Transcript Taking the Standx

Taking the
Stand
Eyewitness to the
Holocaust and Nazi Tyranny
16 October 2015
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Why Study The Holocaust?
Why/How Did It Happen?
1934
1933
1938
1936
1935
1937
1942
1940
1939
1941
1944
1943
1945
10 Stages of Genocide
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Classification: People are divided into "us and them".
Symbolization: People are forced to identify themselves.
Discrimination: People begin to face systematic discrimination.
Dehumanization: People equated with animals, vermin, or diseases.
Organization: The government creates special groups
(police/military) to enforce the policies.
6. Polarization: The government broadcasts propaganda to turn the
populace against the group.
7. Preparation: Official action to remove/relocate people begins.
8. Persecution: Beginning of murders, theft of property, trial
massacres.
9. Extermination: Wholesale elimination of the group. It is
“extermination” and not murder because the people are not
considered human.
10. Denial: The government denies that it has committed any crime.
Stanton, Gregory (2012); 10 Stages of Genocide, Genocide Watch
It’s Not About The Numbers…
Victims
Killed
Jews
5.93 million
Soviet POWs
2–3 million
Ethnic Poles
1.8–2 million
Serbs
Disabled
300,000–500,000
270,000
Romani
90,000–220,000
Freemasons
80,000–200,000
Slovenes
Homosexuals
20,000–25,000
5,000–15,000
Jehovah's Witnesses
2,500–5,000
Spanish Republicans
7,000
Donald L. Niewyk, Francis R. Nicosia (2000). The Columbia Guide to the Holocaust.
Columbia University Press. p. 49.
It’s About The People
Who Took Part?
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil
is for good men to do nothing. – Edmund Burke
PHOTO ACTIVITY: DECONSTRUCTING THE FAMILIAR
PHOTO ACTIVITY: DECONSTRUCTING THE FAMILIAR
German customs officials supervise the packing of a moving van containing the belongings of
a Jewish family preparing to emigrate. Part of the officials’ job was to prevent the smuggling
of valuables that law prohibited Jews from taking with them. Bielefeld, Germany, 1936.
Stadtarchiv Bielefeld
PHOTO ACTIVITY: DECONSTRUCTING THE FAMILIAR
PHOTO ACTIVITY: DECONSTRUCTING THE FAMILIAR
A member of the Lithuanian auxiliary police auctions off property of Jews who were
recently executed in the nearby Rase Forest. Lithuania, July–August 1941.
US Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Saulius Berzinis
PHOTO ACTIVITY: DECONSTRUCTING THE FAMILIAR
PHOTO ACTIVITY: DECONSTRUCTING THE FAMILIAR
A police official distributes Jewish badges after German occupation orders require
Jews residing in the northern occupied zone of France to wear badges. Paris, 1942.
Nationaal Archief/Spaarnestad Photo/Cl. Aveline
PHOTO ACTIVITY: DECONSTRUCTING THE FAMILIAR
PHOTO ACTIVITY: DECONSTRUCTING THE FAMILIAR
SS officers and female assistants at an SS resort 18 miles from Auschwitz. July 1944. Many of
those depicted were involved in processing the Jewish deportees who arrived at Auschwitz
from Hungary in summer 1944. US Holocaust Memorial Museum
Was It Only Against Jews?
Why Didn’t Anyone Do Anything?
• Anti-Semitism was widespread throughout the
world and many countries didn’t want to help.
• The Great Depression made many countries
feel that they could not support Jewish
immigrants.
• Many people did not believe the reports of
the Holocaust, thinking that no one could
commit such atrocities.
Why At The Reagan Library?
Good and decent people must not close their eyes to evil, must not ignore the
suffering of the innocent, and must never remain silent and inactive in times of
moral crisis. – Ronald Reagan
Who Are The Speakers?
Renée Firestone
Renée at 21
Hermine Liska
Hermine at 10
Participating with Poll Everywhere
How to vote via web/text messaging
From any browser
From a text message
Pollev.com/APLC
22333
APLC <Your Response>
Questions To Ask
Big Picture Questions
• How did this experience cause you to think
differently about…
• What did you learn about…
Connection Questions
Thematic Questions
• What did this teach you about (citizenship,
bravery, etc…)?
Questions To Avoid
Right There Questions
Anything you can find easily in a biography or online
• What year did you…
• Where did you…
Yes/No Questions
Inappropriate Questions
Speaker Series for Students
Logistics Information and Expectations
for Teachers, Chaperones, and Students
1) Each student should label his/her lunch with
FIRST and LAST NAME
2) Please place all of your group’s lunches in a box
that has:
a. SCHOOL
b. TEACHER LAST NAME
3) When you arrive at the Ronald Reagan
Presidential Library, please designate two
students to help load lunches onto carts.
Carts will be stored until designated lunch
time.
4) Please work with your chaperones to ensure all
waste is disposed of following lunch.
5) Students will NOT be able to purchase lunch in
the café.
Boys
Think Business
Casual
We ask that boys wear
slacks and a shirt with a
collar
State of Civics Today
Girls
We ask that they wear
skirts, dresses or slacks
below the knee, and a
blouse or collared shirt
equivalent
1) Please position your chaperones so that
they are evenly distributed throughout your
student population.
2) During the panel, students are allowed to
text or tweet their questions, comments,
and reactions to the discussion, but they
should not do so in such a way that it
becomes distracting.
3) Students should sit quietly and give their full
attention to the panelist(s) and the
discussion taking place.
4) All texts, tweets, or questions should be
respectful in nature.
5) Students should remain with their group.
State of Civics Today
1) There is no food, drink, or gum allowed in
the museum.
2) Photography is permitted (except for on Air
Force One), but there is no flash
photography allowed.
3) Students should remain with their group.
4) There are many exhibits that are hands on
and interactive, feel free to touch and utilize
these. However, please do not touch
exhibits that are not designed to be
interactive.
5) Students and chaperones should listen to
the docents (they are extremely
knowledgeable).
State of Civics Today
Questions?