Why resistance? (Due Thu., Mar. 20)

[freemanjud]

Post: Why resistance?
Due: Thursday, March 20, 2003

Resistance was not easy for the victims of the Holocaust. It wasn’t easy, either, for bystanders to become active resisters. There were plenty of obstacles, most of which were fairly overwhelming. This is why examples of resistance are so noteworthy during the Nazi era.

Resistance takes many forms—armed, unarmed, spiritual, psychological, ideological are among them. Some say that mere survival was resistance of the first order.

From Mordecai Anielewicz’s letter, written just two weeks before his death on May 8, 1943, we see that, for him, the act of armed resistance practiced under the most extreme circumstances by the last remaining residents of the Warsaw ghetto, was so important—literally and symbolically. Based on what you’ve seen in this class and at the Holocaust Museum, and what you’ve read in various readings, including Maus, what, in your view, is the significance of resistance of any kind during the Nazi regime? Explain why.

*****************************************
It is now clear to me that what took place exceeded all expectations. In our opposition to the Germans we did more than our strength allowed - but now our forces are waning. We are on the brink of extinction. We forced the Germans to retreat twice -but they returned stronger than before.

One of our groups held out for forty minutes; and another fought for about six hours. The mine which was laid in the area of the brush factory exploded as planned. Then we attacked the Germans and they suffered heavy casualties. Our losses were generally low. That is an accomplishment too. Z. fell, next to his machine gun.

I feel that great things are happening and that his action which we have dared to take is of enormous value.

We have no choice but to go over to partisan methods of fighting as of today. Tonight, six fighting-groups are going out. They have two tasks - to reconnoiter the area and to capture weapons. Remember, "short-range weapons" are of no use to us. We employ them very rarely. We need many rifles, hand-grenades, machine-guns and explosives.

I cannot describe the conditions in which the Jews of the ghetto are now "living." Only a few exceptional individuals will be able to survive such suffering. The others will sooner or later die. Their fate is certain, even though thousands are trying to hide in cracks and rat holes. It is impossible to light a candle, for lack of air. Greetings to you who are outside. Perhaps a miracle will occur and we shall see each other again one of these days. It is extremely doubtful.

The last wish of my life has been fulfilled. Jewish self-defense has become a fact. Jewish resistance and revenge have become actualities. I am happy to have been one of the first Jewish fighters in the ghetto.

Where will rescue come from?

Mordecai Anielewicz, During the Revolt, Warsaw, April 1943

[RTCC]

During the Holocaust, Jews were not safe; being moved around, sent to ghettos, prisons, concentration camps, and even killed. However, in the Warsaw ghetto, the Jews fought back, and began a resistance unmatched at that time. However, this resistance was only one of many throughout the Holocaust. These forms of resistance helped in their own way to end the Nazi power. Whether a person saved records of their struggles, saved their uniforms, even just surviving helped to preserve the memories of the past and to show the world the cruelty of the Nazi's actions. These actions also helped maintain morale among people whom the majority lost faith in their God. In MAUS, even Vladjek said: "God doesn't come to this place". He, and others like him, who lost all faith, were able to live on after the war, for even if they didn't believe in God. Their hope, as well as a bit of luck, helped them "brave the storm".
In the Warsaw ghetto, the resistance there not only gave hope to others who heard about it, but it was also a wake-up call for the Nazis. As they planned to eradicate the ghetto, people revolted. They refused to be let down, and that's what mattered in the end.

