Taking a Stand

Andre was 12 years old when Nazis ordered him along with other children to throw stones through Jewish store windows. Andre came home to his father and asked his advice on what to do about it. His father gave him the choice, and Andre decided it would be wrong to carry out the deed. His family left Germany the next day.


Melita Maschmann was well aware of what had happened when she walked through the streets strewn with ash and glass. She knew that Jews were not being treated fairly, but what could she do? She didn't have the power to do anything... besides, the Jews were the enemy, she thought. So although horrible things continued to happen all around her, she chose to go on with her life and block out the injustice that was going on right under her nose.


What would I have done? I would have left the country immediately and promoted justice for the Jews in Germany in other countries that had the power to make a change for the better. I would make a peaceful life in another country and rebel from the borders, where I wouldn't get hurt.

Analyzing Visual Images

1.  Describe what you see in the picture.  Consider color, placement, people and objects, and composition.  Everything that you see.
In this poster, there is a happy family portrayed. They are healthy and smiling. The poster says "Healthy Parents Have Healthy Children"


2.  Interpret:  Guess about the creator is trying to express through the caption and images.  Why is this message being conveyed?
The Nazis are trying to tell people that they need only happy, health people in their county to have a happy, healthy younger generation, A.K.A., not Jews.


Evaluate:  What is the intended purpose of this image?  The intended audience? Does the image achieve its purpose?
They want the whole German population to hate Jews. I think it twisted people's minds enough that they actually believed it.




http://www.ushmm.org/lcmedia/photo/wlc/image/alpha/poster26.jpg

Propaganda and analyzing visual images

Propaganda means an idea being conveyed through the media to the public. The Nazis used propagada a lot because it was an easy was to twist people's thoughts about the Nazi party. They showed posters of how amazing Hitler and Nazis are and how bad and destructive Jews are. No one stopped them from falsely stereotyping. 

Hermann Struts and His Political Views

Hermann Struts is a veteran of WW1.  When the Treaty of Versailles was issued, the sudden poverty of Germany ruined his chances of becoming a major or being promoted, although he was well prepared for a more powerful role. The loss of hope made him bitter towards non-Germans and believes if it wasn't for them, Germany would be much more well off. He is also a very patriotic person. For those reasons, I think he would vote for the Nazi party because they are anti-non-German and want to go against the Treaty of Versailles, strengthening their army and everything.

Response to Readings: "Anger and Humiliation", "Voices in the Dark"

Nazi Party program


Two points of this program that I think are especially unfair:
4. German blood as a requirement for German citizenship. No Jew can be a member of the nation.
Anyone should be able to join whatever country they want to.
7. The state insures that every citizen live decently and earn his livelihood. If it is impossible to provide food for the whole population, the aliens must be expelled.
People should be able to stay with their family and friends in a country, not be forced to come and go, and should be treated with the same respect then other citizens.


"Voices in the Dark"


If I had been on the train I would have told them that was not acceptable and I would have gotten off the train or moved to a different car. I had a similar experience when people were talking in Malay about how fat and dumb and stuff white people were,. I was right there and they probably didn't know I spoke Malay. So to make them embarrassed about what they said, I bid them farewell in Malay and the shocked expression on their faces was priceless.  :)