Created by Mason Principe, Mitchell Ntuen, Max Maturah & Andrew Sells

Introduction

Ghettos are poor urban areas occupied primarily by a minority group or groups. During WWII, German occupation authorities concentrated Jewish populations in ghettos in urban and regional areas. Ghettos were established across Europe by German forces, with the first one in Poland in October 1939. At this time, the Nazis used the model of the ghettos that originated from the Jewish quarter in Venice, Italy, in 1516.

Video Script

The purpose of the ghettos was to keep the Jews in designated “holding” areas before they were sent off to concentration camps. The Nazis tried to create uninhabitable conditions to discourage survival of their captives. There was little to no food and water. In addition, Overcrowding was extremely common. One apartment might have several families living in it. Contagious diseases spread very easily due to the cramped spaces. diseases were also caused by the unbearable filth in the ghettos. Jews forced into ghettos faced slavery, terrible living conditions, and eventual deportation to concentration camps as part of the genocide. In the Ghettos, people were only given 180 grams of bread. a day, 220 grams of sugar a month, 1kg (2.2 lbs) of Jam, and ½ kg of honey. rations did not meet criteria for even 10 percent of the normal requirements.

Despite the inhumane conditions, people still found small and large ways to resist the Nazi forces and survive the atrocities they faced on a day to day basis. People in ghettos often had to find creative ways to obtain food, medicine, and other essential supplies. For example, people could try to grow secret gardens to salvage as much food as possible. Some individuals attempted to escape from the ghettos, either by finding ways to slip past guards or by seeking assistance from underground resistance movements or sympathetic outsiders. Smuggling was essential for survival but carried significant risks due to the repressive measures of the authorities.

Smuggling wasn’t always a success though, even Smuggling became a lifeline for inhabitants of the ghetto to acquire essential goods, it could be the reason why you were killed. Smuggling was a huge way of resisting the Nazis because the Nazis were very strict about their rules, no smuggling and the smugglers knew the consequences, the death penalty. The German authorities did everything to seal off the ghetto hermetically and not allow in a single gram of food. A wall was put up around the ghetto on all sides that did not leave a single millimeter of open space. David Landau smuggledfood and other things into the ghettos. They fixed barbed wire and broken glass to the top of the wall. When that failed to help, the Judenrat was ordered to make the wall higher, at the expense of the Jews. A Judenrat was an administrative body which purported to represent a Jewish community in dealings with the Nazi Authorities. The Germans required Jews to form Judenräte across the occupied territories at local and sometimes national levels. The walls in the ghettos were guarded by the gendarmerie together with the Polish police; at the ghetto wall there were gendarmerie posts, and Polish police and Jewish police. If someone was to get caught, they would be beaten, tortured, or killed on the spot.

Despite having to go through severe measures just to keep yourself alive, many resistance opportunities were pivotal in changing some of the Ghettos. The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was a concrete example of Jewish resistance in the ghettos. It occurred from April 19th-May 16th of 1943, due to the fact that Nazis aimed to deport the remaining Jews in the ghetto to extermination camps. On November 20, 1943, generał Tadeusz “Bór” Komorowski, commander of the Home Army, ordered Operation Tempest. “This operation was planned as a series of local military uprisings against the Germans, preceding the liberation of Poland by the Red Army” The idea originated from Poland, however general Tadeusz expanded that idea into working with the Red Army. The Home army (run by general Tadeusz) made strategies for each area where uprisings would happen. Since the goal was to disrupt German control and liberate Poland, The Home Army coordinated with different resistance groups and made plans for supplies, communication, and fighting tactics. The uprising was never supposed to happen in Warsaw. Until 1944, when the Home army decided to have the uprising there too.

Despite being vastly outnumbered and outgunned, the Jews physically resisted deportation, resulting in a large amount of deaths. The uprising saw thousands of Jewish casualties, with many losing their lives in the fierce fighting. While the rebellion was eventually condemned by the Nazis, it left a lasting impact on history. The event highlighted the atrocities of the Holocaust and the resilience of the Jewish people in the face of oppression. The courageous stand of the Warsaw Ghetto fighters inspired hope and solidarity among oppressed communities worldwide. Their sacrifice serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of hatred and discrimination.

