POST ONE DUE BY 4/9 AT MIDNIGHT!
Assignment for Break: POST ONE BY 4/9 POST TWO BY 4/12 POST THREE BY 4/15
Research for our next project on Who Is to Blame for the Holocaust?
- Post a blog for three of the following types of people involved in the Holocaust as seen in the book THE BOOK THIEF. FIRST one by 4/9, second by 4/12 and third by 4/15!
- Choices: Nazi soldiers, citizens of small German towns, Hitler, captured Jews
- Discuss the character(s) in each blog who you have met and understood throughout the book for your choice and if they are to blame at all for the destruction of 6 million Jews.
Questions to answer in each blog post
- Which characters from the book are in that type of person (Nazi soldier, citizens of small towns, Hitler, captured Jews)?
- Describe each person and his/her personality, actions and ethics.
- How much should they be to blame for the Holocaust? Why didn't they stop what was happening? Did they try to stop it? What was the consequence?
- For each post, identify if that group of people should be to blame a lot some none.
- Explain why you selected that amount of blame.
Example:
Type of person: Nazi Soldiers
Characters from the book: Joe Smoe, Jack Johnson, Ida B. Well
Joe Smoe was forced into the war. He did not want to be a part of it but had to (131) or else his son would die. He was a doctor who helped the sick Jews.
Jack Johnson was also forced into the war. He also was punished for being a help to Jews and was enlisted into the war. He was a kind man with no children but helped starving Jew....
Ida B. Wells.....
This group of Nazi soldiers should have SOME blame because they were.....However, they also..... Each of these characters..... They did not want to .....but they.....
I selected SOME blame because, as humans, they could have....even though...
Type of person- citizens of small German towns
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the book – Rudy Steiner, Liesel Meminger, Ilsa Hermann
Rudy Steiner is a young 14 year old boy; he does not support the Nazis even though he has the perfect look. Rudy is a loyal friend to Liesel and feel in love with her from the start. Rudy is very athletic and gifted in school. Rudy has a very rebellious nature. Rudy caused a lot of trouble in his Hitler Youth classes. Later on he changed Hitler Youth and wanted to show off to his old Youth leader. He won many races in a Hitler youth carnival and is noticed by the Nazis. The Nazis wanted to recruit Rudy because he was one of the best and brightest kids in his Hitler Youth program. Instead of taking Rudy his father was taken in exchange. Like Hans, Rudy tried to help the Jews; even though Rudy was not wealthy he still gave what he could. Even though he did not have much to eat he still tried to help the Jews, he went “from a fruit stealer to a bread giver” (440). Rudy risked getting caught by the soldiers to help Jews. Rudy is a rebellious young boy because he loves to prove people wrong and do things his way.
I think Rudy should not get blamed for the Holocaust. Rudy was against the Nazis and even though he didn’t stop it, he tried. He was in a family with 6 kids, his family wasn’t wealthy and most nights they were starving. Rudy could have eaten the bread but instead he put it on the floor for the Jews. He risked getting caught by the soldiers and sent to war like Hans. Even though did not stop the holocaust he tried to help some of them by giving them bread. Rudy at least tried to help the starving Jews instead of standing by and watching them suffer. Rudy did what he could for his age so he should not get any of the blame for the holocaust.
Liesel Meminger is a young 14 year old girl, her mother and brother died and now she is living with her new parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann. She loves to read and throughout the book she finds ways to get new books. She loves to learn new words with her father. One day she meets a Jew, Max, who just enters the house, at first she was curious about him and was cautious around him. Max was hidden by the Hubermann in the basement and becomes really good friends with Liesel. She steals books from the Mayor’s wife Library with Max or her father. Liesel is kind hearted and hard working. When she first went to school she had a really hard time, she wasn’t as smart as the other kids but every night her father and her would read a book together. She would write words she didn’t know and her father would tell her what it meant. She would practice for hours every night with her father.
Liesel should not be blamed for the Holocaust. Liesel was kind hearted to Max; she loved him and took really good care of him. During the time Max was sick Liesel “rushed home every day in hope that Max was feeling better” (319). Liesel helped Max get better and kept him connected to the outside world. She took care of him and kept him hidden from others. Liesel cared about Jews and tried to help them as much as she could. When Max needed Liesel, she didn’t mind taking care of him, day and night. Liesel shouldn’t be blamed for the Holocaust because she helped a Jew stay safe and she also helped her friends, Rudy, feed the Jews when they were marching through Himmel Street. Liesel tried to help Jews during the holocaust, even though she couldn’t stop it because she was a child, Liesel helped a Jew which shows that she cared about them and if she could she would help all of them.
