Activity
Look at Figs. 23. 24. and 27. Imagine yourself
to be a Jew or a Pole in Nazi Germany is
September 1941. and the law forcing Jems to
wear the Star of David has just been declared
Write an account of one day in your life.
Answers
Answer:
Germany decreed that Jews over the age of six were required to wear a yellow Star of David on their outer clothing in public at all times.
The Nazis in Germany and throughout German-occupied Europe implemented the yellow star as a means to publicly identify, humiliate, and isolate Jews. In many cases, this public identification and stigmatization preceded the mass deportations of Jews to ghettos and killing sites.
On September 1, 1941, the Reich Minister of the Interior decreed that Jews over the age of six in the Greater German Reich were required to wear a yellow Star of David on their outer clothing in public at all times. While ghettos were generally not established in Germany, strict residence regulations forced Jews to live in designated areas of German cities, concentrating them in “Jewish houses” (“Judenhäuser”).
Within Germany, the sight of neighbors forced to wear the yellow badge often elicited sympathy from non-Jewish Germans. This response was widespread enough that the Ministry of Propaganda and Enlightenment felt compelled to issue pamphlets instructing Germans on how they should respond when encountering neighbors wearing the yellow star.
Answer
30th September 1941
Tuesday
10:30 PM
Dear Diary,
Today I started wearing the Star of David, as was instructed by the authorities. This had been distributed by their house to house, to proclaim that I was a Jew. When I went to the office, where there were very few Jews, I was laughed at by many of my colleagues who were not Jews. I was not allowed to enter certain areas of the town, which were open to me earlier.
I was not even allowed to use my motorcycle but had to use public transport. My non-Jew colleagues did not eat with me even during lunch, which was not so much earlier. I felt very much isolated.
I was glad to return home as early as possible in the evening, as Jews are not allowed to stay out after dark. I do not know what our future is - it appears pretty gloomy.
XYZ