[Artisto02]

Resistance during the Holocaust has so many facets. As talked of previously, there is armed, spiritual, ideological, and unarmed resistance to name a few. But durinmg the Holocaust, despite the differences in resistance action, I think it is also multifaceted in terms of effect. The Holocaust was a major effort predicated on the anihalation of certain populations of people. Resistance to the mass killing machine of the Nazi regime would have been greatly effective, had the Nazi's been toppled by such. However, I am unaware of any circumstances in which resistance helped end the Nazi takeover of Europe. Despite the absence of actual physical or political change on a large scale( I don't ignore the Warsaw Ghetto uprising), the resistance by victims, bystanders, and perpetrators has remarkable symbolic effect. The ultimate death of populations, such as the put down of partisans in the Warsaw Ghetto, proves that despite the conviction of martyrdom, such actions were, on a political scale, ineffective. However, these actions proved to the Nazi's, the bystanders, and to themselves that their cause and action had meaning. By fighting back, surviving or dying trying, housing victims, smuggling goods, turning a shoulder, or disobeying arbitrary laws or such, each person of resistance is making a great statement, though it may not be felt in the decisions of leaders or armies. In some way, I see all resistance acted upon during the Holocaust as symbolic, aiding the mind rather than the physical suffering. The Holocaust brutalized peoples, and was blinded to opposition or causes of humanity. Whereas, during the Civil Rights Movement, for example, peaceful protest conveyed to our government that change was needed, this was impossible under the Nazi regime. Resistance during the Holocaust was for the mere cause of humanity, and not aimed at tearing down the Nazi's. Where life was threatened, people indirectly resisted against the Nazi regime, but more directly they resisted simply against the gun pointed to their heads. From what we have read, including Vladek's experience retold in Maus, there was a constant preoccupaton with survival, a form of resistance in itself, but, direct action against the Nazi's wasn't always present. We see these events through differently tinted glasses than those who were affected by such horrors. I think, though may be ignorant of much, that resistance during the Holocaust was aimed simply against death, and it is significant in the survival of all those targeted by the Nazi's. Their life is both a symbolic and physical reminder of their resistance.

[strawberry]

From the begining of this year, we have learned so much about the Holocaust and the millions of people effected by it. Throughout the years of Nazi persecution, the Jews had to come up with small, deceptive ways of resistence. In the ghetto, the men and woman who daily defied the rules and regulations to smuggled food and sometimes humans in and out. There were secret newspapers printed, secret meetings held and weapons were sometimes smuggled as well. While there was never a huge Resistance force in the ghettos, it was the mere fact that there were some people who were able to get by the Nazi soldiers. The thought that there was a secret force in the ghettos that broke the rules made more of a difference than most would think. They were the little beacons of light in a time a seemingly constant darkness.
In Maus, Vladek was able to survive all those years because of the little examples of resistance along the way. Even if it was as little as sneaking an extra piece of bread or another spoon for a friend, it was these little acts of kindness (that came with a huge cost) that helped people prevail.
In Anielewicz's letter he says at the end. "Jewish self-defense has become a fact. Jewish resistance and revenge have become actualities." For many Jews, it wasn't the fact that most forms of resistance, even the Warsaw Ghetoo Uprising, were eventually supressed...it was the fact that they exsisted and became a real part of the struggle. The Nazis were a force unparalled to anything in Europe duing the late 1930's and early 1940's, and the fact that the Jewish people, starving and alone, were able to rise about the risks and stand up for themselves is remarkable. It is too bad that by the time someone was able to answer Anieleqicz's question, "Where will rescue come from?" until it was too late for him.

[Sunshine123]

By all means I agree with the quote by Mordecai Anielewicz who witnessed the Warsaw revolt when he states, "I feel that great things are happening and that this action which we have dared to take is of enormous value." This resistance in the Warsaw ghetto successfully killed many Nazis and was not only armed resistance, but also psychological resistance. This was probably proof to many of the individuals suffering in the ghetto that there was hope and that there was a way to fight back against these inhumane individuals. The fact that the resistors were for the most part successful for a little while also most likely invoked hope into the suffering members of the ghetto. Also I agree with Arista02's statement about how resistance was a major symbolic effect. Now although these people may have been given this hope it most likely only lasted for awhile. Whether they did not realize that the Germans would thus punish them more after resistance or whether they just wanted to enjoy it for the moment is unknown. However although this action was of great importance the consequences were still terrible. Still although it was short lived many of these individuals who would have eventually died anyways could still be proud of their audacity to stand up against these individuals. Therefore although the Germans in the long run did not suffer from this uprising it did help, even if for only a brief moment, with the morale of those who were suffering.