Ilsa Hermann is the wife of the mayor of Molching. She had a very big library where she would read to her son Johannes when he was younger. He joined the army; he fought and died in Russia. After his death Ilsa could not get over it, she was sad and never left her house. She used to pay the Hubermanns to do the ironing but the economy went bad so she fired them. She loved Liesel and let her read books in the library; she also let her steal some books but wished she would ask.
ReplyDeleteIlsa Hermann should have some blame because her son was in the war. She was living a good life and more than enough to eat. Even though she had food and a lot of space in her house she did not help Jews. When they marched through Molching, she didn’t help them. Ilsa Hermann should have some of the blame because she did not help the Jews but she should get a lot of the blame because she didn’t go out. Since IIsa did not go out she could not have helped the Jews who were marching. IIsa clearly supported the Nazi’s because she was often seen by Liesel in Nazi bathrobes and slippers. She should get some blame because she supported them but she didn’t go out so she couldn’t have helped the Jews.
I think this group of people should get some of the blame because most of the citizen fought in the war. Even though most of them fought in the war, most of them were drafted and did not want to go but had no choice. The citizens all “supported” the Nazi party because if they did not they would be hated and mistreated. They should get some of the blame because they did not do all they could to stop the Nazi party but some of them did try and help the Jews. They shouldn’t get a lot of the blame because for most of the citizens, it wasn’t their choice to fight in the army and for some if they did “support” the Nazi party they still tried to do what was right and helped a Jew. They should get some of the blame because some of the citizens did not care about the Jews and just watched them suffer as they walked through starving. Overall I think the citizens of small German towns should get some of the blame because they did not do everything they could to stop the Nazi party.
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DeleteI think your choice for choosing Rudy, Liesel, and Ilsa were irreverent to the question: Who is the blame for the Holocaust?,since you stated that 2 out of 3 people should not be for the blame. It makes your argument confusing and weak. Don't you think that you should choose a different group of people instead?
DeleteI disagree with you Sammi, I think this is relevant because we are looking for who is to blame for the Holocaust. Rudy and Liesel help prove my point that the citizens of small German towns should some to little of the blame. By showing this group should get some of the blame it shows that another group was the main cause of the Holocaust.
DeleteI agree with grace, becuase most Germans can be a example of the blame. Rudy and Liesel both had experienced a loss of love due to Hitler, AND they have helped the skinny Jews marching in town, giving them bread, this shows that Rudy and Liesel have something in them that they can use to judge the Holocaust.
DeleteI disagree with the part where you have written about the Mayor's wife Grace since you don't know if she actually supports the Nazis for fear or for belief. People in Germany at this time are induced in fear by Hitler's secret police who arrests Germans who dares to go against Hitler.People who are scared of being arrested and are against Hitler supported Hitler as a cover to not be arrested for being a "traitor" to Germany and its anti-semetic people.
DeleteＴＡＮＧＷＵ
ReplyDeleteType of Person: Nazi Soldiers
Characters from the book: Hans Hubberman, Boris Schipper, Reinhold Zucker
Hans Hubberman was Liesel's foster father. He plays the accordion. Hans is a tall, gentle, kind, caring brave man. He is also a house painter by trade. Hans dislikes the way the Nazi's are treating the Jews. Hans goes against the Nazi’s by helping a Jew who is in distress by offering him some bread. (394) & hiding a Jew named Max in his basement (185). Hans also serves in air raid recovery unit which is dangerous. Fortunately for him, he gets sent back home due to a leg injury. (477-478) I think that Hans Hubberman should have some blame for the war because even though he attempted to help some of the Jews, I believe that there was much more that he could’ve done.
Boris Schipper is the Sergeant of the Air Raid Special Unit. This was also known as the dead body collectors. He leads a group of soldiers which, Hans Hubberman becomes a part of. Boris becomes fond of Hans because he thinks Hans is a good man and he also shares his cigarettes. (478) I think that Boris Schipper should have some blame for the war because he led a group of soldiers into the war. The soldiers were just following the orders that they were given.
Reinhold Zucker is 23 years old. He is a member of the Air raid Unit. Reinhold can be described as arrogant, hot-headed, and rude. He accuses Hans of cheating in a game of cards. Later on, Reinhold switches seats with Hans on a truck, and then dies in that truck when it crashes (475-476). I think that Reinhold Zucker should have some blame for the war because even though he was not personally hurting anyone, he was still participating in a part of the war by collecting the dead bodies.