In1943, the UNRRA was established to aid countries under Nazi occupation and displaced persons. Resulting in displaced person camps being created in occupied zones of Germany, Austria, and Italy for Holocaust survivors and other displaced persons.

On June 22, 1945: U.S. President Truman requested a report on the situation of displaced Jews in Europe. Immigration and resettlement programs were created that are aimed at helping Holocaust survivors find new homes and rebuild their lives. Countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and others implemented programs to admit displaced persons, including Jewish refugees, in the post-war period. Truman’s report also increased humanitarian aid efforts to provide food, clothing, and other essential supplies to displaced Jews and other survivors in Europe. International organizations, relief agencies, and governments worked to address the immediate needs of Holocaust survivors and displaced persons. The people in the camps were mostly survivors rebuilding their lives through marriages and childbirth despite challenges. As well as survivors that had their home destroyed by the Nazi Party. People faced grim conditions in DP camps, including shortages of food, medical supplies, and clothing. However, there were efforts made to establish education, vocational training, and familial connections in DP camps.

On April 15, 1945, The Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was liberated by British forces. So just after liberation, the camp was turned into a displaced persons camp. DP camps became centers for cultural and educational activities, where survivors could engage in religious observances, language classes, vocational training, and other forms of recreation and education. Fast forwarding to April 1948: there were still 165,000 Jewish DPs in Germany. However, the state of Israel was established, so that was a destination for a lot of displaced Jews/Holocaust survivors. Many displaced person camps closed down over time, but it wasn’t until February 1957: when it was the close of the last DP camp, Foehrenwald. Max:The unbreakable human spirit is demonstrated by the tenacity of Jewish Holocaust survivors in their efforts to start again after unfathomable tragedy. By commemorating these survivors’ struggles, we make sure that they are never forgotten and that the horrors committed during the Holocaust are always remembered. Further, the documentation of incidents highlights the terrible realities that Jewish communities, especially those residing in ghettos, face and highlights their incredible resourcefulness and tenacity in the face of great adversity. We honor the bravery and tenacity of people who underwent unfathomable anguish by immortalizing such events. Additionally, this event serves to highlight the systematic oppression and violence faced by Jewish populations during World War II, emphasizing the imperative of remembering and honoring the victims and survivors of the Holocaust. In commemorating these experiences, we affirm our commitment to preserving the memory of those who endured and triumphed over the darkest chapters of history. We honor the bravery and tenacity of individuals who underwent unfathomable hardship by immortalizing such events. The Warsaw uprising galvanized international awareness of the Holocaust and strengthened the resolve to fight against tyranny. Its legacy continues to inspire movements for human rights and justice globally, honoring the memory of those who perished in the struggle for freedom.

Bibliography & Resources

Ghettos. encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/ghettos
“Life in the Ghetto.” Copyright 2024, www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/life-in-the-ghetto.
The Associated Press. “A Firefighter’s 1943 Photos of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Have Been Found.” NPR, 21 Jan. 2023, www.npr.org/2023/01/21/1150586336/warsaw-ghetto-uprising-1943-photos-found.
“Anonymous Diary From the Warsaw Ghetto.” Experiencing History: Holocaust Sources in Context, perspectives.ushmm.org/item/anonymous-diary-from-the-warsaw-ghetto.
—. encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/ghettos.
Music of the Holocaust: Vilna Ghetto. www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/music/vilna-ghetto.asp.
Displaced Persons Camps. www.yadvashem.org/articles/general/displaced-persons-camps.html.
Displaced Persons Camps – the Holocaust Explained: Designed for Schools. 5 Mar. 1933, www.theholocaustexplained.org/survival-and-legacy/survivors-and-dp-era/dp-camps.
Case Study: Warsaw Ghetto – the Holocaust Explained: Designed for Schools. 5 Mar. 1933, www.theholocaustexplained.org/the-camps/the-warsaw-ghetto-a-case-study.
—. “A Firefighter’s 1943 Photos of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Have Been Found.” NPR, 21 Jan. 2023, www.npr.org/2023/01/21/1150586336/warsaw-ghetto-uprising-1943-photos-found.
“—.” Copyright 2024, www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/life-in-the-ghetto.
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“—.” Experiencing History: Holocaust Sources in Context, perspectives.ushmm.org/item/anonymous-diary-from-the-warsaw-ghetto.
The National Archives. “Warsaw Ghetto Uprising – the National Archives.” The National Archives, 21 Sept. 2017, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/holocaust/warsaw-ghetto-uprising.
History, Alpha. “Jewish Resettlement and Ghettos.” The Holocaust, 14 Aug. 2020, alphahistory.com/holocaust/jewish-resettlement-ghettos.
History, Alpha. “Jewish Resettlement and Ghettos.” The Holocaust, 14 Aug. 2020, alphahistory.com/holocaust/jewish-resettlement-ghettos.
IWitness | IWitness – Education Through Genocide Testimony. iwitness.usc.edu/testimony/10080?search=Theodore%20Feder&category=landing&from=%2Fsearch.
—. iwitness.usc.edu/testimony/54012?search=Warsaw%20ghettos%20uprising&category=testimonies&from=%2Fsearch.