[lettus03]

Throughout this year, this course has taught us that resistance is just one possible way to fight reisistance. Maus and the things we saw at the Holocaust Museum helped us to understand the various forms of resistance and how people reseisted the opressive Nazi regime. For some during this time, reisistance was the only way that they could survive or to help others survive. In the Warsaw ghetto, Some Jewish had enough courage and strength to rise up and fight for their freedom. Perhaps these actions swayed others to join in resistance and to fight off the evil Nazi regime. Others maybe looked to the actions of those in the Warsaw ghetto and saw that they maybe could do the same.

Although we have learned that resistance can be in any form, I feel that especially in the Warsaw ghetto, violence was necessary for fighting off the Nazis. How else were the Jewish supposed to fight the nazis. They were practically defenseless. But they somehow found a way to get weapons and to fight for what they believed, and to fight for their freedom. They needed, "rifles, hand-grenades, machine-guns and explosives" in order to fight. Resistance played an important part in keeping people alive and keeping their morale somewhat elevated. Although the uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto failed, it served as an example of what having strength, courage and a want to eradicate evil could do. I also feel that any one person who resisted the practices of the Nazi regime had to have first menatl resistance. Without it, they may have not succeeded.

[Iluminaria]

Any kind of resistance during the Nazi regime, whether on the part of the Nazi or the victims, is symbolic, spiritual and psychological whether unarmed or armed, and any kind of resistance that was done during this time is, in my belief, extremely courageous just because of the fact that it was a matter of life or death in whichever way you looked at it, whether you were a victim or Nazi. If a Nazi soldier decided to disobey orders given to him, refuse to say heil Hitler, helped Jews escape or hide, or cover up for a person who was helpng Jews escape or hide, to them would be risking their lives because they probably didn;t realize how easily they could've gotten loose from what they were ordained. Any of these kinds of resistance woud be symbolic because they went against what the general public was doing and there was a great amount of risk in it, it would be spiritual because whether you didn't believe in God or not or have some kind of religious belief or not obviously if you used some kind of resistance you believed in enough morals to take action and act courageously and you would also have faith in your judgement of what's right...and that to me consists of spirituality because of that presence of faith and action. It would also be psychological because your conscience plays a role in deciding whether or not to risk your life or humiliation, but then again live with fact that you could've done something to make things better for a victim or to even save their life or just to do what you thought was right. For the victims it's essentially the same thing in that it was symbolic because you were risking your life, although I;m sure for some life wasn;t a priority, probably food was, or some just gave up hope. Spiritually you had to have faith in order to resist, whether you believed in God or not, because obviously you were doin it for a reason and that led to u having courage in either takin up arms or saving someone else's life or givin food to others, etc. And those reasons could've been revenge, morals, religious beliefs, etc. but you had some kind of faith in order to take an action of resistance. Psychologically, the action you take whether armed or unarmed, makes your conscience play a big role in not only if you take any action but also what type of action...like if you decide to help your friend, depending on what kind of person you are and what your conscience is telling you, you can either help that person, depending in the circumstances, from something like giving him some of your food to risking your life for that person, it takes much faith and courage though. Overall the acts of resistance during the Nazi regime are symbolic, whether small or largely acclaimed, because not only do they take these forms aforementionedwhether the person is a Nazi or victim, but in most of the times it what a question of life or death, and resistance in these situations just shows how many people can be extremely courageous and have faith no matter what, to the disappointment of the Nazi who just expected to have an easy extermination, but to the satisfaction of us who are glad to hear stories of faith (which also considers survivors) and those survivors as well as dead who looked up to those who resisted and either grew deeper in faith or were motivated to act themselves either armed or unarmed. Every survivor has a story of resistance because of faith, without faith they probably would'nt be here with us now...if they left themselves to survive it was for a reason...it was to await for something...it was to have faith something happen, either for their better or worse, but at least they did their part in resisting death and that is the hardest kind of resistance...and that was significant for everyone of those lives saved.

