Holocaust Synthesis Essay

In the Holocaust, the Jews resisted the Nazi party by using both active and passive resistance. Some victim of persecution used violence to combat the Nazis in order to avoid a helpless death in a concentration camp. On the other hand, many opposed the tyranny using passive methods to defy the cruel tyranny. In “The Diary of Anne Frank”, “Violins of Hope”, and “Resistance during the Holocaust”, the Jewish people used many ways of resistance in response to the Nazi tyranny; some of whom’s goal was to save their own skin, others to make a change in the world. People can best respond to conflict, like the Holocaust, through non-combative methods since it preserves evidence of victims’ sufferings, victims’ human dignity, and the victims’ culture.

Non-violence is a good answer to conflicts because it provides a record of the Jews’ suffering. The Jewish race and other minorities were forced to live in the ghettos, communities where they were excluded from the rest of the society, if they were caught within Hitler controlled territory in 1933 to 1945.

As the war continues on, Nazis gained more power and many Jews were moved to concentration camps where they would soon face their death. In the article, “Resistance During the Holocaust”, many Jews opposed the Nazis by “...secretly photographing observed events, and keeping record of ghetto life and hiding them in hope that they would be discovered after the war” (paragraph 6). The Jews were not content with their poor treatment, so they used art and literature to document the sufferings they have endured to one day accuse the Nazis of their crime with this evidence. Not only was this a reminder of the hope of Nazi’s defeat, it was also written to raise awareness for others and for later generations. Some may argue that these people who resisted passively were bystanders who merely watched people die, wrote it down, and

did nothing to prevent death. Instead, Jews who recorded their lives in the holocaust kept more people by bearing witnesses of the cruelty of the Holocaust, no one can deny its existence; this would prevent history from repeating itself. As an example, the Thirteen Colonies also spoke up for themselves by showing that they were not content with their current treatment; many also documented the British oppression, like the painting of the Boston Massacre, to remind themselves and future generation what they should be fighting for and why they must do that. Just like the American colonies non-combative opposers of the Nazi party raised awareness of this tyranny and prevented future death not through force, but by leaving traces of their sufferings.

Passive resistance is effective in a time of war due to the fact that people would be able to keep their human dignity. The article, “Resistance During the Holocaust”, mentioned were treated like animals and survived on little food and other resources. They didn’t throw away their basic human characteristics despite the bleak situation that they faced: “Jews struggled for humanity, for normalcy, and for life by purposefully attempting to keep themselves clean, not showing emotion to their captures, helping others…” (paragraph 7). The persecuted felt that it was necessary to show the Nazis no weaknesses. They knew that the day that they give up and lose their human traits, it would be the day that they surrender to the Nazis. On the other hand, opponents may argue that humanity is useless if one dies. However, these narrow-minded people don’t understand that without humanity, many would lose the reason to wake up every day and die inwardly. Also, if someone gives up their dignity and admits to being an animal in exchange for their lives, it would be equivalent to converting to the Nazi’s belief --that the Jewish race is inferior and they should be treated as rats. An example of the action would be Martin Luther King Jr.’s movement in order to gain back human rights of the blacks. In addition, Martin Luther King discouraged violent resistance but inspired other people to see that everyone are equal and race doesn’t matter. Ultimately, responding to conflict in a non-combative method is right because as long as people keep their humanity and dignity, any methods that they die from would be considered honorable.

People should counter conflict without force since it induces the preservation of culture.

Even in tough times, Jewish people kept their religion and traditions to pass on to the future generation.They valued art and played the violin even when they were persecuted. In the video, “Violins of Hope”, David Russell stated, “And that means that I’m walking in their footsteps, and their voices is actually heard by my playing of this violin” (paragraph 9). Within the ghettos of their hiding place, the Jews maintained their way of life and their people's identity. Furthermore, Jews still celebrate holidays and fasted despite not having much food to eat in the first place. Although these activities had many positive results, other insisted that “...these events were inappropriate in a place where so many people are dying each day” (paragraph 6). It might seem unwise to worry about preserving culture when the Jews should worry about survival; nevertheless, it is crucial to preserve a people’s identity because this was what the Nazi party was not able to vanquish. As an instance, Gandhi fought for India's rights and religious conflicts not by force, but manifesting his stance through prayer and fasting. Both Gandhi and Jews’ resistance succeed due to the survival of their belief. As Anne Frank mentioned that she believed she will live on after her death. Unlike activist who thinks that arming themselves will solve the problem, passive protesters choose the best way by denying tyranny

through passing on their culture.

As many Jewish people did in the Holocaust, passive resistance is apt since it leaves traces of their hardship to raise awareness for future generations. It also causes the proponents to keep their moral and human characteristics. Lastly, non-combative protest preserves a culture and a way of life for the race. In the end, all types of protest, whether active or passive, is beneficial in response to a war or oppression. Each action will cause a change in the world. So everyone should stand up in a time of conflict, so something like the Holocaust will never recur; never again.