I think this group of people should get SOME blame because they were participating in the war. By collecting the dead bodies this shows that many people died and they didn’t try to do anything to stop these deaths from occurring. Even though they were not hurting or killing anyone they shouldn’t have just accepted that people were dying. They should’ve prevented death instead of accepting it and collecting the dead bodies.
I agree with you that these men should get some blame for the Holocaust. I liked the fact that you've included the collecting of bodies. It showed that these men accepted the idea of killing Jews and didn't try to do anything to stop it
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DeleteI agree with Jaymes and Tang, I think that they should only get some of the blame because they didnt really have a choice. The soldiers were doing the things they did in order to protect their families.
DeleteI agree with Jaymes, Tang, and Wendolinne these men should get some blame for what they have done to the Jews. Even though they could have rebelled against their orders, they were protecting themselves from being killed. Because if you went against the Nazis they would be killed for even questioning why they are killing all these Jews.
DeleteI disagre with you guys. I do believe Nazi soilders should have some blame, however I don't believe Hans should be blamed. Hans tried to save a Jew before and that the reason he's in the war. Hans was forced into the war for helping a Jew and he had to do it for the protection of his family and himself.
DeleteType of person: Citizens of small German towns
ReplyDeletepeople: Rudy Steiner, Lisel Meminger, and Frau Holtzapfel.
Rudy Steiner was a good friend to Lisel and also partner in crime in stealing. After the Hitler Youth program, Rudy wanted to kill Hitler. Rudy's father was drafted into the army as a medical assistant.
Lisel Meminger is a foster daughter to Hans Hubberman and Rosa Hubberman. Lisel is the book theif who had help from her good friend Rudy. Her brother died when she was on her way to the Hubbermans. The Hubbermans hid a Jew in their basement. After a while Lisel took a liking to him and when he got sick she gave him presents and read to him so he can awaken.
Frau Holtzapfel is the Hubbermans next door neighboor. When she passes their house she always spits on their door. After an air raid Lisel read in the shelter and Frau liked it and offered to stop spitting on Rosa's door and give her coffee if Lisel would read to her.
The Citizens should get none the blame for the war. They had no control over anything. Thy did have control in Giving in the Jews but some hid them ike the Hubbermans. They risked their lives to hide Max. Most citizens didn't know what the Nazis were going to do with the Jews. The Camps were usually kept secret. If they were to get any part of the blame then they would be apart of the war and most of the did not fight and whoever was drafted was a part of the German army and not Citizens.
I understand that the examples that you present happen in the book, but if you are going to paraphrase parts of the books to support your argument, could you at least post the page numbers next to your evidence as well? Also I have a few questions myself:
DeleteWhat does Frau Holtzapfel's "spitting-on-the-door" have to do with the Holocaust?
Why should Rudy not have blame placed upon him? (You only posted a little about his background and little of his actual actions against the Nazi way)
Type of person: Nazi Soldiers
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the book: Hans Hubermann, Reinhold Zucker, Michael Holtzapfel, Boris Schipper
• Hans Hubermann is Liesel's foster father. He is a painter who doesn't agree with the acts of the Nazi Party, but applies for membership to keep up the appearance of loyalty so that he can protect his family. He has been able to evade Death multiple times, and he is a well-liked man in Molching, except for those who call him a Jew lover (395). He is a talented accordion player and often plays for patrons in the local bars. He sits with Liesel and teaches her to read during midnight lessons and also during afternoon lessons by the Amper River. He is there for her whenever she has nightmares. Hans' impulsive kindness ultimately gets him in trouble, and he is sent to serve in a dangerous air raid recovery unit. Hans survives this assignment, but dies in the air raid that hits Molching at the end of the novel (536).
• Reinhold Zucker is a 24-year-old man who serves on the LSE squad with Hans. After he loses in a card game to Hans, he holds a grudge against him (463). This grudge causes Zucker to take Hans's seat in the LSE truck and save Hans's life by giving up his own (475).
• Michael Holtzapfel is one of Frau Holtzapfel's sons; Michael served in the German Army in the Battle of Stalingrad, where his hand was severely wounded. At a hospital, he sees his brother Robert die (470). He returns home to tell his mother and later commits suicide, because he can’t live with the guilt of having lived while his brother died (502-3).
• Boris Schipper is the sergeant of the Air Raid Special Unit, of which Hans becomes a member. He is very fond of Hans because he was generous with cigarettes (478) when they played their card games.
This group of Nazi soldiers should take some of the blame because they were just following orders. However, they could have said no to the people in charge. Although they could have said no, they followed orders in order to protect their families and themselves. Each of these characters had an option. They didn’t want to do all the bad things they had to do but it was their job so they had to. They did it in order to help save other people’s lives.