[veritas]

Resistance takes numerous forms, from disobeying laws to fighting back to surviving, yet their success is contingent upon several things: the will, tremendous courage, and luck. Without all three combined the chance of success is slim and even then the resistor and quite possibly his/her family and friends will lose their lives resisting. In cases where either victims or bystanders did not resist it is unfair to pass absolute judgment on their decisions, for we have not the slightest idea of what it is like to live in constant fear, for oneself and for one’s family.

Resistance is significant because it signals to the oppressor that he has not conquered the spirit of the resistor. It is much more a symbolic event, though in great enough numbers it can change the outcome of a war. It also provides a huge morale boost to victims. As Mordecai Anielewicz noted in his letter,

The last wish of my life has been fulfilled. Jewish self-defense has become a fact. Jewish resistance and revenge have become actualities. I am happy to have been one of the first Jewish fighters in the ghetto.

After the Warsaw ghetto uprising the Jews no longer felt like they were sheep being led to the slaughter. Through resistance they now had some control of their fate, even if it still meant death.

[seventhlevel]

Resisting was a very costly thing for the people who fought in the Warsaw Ghetto, and for anyone who opposed the Nazis. And while armed resistance is incredible, amazing, and beyond the expectations of everyone involved, the stories I've heard about spiritual and mental resistance have always moved me the most.
I do not know if just surviving is a way of resisting the Nazis. For Nesse Godin, it certainly was. Hitler did not conquer her spirit or her life. But for others, who in their desperation to survive, stole from each other, and did bad things to survive, I do not know if I can admire their resistance as much. They may have survived, but at what cost to the other unfortunate? But perhaps, we can not expect people to be noble, while they starve. I cannot say; I have never known what it is to be truly hungry, starving, and seeing some who will surely die eating food, that could sustain my life. I do not know.
But for those who smuggled Bibles into the concentration camps (a book called The Hiding Place), for those who helped one another, who loved in the face of so much hate, who wore the Star of David with the Jewish people of their community, who refused to say "Heil Hitler," who stole spark plugs, and reminded the Nazis that they were killing people, not things, I am sure of their greatness. And still the survivors resist. Like Nesse Godin who tells her tale to people, like survivors who wrote memoirs, and the people who built the Holocaust Memorial Museum, they are all resisters of hate and of the Holocaust.
Many risked their lives in their tiny resistances. Those who refused to give food to the Nazis, or join their party despite the benefits took a great risk. While we know that some resistance had little consequences, we also cannot forget that other resistance had incredible consequences. Hiding a wanted Jew or other person, could and mostly did cost you a train to a concentration camp, and your family too.
And although I've never heard this, and do not know it is true, I know that people who went to their deaths in gas chambers resisted it by smiling in the face of death, by singing in their head, and by dancing in their spirit. If I have learned nothing else in Facing History that is really positive, I have learned that the human spirit and the human will conquers the death of the body.
And why is such amazing resistance so important? Because we know that one person can make a difference, an individual who takes a stand has the strength of ten who follow such evil in the world. It gives us hope today because we know that there did exist people who did not believe what Hitler did was right, and it gives us hope because we know that people who do good things are just as numerous, or almost as numerous as people who do bad things. Because there are so many forms of resistance, we can never know how many truly resisted. But I imagine, it was in fact many more than followed Hitler sincerely. Each person can make a difference, even if just for a moment; not everyone can risk it all for the sake of others and resistance, we cannot expect everyone to do that for the questions that arise in terms of morality, etc., but the moment, it made a difference.

