Day 2 - What are people for? What are you for?

If you were living in Germany at the time of Nazi rule, would you have resisted? Or would you have been a by-stander?

This was the theme for the second session. We discussed how difficult it might have been for German citizens to resist against the SS soldiers on the Night of Broken Glass/Kristallnacht (November 1938), when Jewish homes and businesses were completely destroyed in an act of devastating anti-Semitism.

Anthony asked the group of young people if they thought they would have reacted against the perpetrators on that fateful evening. Jonah and Lyle both asserted that they would have tried to help the Jews, instead of being a by-stander. But would it have been possible, in reality? Most Germans were too scared about what would happen to them if they were caught trying to help, and lived in fear and paranoia from relatives and neighbours ratting them out to the government or SS soldiers. Germans who did resist were often thrown into prison or concentration camps; and in one case study on resistance,  an on-looker shouted, "How cowardly!" (to the SS soldiers outnumbering a Jewish family) and this man was simply taken away by military soldiers and never returned.

Three types of people were mentioned during the session:

• Perpetrators – those who carried out, ordered, or arranged for the killing of the Jews and other victims of the Nazi regime

• Fellow travellers – they were not directly responsible for Nazi crimes but they voted for Hitler in 1933, supported the Nazis during the dictatorship, profited from the theft of Jewish property and the removal of Jews from public life, and worked for a Nazi victory in Europe

• Bystanders – they were less enthusiastic about Hitler, even disgruntled or alienated as Germany’s military campaign faltered. But they generally stood by and witnessed persecution of their Jewish neighbours without protest.

Alfie and Amber in the Warm-Up 

Rebecca, Leon, Jonah, Amber showing 'perpetrators'

using chairs to represent broken lives and belongings

thrown onto the street after Kristallnacht

Jonah and Erin

'Bystander and Victim'

 Lyle, Alicia, Amber and Sam

A mirror of opposites

Amber, Rebecca, Leon, Jonah and Erin 

Star of David

Alfie, Lyle, Thomas and Leon

A case study of Perpetrator and Victim

Rory, Alicia, Sam, Megan and Ella 

Bystanders and the chain of property.

Like in the previous session, the group were extremely attentive and responded to Anthony's questions about the Holocaust and the 'what would you have done?' topic with well-thought answers and sensitivity. 

I want to leave this post with some quotes that reoccur in the devising process each week.

"If you know your history

Then you would know where you're coming from

Then you wouldn't have to ask me

Who the heck do I think I am"

Bob Marley, 1983

Frodo: I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.

Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil.”

Tolkien, 1954