—. iwitness.usc.edu/testimony/5644?search=David%20Landau%20&category=testimonies&from=%2Fsearch.

Artifact Statement

Life and Death

We built an artifact to represent the cruelties of the ghettos, and what the “undesirables” needed to do to survive the horrors of the ghettos. People labeled as “undesirables” by hitler included Jews, gypsies, and homosexuals as well as the frail of body or mind. The figures in the art consist of a nazi soldier patrolling the walls to find a Jewish person trying to sneak through a hole in the wall to smuggle food in. Being caught trying to escape or smuggle food in was punished by death. The wall has glass shards at the top to prevent escape. We added these quotes that state, “Thou shalt not be a victim, thou shalt not be a perpetrator, but, above all, thou shalt be a bystander.” The second quote is,”Sometimes the greasiest act of resistance is to keep living.”

The artifact was constructed to capture the idea of the quote “sometimes the greatest act of resistance is staying alive” This is portrayed by the Jewish person risking his life to smuggle in food due to the lack of rations. It also portrays the horrors of the holocaust, seen by the unmerciful acts the Nazis committed. The right and left are supposed to be opposite. The right side shows a run down town surrounded by walls.

We also created an absence of light to make it look scarce of hope, While on the left side shows a prosperous land filled with grass, plants, trees and bright lights. We used our quotes because they are strongly related to our build. The first quote signifies that the Jews were willing to help out the people inside the Ghettos by smuggling food into the Ghettos, so it brings out a somewhat positive aura. The second represents how desperate all the Jews were to be together and stay alive, even though some of them were thinking about themselves, the majority were looking out for each other, due to the circumstances of the concentration camps, so it gives off negative auras.

To make the artifact we have been working for the past two weeks. The ground is made of a piece of wood that has been painted and spray painted. We painted the left green side to represent grass then added turf and pine needles on top. Then we built a small building on the right side with some broken parts on the windows to represent the bad life of the Jews and the tough and life threatening situations they were in.

Personal Reflections

Writing to Understand

Mason Principe, The Fenn School, Class of 2025

Tell…

My name is Mason Principe and my role in the Ghettos project was to create a script for a documentary that we would record. I did this with one other person named Max Maturah. The major theme of my experience was how powerful it was to learn about this dense topic, the Ghettos during the Holocaust and World War 11.

Show…

When we first started writing the script we struggled to organize all of the notes into separate categories. After some thinking we decided that it would be easier for us to split up, I would do the storyboard and Max would start on the script and when I was done I would help him, this worked well because we were saving time. When we were done with the script the easy part came, recording the documentary. Then after the recording we edited it and found pictures.

Think…

This project has helped me grow as a writer and a learner, using all sorts of different skills from note taking to looking strangers in the eyes and explaining the artifact. The thing that was most challenging for me was figuring out where to begin. This was the most challenging because I kept second guessing myself on what was the top priority so that made me restart a couple of times.

Resettlement