[Melisande]

Considering the importance of resistance, in all its forms, it is shocking how little of it there was during the Holocaust. Resistance, in any form, is a sign of an active mind, of individualism--an unwillingness to merely be led. When that is taken into account, the lack of resistance becomes less surprising (an experiment in obedience), but no less shocking--for the lack of resistance implies the unconsciousness of millions of people.
Resisting was indeed risky. For the Jews and other targeted groups, it meant an earlier death. Too many people failed to wake up and recognize that they were dying anyway. The uprising in the Warsaw ghetto was an act of desperation--too little, too late. Resistance from non-targeted populations would have been far riskier for those people, for they had more to lose. Still, some of them resisted. Those who chose to involve themselves in a struggle that would not necessarily affect them are the ones who truly struck a blow to the Nazi regime. Acts of desperation (such as the Warsaw ghetto uprising) are all well and good, but in the end they remain that: acts of desperation. And by that definition, they lack the significance of the less desperate resistance.
The resistance on the part of the Jews did have some significance, though. It showed that the Nazi's victims were not asleep, content, and accepting their fate. But especially in the eyes of the Nazis, struggle would have been seen as something base, something to quell, and nothing to worry about--the troublemakers would all die anyway. Any resistance from members of the Reich, however, would not have been so easily discounted, especially on a widespread level. The resistance of a single Nazi officer would have had more significance than 100 ghetto uprisings, as it would have upset the balance of power. And the resistance of a single German citizen, however ineffectual, could also have saved lives.
This does not discount the significance of the Warsaw ghetto uprising. Jews fighting back, bringing hope to those left--giving people the will to live, even. That is as necessary, in a way, as having the means to live. But the means, at that time, needed to be given by others.

[twink1129]

We have seen the Nazi propaganda films. We have heard about the certain benefits citizens would gain by joining the Nazi party. We have also read reasons why resisting the Nazis would be extremely difficult for families simply trying to get by. Threats of death, harm to family members, and even transportation into death camps were certainly reasons why people would not actively resist the Nazis. However, those who did resist were extremely brave and just.

Resistance during the Nazi regime was extremely significant. As Strawberry posted, Vladek would not have survived without the help of those who were resisting. His wife would not have survived either without the smuggled bits of food and the hope that she would see Vladek again. Sunshine123 agreed with the quote, “I feel that great things are happening and that his action which we have dared to take is of enormous value”. I also agree. The value of the resistance was huge. As we mentioned in class, any type of resistance, great and small, aided the Jews and hurt the Nazi goals of extermination. It is all about the choices people made. People actively chose to hide Jews in their homes. Resisters actively chose to print secret newspapers and inform other nations of what was occurring in Germany. Most importantly, resisters chose to use their free will. They fought against the control and the brainwashing of the Nazi regime.

Symbolically, the resisters represented the “good side” and the hope that the targeted groups would soon be free from torture, random killings, unimaginable suffering, and the constant fear.

[Casagi]

What is so incredible about resistors during this period? Simple. They valued their ideals of humanity above their lives. They examined the risks of their resistance, which were probable, with their chances of success, which were slim, and still they decided to fight.
Bystanders had difficulty resisting, because the first people the Nazis put into concentration camps were political dissidents. Imagine if everyone protesting the war started to be taken away and not returning. Far fewer people would have the courage to speak out if their were serious consequences.
It must have been almost impossible to resist in ghettos and camps. Not enough food, no weapons, and well-fed, well-armed Nazis watching your every mood, ready to arbitrarily search you or beat you or kill you.
Imagine how hard it would be to convince people to join your movement. People were probably trying to hope for the best, hope that they would survive somehow. Hope that their fate would be better than those who had gone before them. Certain that the war would end soon.
Without resisting, you could tell yourself that there was a chance . Resisting would basically seal your fate. How could anyone possibly survive concentration camps without going through some sense of denial?
The fact tha people in the Warsaw uprising were even physically able to organize and execute an efficient rebellion is incredible. Their visible revolt was surely a ray of hope for all who heard about it.
That's what made their resistance so significant. Mordecai Anieliwicz had no illusions. He and a handful of compatriots weren't going to wipe out the Nazi army and they knew it. But they also knew that their uprising could inspire others to do the same.
Even now, hearing about this rebellion could inspire the oppressed. If people in such a dire situation managed to resist, so can almost anyone else.
Emphasizing the Warsaw ghetto uprising is not meant to detract from the quieter (though in some ways more effective) reesistance, like the hiding of Jews and the efforts of the White Rose organization to spread anti-Nazi ideas. As long as people can see the resistance movement, they can join it or just take courage from it. And that's what's important.

