as the most devastating event in human history. I am not saying that Jews are bad or anything, but I believe if Jews accepted Jesus as God's son, then Jews would have lived better lives, and dare I say, Holocaust might not have been occurred. This is just my humble thought that crossed my head after reading this book, and I want to conclude that this book was a pleasure to read.
End of the Journey
Overall, the readings taught me many things. Firstly, I learned that I should always assist the ones who are in need. The people from Norway, Denmark, Germany, and Finland were also in difficult conditions, but they did their best to help the ones who were in the most tragic situations, the Jews. This shows that goodness is present everywhere and we should practice this goodness to make a world a better place. Secondly, I learned that I should appreciate the world that I am living in. Presently, there are no wars going on and I am living in such a peaceful country, Canada. I am able to do what I want to do and I am attending a school that is one of the best schools in the country. Hence, this reading encouraged me to become more mature as a man.
However, the sad part is that “the percentage of the Righteous was so small compared with the numbers of Jews who were killed.” Although there were many people who supported the Jews, these efforts weren't as big as the people who suffered and died. This shows how brutal Holocaust was and people should be educated to prevent events such as this.
However, the sad part is that “the percentage of the Righteous was so small compared with the numbers of Jews who were killed.” Although there were many people who supported the Jews, these efforts weren't as big as the people who suffered and died. This shows how brutal Holocaust was and people should be educated to prevent events such as this.
Norway, Finland, and Denmark
This chapter focuses on three countries: Norway, Finland, and Denmark. There were number of Jews lived in these three countries and Germany continued to force these three countries to send the Jews to them. However, it was not as easy as the Germans thought.
“The Church has God’s call and full authority to proclaim God’s law and God’s Gospel. Therefore, it cannot remain silent when God’s commandments are being templed underfoot. And now it is one of Christianity’s basic values which is being violated; the commandment of God which is fundamental to all society… Stop the persecution of Jews and stop the race hatred which, through the press, is being spread in our land.” This quote shows what the most Norway people thought. They thought that Jews are the same God's people, which assisted them to save Jews.
When Germany asked for the deportation of Jews, they could not refuse since they had not enough national power. Hence, they did their best to save as much people as possible durin the deportation. In Norway, several hospitals in Oslo, and also in Lillehammer, had become centres for hiding Jews until rescue could be arranged. Also, many Norwegians took part in smuggling Jews across the border between norway and Sweden. This underground effors in transporting Jews across Norway to safety in Sweden has resulted in saving hundreds of Jews, which was a somewhat successful outcome.
Moreover, Germany also asked Finland for deportation. "SS demanded that all the remaining German-and Austrian-born Jews in Finland be handed over." Although the protest were immidiate, the Finnish Cabinet agreed. However, Finland's SS chief, Heinrich Himmler changed his mind and refused to allow any further deportations. This saved 2000 Jews.
Lastly, Denmark faced similar event. While SS was looking for an opportunity to deport Denmark's Jews, "all groups of the Danish population went into action in order to save the Jews. Dozens of protests poured into the offices of the German authorities from Danish economic and social organizations." One of these protesters, Dr. Jorgen Gersfelt, helped more than a thousand Jews across The Sound from the harbour at Snekkersten. Also, they did not agree on the deportation, which shows that Danes' support for the Jews was remarkable.
Therefore, all three countries were very supportive, which helped the Jews to survive from that tragic event.
“The Church has God’s call and full authority to proclaim God’s law and God’s Gospel. Therefore, it cannot remain silent when God’s commandments are being templed underfoot. And now it is one of Christianity’s basic values which is being violated; the commandment of God which is fundamental to all society… Stop the persecution of Jews and stop the race hatred which, through the press, is being spread in our land.” This quote shows what the most Norway people thought. They thought that Jews are the same God's people, which assisted them to save Jews.