I selected some of the blame because as humans they could have rebelled against their superiors if they felt that what they were doing was wrong. Even though they could have done this, they didn’t because they were thinking about their families and didn’t want them to have to suffer because of their foolish act to rebel against Hitler’s followers.
I agree with your answer about how these men could have rebelled against their superiors. It was up to the soldiers to notice what they were doing is wrong and their actions to stop it. They were thinking of protecting their families and obeying orders.
DeleteI agree with Wendolinne and Jaymes these men should take some blame. They could have resisted their orders and go with their beliefs.
DeletePost for 4/9/12
ReplyDeleteType of person(s): Citizens of small German towns
Characters from the book: Hans Hubermann, Rudy Steiner, Frau Diller
Hans Hubermann was a kind man who lived in Himmel Street and respected everyone around him with respect they deserved. Some of the people he respected were the Jewish people, and one particular person who Hans respected and tried to help when the Nazi Party was on the rise of power was Mr. Kleinmann. Hans applied to join the Nazi Party and saw that Mr. Kleinmann’s shop was demolished and the door had a smear, “Jewish Filth” (181). Hans sympathetically tried to help a friend, even though Mr. Kleinmann was Jewish, a newly hated person of the society of Germany. Mr. Kleinmann does not allow Hans to do anything but Hans paints Mr. Kleinmann’s door (181).Then Hans, seeing that the Nazi Party is trying to do such horrific things to the Jews, for he saw the Jews as equal as him, takes initiative and tells a Nazi member at the NSDAP office that he revokes his possible entry into the Party (182).
Also, in addition to this, later on in the book, Hans hides Max Vandenberg, a Jew out of his debt to Max’s father, Erik Vandenberg, who saved his life during the First World War (Erik volunteered to fight and made Hans write letters and not go out to the battle front). Even though Hans is hiding Max in his house our of a debt, Hans still cares for Max and tries to help Max at every opportunity possible, like when Max was freezing in the basement during the winter, Hans made Max have a hot bath to warm him up and (214). In addition to this kind action, Hans made sure that Max could sleep in the living room during the night (215) so that Max would not freeze in the basement at night.
Later on in the book, when there were many Jews walking to Dachau, Hans, who was apparently nearby, stepped onto the road to give a piece of bread to an elderly Jew (394). Though he was beaten, Hans felt that it was right to do something humane as that, and even helped Max escape Himmel when he realized that the Gestapo would probably come for the Hubermann’s house because of Hans’s un-Nazi-like behavior (397-398).
These many actions define Hans Hubermann as a man of initiative and compassion. Even though many of his fellow German neighbors loath the Jews, Hans still shows kindness to many of them while doing things (revoking entry to Nazi Party, hiding a Jew, etc.) to help the Jews. Throughout the whole book, Hans keeps to his same ethics in helping and respecting people around him, therefore he should not be held for blame for the Holocaust.
Rudy Steiner was a radical boy who lived Himmel Street, a friend to Liesel Meminger and a thief. Rudy’s ethics are somewhat twisted, in which Rudy attempts to try to accomplish many impossible tasks, like becoming Jesse Owens (56-58), but he does nice things occasionally near the end of the book like giving bread out to some Jews (440) when they marched to parades. Rudy was an ordinary citizen in Himmel who later on came to care for some of the Jews as Liesel did when Max came to her home.
ReplyDeleteRudy was originally a thief who stole apples, potatoes, and the sorts from German farms (152) but later on made up for it by taking initiative to giving out things. After Hans had given a piece of bread to an elderly Jew (374), Rudy was inspired to do the same. In mid-December, Rudy had six stale pieces of bread, broken into quarters and he and Liesel spread the bread into the parade of Jewish prisoners (439-440).
Rudy’s actions should hold him clear of blame for the Holocaust. Even when the Nazi’s came to rule, Rudy was probably too young to even take act against the Nazis and underwent the Hitler Youth program (258), which could have left him brainwashed into thinking Jews were the lower race of humans. However, even going through Hitler Youth, Rudy gave bread to Jews (439-440), despite what he was taught at Hitler Youth. These actions should make him have no blame for the Holocaust whatsoever.