[starseeker]

After many months of learning about human beings' astounding capacity for evil deeds and wondering if we live in a world of cowardly, ambivalent bystanders, it is both refreshing and inspiring to hear about those who had the courage (and the opportunity) to resist. Mordecai Anielewicz's words ring true: "I feel that great things are happening and that this action which we have dared to take is of enormous value." Those in the Warsaw ghetto could have relinquished all hope and surrendered to the Nazis, who clearly had the upper hand in the uprising. Instead, they died fighting, and in doing so, died with dignity. The story Ms. Freeman told us about the three women who helped organize the blowing up a gas chamber in Auschwitz was even more extraodinary. In the face of starvation, stripped of decent clothes and much of their humanity, having endured torture and humiliation and continual persecution, how did these inmates find the strength to resist? To echo another poster, it demonstrates the power of the mind over the body; it is a powerful testament to the human spirit. Armed resistance was not always possible because of the difficulty of procuring weapons, as we discussed in class - unfortunate, since it was the best way of openly defying the Nazis. That isn't to say that other forms of resistance weren't equally commendable or effective, however. Those who hid targeted people or helped them to escape saved thousands of lives, after all. Melisande expressed her surprise at how few actually resisted, but the fear is understandable; the decision to put one's life and the lives of loved ones on the line is an agonizing one. It took guts to refuse to say "Heil Hitler" or salute the flag; it took guts to wear the Star of David along with the persecuted; it took guts to be a member of the White Rose. I have the utmost respect for inmates who clung to their sense of self by secretly praying or creating art; in doing so, they risked their lives, but perhaps it hardly mattered to them at that point, because the pleasure of temporary escape from the bleakness of the present was so compelling. I feel put to shame by these people; they seem so pure. (Dangerous to idealize - they're human - but still). I'm so ambivalent in comparison. For instance, I'm anti-war, but until recently I never went to a protest - and yes, now I'll keep going to protests, but even though I put myself in no danger with my stance, my actions, I wonder if it's worth it, since we ARE going to war; nothing I do can change that. It is so easy to despair, to throw up one's hands and say, "I give up." The resisters exhibited such heroism! Seventhlevel raised an interesting point about whether survivors who stole from fellow inmates to survive were really resisting. Maybe it's possible to be both a perpetrator and a resister - what a moral conondrum - the whole system is certainly more complicated than I'd ever imagined.

Sometimes, it's better to die. I would rather die than be brainwashed. I think of Winston in 1984 and how in the end he loved Big Brother. Everyone has a breaking point - that's more frightening to me than anything - that our minds can be broken and remolded. Another thought: In "Swing Kids," a disabled character named Arvid commits suicide rather than submit to the Nazis. Maybe some people would say that was a selfish and cowardly act; that suicide is letting "them" win, that it is inexcusable. Well, I disagree. I would rather die by my own hand than at the hands of a hated enemy, if it were certain that the enemy would kill me. It is a way of exhibiting control when the world has gone mad. Of course, once in the camps, it would be hard to find the means to make such a choice... Thus, for inmates, perhaps it wasn't an option.