When Germany asked for the deportation of Jews, they could not refuse since they had not enough national power. Hence, they did their best to save as much people as possible durin the deportation. In Norway, several hospitals in Oslo, and also in Lillehammer, had become centres for hiding Jews until rescue could be arranged. Also, many Norwegians took part in smuggling Jews across the border between norway and Sweden. This underground effors in transporting Jews across Norway to safety in Sweden has resulted in saving hundreds of Jews, which was a somewhat successful outcome.
Moreover, Germany also asked Finland for deportation. "SS demanded that all the remaining German-and Austrian-born Jews in Finland be handed over." Although the protest were immidiate, the Finnish Cabinet agreed. However, Finland's SS chief, Heinrich Himmler changed his mind and refused to allow any further deportations. This saved 2000 Jews.
Lastly, Denmark faced similar event. While SS was looking for an opportunity to deport Denmark's Jews, "all groups of the Danish population went into action in order to save the Jews. Dozens of protests poured into the offices of the German authorities from Danish economic and social organizations." One of these protesters, Dr. Jorgen Gersfelt, helped more than a thousand Jews across The Sound from the harbour at Snekkersten. Also, they did not agree on the deportation, which shows that Danes' support for the Jews was remarkable.
Therefore, all three countries were very supportive, which helped the Jews to survive from that tragic event.
Poland: The Gerneral-Government
Martin Gilbert quotes, "For Polish children playing there to discover groups of these Jews hiding: they had been taught to hate Jews, so they told the municipal authorities, who in turn handed the Jews over to the German to be killed." Just like most Germans, Polish children were brainwashed during this time period. They were taught to hate Jews without knowing the reason.
However, there were lots of people who were moral, who were able to determine what is right and wrong. For instance, Wladislaw Misiuna stole food for the ten Jewish girls who were working under his supervision in a rabbit-breeding farm belonging to the commander of an ammunition factory in the city. Also, Family of Andrzej Kolacz opened their small dwelling to Jews desperate to avoid deportation and death. The family continued to feed and protect those in hiding until the day of liberation; and Jan and Maria Wikiel took young Jewish people into their farm. One man quotes, "Jan and Maria risked their lives by bringing us food and emptying our chamber pot everyday.”
Although these people knew that they were risking their lives for Jews, they decided to risk their lives. There were attacks from Polish Hooligans daily, which shows that the living conditions were extremely horrible. Despite these living conditions, Polish people shared what tehy had with the Jews until the liberation.
Because of these righteous acts, Jews celebrate Polish people for their help during this time period. "More than five thousand Polish non-Jews being honoured for saving Jewish lives, Yad Vashem in Jerusalem received more than ten thousand notarized testimonies from those who were saved." Also, a survivor from the southern Polish town of Rzeszow, Henry Herzog, wrote from his home in the U.S: ‘I am alive today due to the courage of three Gentile Poles.”
Therefore, the Polish people's righteous was significant, which assisted thousands of Jews to live their lives until the present.
However, there were lots of people who were moral, who were able to determine what is right and wrong. For instance, Wladislaw Misiuna stole food for the ten Jewish girls who were working under his supervision in a rabbit-breeding farm belonging to the commander of an ammunition factory in the city. Also, Family of Andrzej Kolacz opened their small dwelling to Jews desperate to avoid deportation and death. The family continued to feed and protect those in hiding until the day of liberation; and Jan and Maria Wikiel took young Jewish people into their farm. One man quotes, "Jan and Maria risked their lives by bringing us food and emptying our chamber pot everyday.”
Although these people knew that they were risking their lives for Jews, they decided to risk their lives. There were attacks from Polish Hooligans daily, which shows that the living conditions were extremely horrible. Despite these living conditions, Polish people shared what tehy had with the Jews until the liberation.
Because of these righteous acts, Jews celebrate Polish people for their help during this time period. "More than five thousand Polish non-Jews being honoured for saving Jewish lives, Yad Vashem in Jerusalem received more than ten thousand notarized testimonies from those who were saved." Also, a survivor from the southern Polish town of Rzeszow, Henry Herzog, wrote from his home in the U.S: ‘I am alive today due to the courage of three Gentile Poles.”
