Resistance During The Holocaust
Between 1941 and 1943, underground resistance movements developed in approximately 100 ghettos in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe (“Jewish”).
The Holocaust was one of the most horrific events to ever occur in human history, and is most commonly known for when the mass murder of over six-million Jewish people took place. In 1939, thousands of Jewish families were forced to leave their homes and live in small, fenced-off areas known as ghettos. With miserable living conditions, and constant Nazi terror, resistance was not easy, but certainly not impossible. During the Holocaust, Jewish people engaged in various forms of armed and unarmed resistance, which maintained their humanity and dignity.
Different acts of unarmed resistance were non-aggressive ways Jewish people would attempt to maintain normal lives, despite of the unfortunate circumstances they were living in. Since the Nazi’s forbade any religious acts, most acts of unarmed resistance were secretive and took place underground. “The Germans forbade religious services in most ghettos, so many Jews prayed and held ceremonies in secret – in cellars, attics, and back rooms – as others stood guard” (“Spiritual”). …show more content…
Unlike unarmed resistance, armed resistance is classified as using physical force to refuse or fight back. Attacking soldiers with weapons, smuggling explosives, and forming revolutionary organizations were the most common forms of armed resistance. “Members of the Jewish Fighting Organization and other Jewish groups attacked German tanks with Molotov cocktails, hand grenades, and a handful of small arms” (“Jewish”). Even though the Jewish people knew they had no chance of defeating their stronger Nazi oppressors, they still fought as a way of not allowing themselves to be willingly slaughtered. Armed resistance was fought for the sake of Jewish honor, for themselves and
The Holocaust was one of the most horrific events to ever occur in human history, and is most commonly known for when the mass murder of over six-million Jewish people took place. In 1939, thousands of Jewish families were forced to leave their homes and live in small, fenced-off areas known as ghettos. With miserable living conditions, and constant Nazi terror, resistance was not easy, but certainly not impossible. During the Holocaust, Jewish people engaged in various forms of armed and unarmed resistance, which maintained their humanity and dignity.
Different acts of unarmed resistance were non-aggressive ways Jewish people would attempt to maintain normal lives, despite of the unfortunate circumstances they were living in. Since the Nazi’s forbade any religious acts, most acts of unarmed resistance were secretive and took place underground. “The Germans forbade religious services in most ghettos, so many Jews prayed and held ceremonies in secret – in cellars, attics, and back rooms – as others stood guard” (“Spiritual”). …show more content…
Unlike unarmed resistance, armed resistance is classified as using physical force to refuse or fight back. Attacking soldiers with weapons, smuggling explosives, and forming revolutionary organizations were the most common forms of armed resistance. “Members of the Jewish Fighting Organization and other Jewish groups attacked German tanks with Molotov cocktails, hand grenades, and a handful of small arms” (“Jewish”). Even though the Jewish people knew they had no chance of defeating their stronger Nazi oppressors, they still fought as a way of not allowing themselves to be willingly slaughtered. Armed resistance was fought for the sake of Jewish honor, for themselves and