[Goldfinger]

Reading a letter written during the warsaw uprising was very interesting. Instead of inferring our own meanings of resistance to this event we actually got to see what was going through a resistor's head as these events were unfolding. It is incredible to see what was going through his head especially about his thoughts on the significance of this movement and his concerns about continuing it. This was possibly the most significant symbolic form of resistance i have encountered during the Holocaust. These people were the last survivors of the ghetto and had undergone unimmaginable pain just to survive. They were undoubtedly weak and they probably had little passion or moral anymore. However, the fact that they overcame these things and were able to fight for days and days with practically no food and water and meager munitions is truly a defiant way of saying that they may die but will never be defeated. That may seem a bit oxymoronic, but by fighting back they asserted themselves as humans worthy of life.

The resistance put forth by different groups during the Nazi regime was extremely significant. By going against what the government ordered, it was asserting that the government did not have support of most of the people in Germany. When ordinary citizens exercised any form of resistance the situation may have seemed less hopeless and encouraged other forms of resistance from different people. All resistance has to start with a single act of defiance. Regardless of how small of a pebble you throw into a pond, it will cause a ripple that spreads through the water. I guess these acts of resistance were tiny ripples at times that would eventualyl build up to a wave that would reach so far as an attempt to blow up Hitler. This defiance gave people hope that eventually the right thing will be done.

[Magentaisblue]

Resistance above all is a symbolic message. I think it is a message to the Nazis that they did not have supreme power. That there were people who were willing to give their life, to give other lives, to spit in the face of their captors. The story of the girls who watched as the Nazis shot other women really moved me. This was an act of resistance that the enemy did not have complete power. It probably shook the Nazis that they could not make these girls speak. It takes away their power. In the Warsaw Ghetto, the Nazis had to face that there was challenge to their power and that their hostages could indeed fight back. Wheter or not you win it is important to shake your enemy no matter how small your tremor.
In Maus what I found what the most moving form of resistence was when the women which Richelieu was staying with killed herself and her childern. Though some might say that's what the Nazis wanted, i think this act has great symbolic power. To take your own life and other lives not to submit to your captor is important. This is a very strong form of resistence. Another example is when the spy who helps the main character, says he will kill himself if he is found. Taking that type of infomation to the grave, is very noble.

[Foxyroxy03]

Resistance is a powerful tool against any evil and the Nazi regime is no exception. Resistance shows a will to fight back against something you know is wrong. The resistance in the Warsaw ghetto was a courageous protest against those German soldiers who had treating millions of innocent Jews unimaginable terrible. They had it coming eventually. Mordecai and the other Jews were not forced to start the riots but chose to stand up for their freedom. It was unlikely they were going to survive in those conditions anyway so resistance seemed better than sitting back and waiting to die.
As Veritas mentioned, "resistance is a morale boost to victims". It provided hope that the Nazis had not won completely and were not going to get away with their murderous plot to exterminate all jews. Any type of resistance had an impact whether small or large. From the riots to praying continuously throughout the Holocaust, these forms of resistance were extremely significant. Those Jews who fought back may have only killed a few German soldiers compared to the millions of Jews killed, it made a difference and shined some light on the willingness of human kind to fight back against wrongdoers and evil.

[HistoryBuff]

All forms of resistance were important during Nazi Germany. Just the simple act of going against the crowd, the majority of whom seemed to obey madate, was significant, because humankind seems generally conformist. Mordecai's story is truly one of significance, for he found the will not just to survive, but to actively fight back. The Warsaw ghetto uprising was miraculous and one-of-a kind, and his resistance was unusual, making it all the more powerful. But every other form of resistance counts equally, those who survived, those who hid Jews, those who would not forget what they believed in. All small efforts contributed to fighting the Nazi regime and crediting humankind. Everyone who resisted was fighting against incredible odds. The White Rose, the pastors, Wallenberg, Jan, all of the others, may be easily forgotten in the huge history of the Holocaust, but they probably wouldn't mind, for they were doing what they believed was right. Melisande had a good point in wondering why there seemed to be so few resisters, how could they sleep at night? And this makes all of the resisters more important. We may never know what makes someone a resister or someone else a bystander, but thank God for the strength of the resisters.