Therefore, the Polish people's righteous was significant, which assisted thousands of Jews to live their lives until the present.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Germans Beyond Germany
This chapter is one of the chapters that is most memorable for me. Stereotypically, Germans were considered as the people who despised the Jews. However, this chapter showed me that this is a stereotype.
"Major Helmrich hid some of his workers in his home, and secured the release of others who had already been rounded up for deportation by insisting that they were needed 'for the proper functioning of the farm." Although Major Helmrich had high position, he was a man who was different from other Germans. He even wrote false papers to send his people to better-conditioned places.
Moreover, Major Karl Plagge asked his superiors if he could set up a special labour camp for his Jewish workers next to his Motor Vehicle Repair Park, in order to protect them from the regular raids on the ghetto. There's another major who sacrificed himself to save number of people. One man quotes, "Mr. Plagge could have got into serious trouble by doing so." This remark shows that Major Plagge did lots of work that is illegal to protect Jewish people. Some of the works he did are: "first when the ghetto was being liquidated in September 1943, and again in the das before liberation when he warned them again of the impending arrival of the SS.”
There are also other men such as Arthur Schade, Otto Busse, Hans-Georg Calmeyer, Dr Gerhard, and Alfred Rossner. They all worked for the liberation of Jews in the West and they were very provocative.
Those are the men who were in the West Germany. Gilbert presents Germans in the East who helped the Jews to get better living standards. For instance, Oskar Schinder is one of the men who saved lots of Jews. Since he was so famous, Steven Spielberg directed movie of him. He "had saved more than fifteen hundred Jews by employing them in his factories, and treating them humanely." Not only Schindler, but also Herman Friedrich Graebe, Julius Madritsh and Titsch were the poeple who took part of that righteous.
Therefore, these Germans, both from West and East, are very memorable for me because they changed my perspective of Germans a lot.
"Major Helmrich hid some of his workers in his home, and secured the release of others who had already been rounded up for deportation by insisting that they were needed 'for the proper functioning of the farm." Although Major Helmrich had high position, he was a man who was different from other Germans. He even wrote false papers to send his people to better-conditioned places.
Moreover, Major Karl Plagge asked his superiors if he could set up a special labour camp for his Jewish workers next to his Motor Vehicle Repair Park, in order to protect them from the regular raids on the ghetto. There's another major who sacrificed himself to save number of people. One man quotes, "Mr. Plagge could have got into serious trouble by doing so." This remark shows that Major Plagge did lots of work that is illegal to protect Jewish people. Some of the works he did are: "first when the ghetto was being liquidated in September 1943, and again in the das before liberation when he warned them again of the impending arrival of the SS.”
There are also other men such as Arthur Schade, Otto Busse, Hans-Georg Calmeyer, Dr Gerhard, and Alfred Rossner. They all worked for the liberation of Jews in the West and they were very provocative.
Those are the men who were in the West Germany. Gilbert presents Germans in the East who helped the Jews to get better living standards. For instance, Oskar Schinder is one of the men who saved lots of Jews. Since he was so famous, Steven Spielberg directed movie of him. He "had saved more than fifteen hundred Jews by employing them in his factories, and treating them humanely." Not only Schindler, but also Herman Friedrich Graebe, Julius Madritsh and Titsch were the poeple who took part of that righteous.
Therefore, these Germans, both from West and East, are very memorable for me because they changed my perspective of Germans a lot.
The Journey Begins...
Today, my new journey begins with the book The Righteous by Martin Gilbert. I picked up this book because this book looks at another perspective of Holocaust. Generally, Holocaust is considered as one of the most disastrous event in human history. As Gilbert quotes, "the mass murder of Jews began on a scale hitherto unknown: hundreds, sometimes thousands, sometimes tens of thousands, being killed every day." Due to these horrible conditions, people not only try to find new places to stay, but also they get killed for no reasons. However, Gilbert focuses on the people who tried to save the Jews, not the people who hectored Jews. Also, this is the reason I picked up this book because since I am a Christian, I should learn how to assist others in various situations. Therefore, I hope to learn a lot from this book with spending enjoyable time reading it.
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