[Music16]

Resistance was so important in the Nazi Era. Vladek’s form of resistance, like so many other people’s in the Holocaust, was surviving. Surviving was a clear statement to the Nazis saying that they didn’t win, they couldn’t break their spirits, and that their injustice as well as all injustice aimed at one group of people, will not be tolerated and will not succeed. Others were able to use armed resistance. From what I’ve read and heard, many people resisted in this way, not only to save themselves, which they probably knew would be extremely difficult, but also to save the people coming to the ghettos and camps after them. They attempted to blow up gas chambers in order to stop the Nazis from killing anyone else. This form of resistance was incredibly brave and effective if it worked. Reading Maus and learning about the Holocaust in general creates disgust and hope in the human race all at the same time. The Nazis’ actions and the apathy of many people to what was occurring at that time is the cause of the disgust and disappointment in mankind. But the survivors and the rescuers give me back some hope in people because it shows that as many times as some people try to bring about racism, discrimination, genocide, and hate, in general, there will always be people ready to stand up and stop them. This is just one reason the resisters were so significant during the Nazi era. They gave out hope, stood up for what was right, and in doing so was able to defeat everything the Nazis tried to accomplish.

[xECwolfx]

Resistance is a psychological form of empowerment and strength, and it's easy to see why the victims of the Holocaust clung so passionately to reisistance. Resistance, as someone mentioned, is taking a stand against something you know is wrong, and it didn't take a genius to realize that what the Nazi regime was advocating was wrong. Mordecai speaks so fondly of the Warsaw uprising, even though the results were sure to be favorable for the Nazis: but resistance has never been about winning or losing; resistance is the mindset and the courage to say something is wrong, and stand as the one against many,and perhaps even act againt the popular opinion and ideals. The Jews in the Warsaw uprising knew their actions were sure to result in retaliated violence from the Nazis, but they knew that their revolt was not "hopeless"; it only would have been hopeless if no one thought their actions courageous and admirable. Those men died fighting, and in the Holocaust, it was important to many of the victims to die with some dignity rather than subhumans; as many of the students mentioned, just having the will to survive was reistance to the Nazis and Hitler. Not only did the victims retaliate, but many people on the outside also risked their lives and resisted the rules to help those in dire need. The Pastors, The White Rose, Wallenberg, Schindler, are just a few of the hundreds of people who resisted and tried to help, because in their heart they knew that what was going on was wrong, and it takes an incredibly noble and brave person to stand up for what they believe, even when it may cost them their own life.

[purplebunny]

The question of what it meant to resist the Nazis reminded me of Senator Bryd's We Stand Passively Mute speech. Everyone is given a choice, to join the Nazis and help persecute the Jews, to resist the Nazis and help save Jews, or to do nothing, which was the equivalent of helping the Nazis.

What i found extremely interesting about the resistors we read about today, who were also rescueors, was that they never thought of anything else. They didn't question what they were doing to help the Jews, and seemed to be totally committed to their cause with no thought of the risk they were posing to themselves.

To resist the Nazis was to take the position that they would not be able to eliminate the Jews and the other targeted populations. I agree that the greatest form of resistance is simply surviving. The Nazis tried to kill as many Jews as possible, until the very end of the war, so those who survived the concentration camps and death marches are true resistors.

As far as the role of the rescueors being resistors, one must have an amazing amount of courage and strength to put the life of another above one's own, fully knowing that the punishment for harboring Jews could be just as bad, if not worse than the punishment of the Jews they were helping.

I really appreciated doing this part of the Holocaust, because it reinforced my belief that there is good in society, even in the worst of circumstances.