Frau Diller was a shopkeeper who owned a shop at the end of Himmel Street, and was a strong supporter for Hitler’s rule over Germany. She lived in her shop, managed her shop, and made it her shop completely “Hitler-like.” Whenever anyone would try to walk into her store, she would make them say “heil Hitler!” les they would not be able to get anything in her store (50). Since Frau Diller was a strong supporter of Hitler, she was also a strong supporter of the Nazi Party. Frau Diller “was known to sell certain hard-to-get items under the counter and donate the money to the Nazi Party” (50). The Nazis and their leader, Hitler attempted to first seclude all Jews from Germany and then tried to eliminate all the Jews on the planet. For Frau Diller to support such actions that occurred, lead her to a lot of blame for the Holocaust. Frau Diller supported the Nazi Party so strongly that she herself hated the Jews and supported the actions to exterminate them. To give resources and many things to the Nazis whom performed such dreadful acts that Frau Diller knew about, should have a lot of blame placed upon her.
Overall, I believe that the citizens of small German towns should have had some blame. Though there were some German citizens who did not support Hitler so openly and even helped some Jews, there were a majority of German citizens who hated the Jews, something that they got from Hitler’s ideas. Thus, I believe that the citizens of small German towns should have some blame for the Holocaust.
It's confusing when you said "German citizens who did not support Hitler so openly and even helped some Jews, there were a majority of German citizens" you used "SOME" to support your statement, but then you said "MAJORITY" of the Germans. I don't think that supports your claim specifically.
DeleteWhat do you mean by the majority of the German citizens? You say that the citizens should have some blame but then you say the majority. That is really confusing to understand.
DeleteType of person: Hitler
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the book: Führer (Hitler)
Hitler did not actually show up in the book, but all of his descriptions and actions were from other people. He was the leader of German during the Holocaust. In Max's sketchbook, he describes Hitler as a strange, small and smart man who wants to change the world to the way he wants. He decides to use words instead of violence to spread his thoughts. He uses his word to persuade and brainwash other people(445-456). One of his ideas is antisemitism.
Hitler should have a lot blame because he is the one who starts the Holocaust. He spreads the thought of antisemitism to his people and make laws that hurting the Jews. He did not try to stop the Holocaust, but promote it. He gave out orders to his followers to killing the Jews.
I selected a lot of blame because, Hitler started the Holocaust and spread the thought of antisemitism to his people. As a human, he should not blame the Jews for all the problems that happened in German. The Jews did not do anything wrong.
What do you mean that the "Jews did not do anything wrong"?
DeleteWhat did they not do anything wrong at? Any specific details or examples?
I understand that Hitler did put up a lot of propaganda about Antisemitism, but could you perhaps expand on the idea, and show evidence behind Hitler's treacherous actions that made him accountable to a lot of blame?
DeleteWhat were those laws that hurt the Jews?
DeleteOther than the ideas of anti-Semitism, what else did he do to promote the Holocaust?
Type of Person: Hitler
ReplyDeleteCharacter from the book: Hitler/ Fuhrer
Outside Information about Hitler:
After World War I, Hitler wanted revenge for Germany’s losses due to the war. Hitler titled himself the Fuhrer or leader of Germany after abolishing the Weimar Republic. His years in prison (1923- 24) finally paid off when his book “Mein Kampf” or My Struggle became the ““Holy Book” of Nazi goals and ideology”. The book in, detailed, describes Hitler’s extreme obsession with Anti- Semitism, where he constantly “refers to Jews as parasites, liars, dirty, crafty, sly, wily, clever, without any true culture, a sponger, a middleman, a maggot, eternal blood suckers, repulsive, unscrupulous, monsters, foreign, menace, bloodthirsty, avaricious, the destroyer of Aryan humanity, and the mortal enemy of Aryan humanity...” in My Struggle. Hitler created the Nazi Party which aids him with removing enemies and spreading extreme nationalism that not only increase the pride of the German people, but also increase the hatred for Jews.
World History: Connections to Today (Textbook)
http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/kampf.htm
Hitler is a fascist and totalitarian leader who ruled Germany between the two world wars. There were many reasons for his hatred for Jewish people and many of those reasons are still hard to explain and figure out. Hitler created “Hitler Youth” where German children must attend to be brainwashed by the Nazis. These children learn about their great leader, the Fuhrer and are taught to hate the Jews. Hitler also used propaganda Hitler schemed a reson to remove Jews from all of Germany in 1938, where Kristallnacht or the “Night of the Broken Glass” took place. This event caused thousands of Jews to be sent to the concentration camps to suffer and thousands also died. Strangely, Hitler is a German but also partial Jewish.
Blame:
Hitler should have the most blame for the Holocaust. The reason why he didn’t stop it is because he prompted it. He didn’t even try to stop since there was no going back on his words and he had killed many Jews as a Nazi leader. He should take most of the responsibility since he was the one who created the Nazis and committed genocide on the Jewish people.
Why?
Hitler triggered the genocide. He was already somewhat well known for his strength and durability during World War I when he fought for Germany. Once he became the leader of Germany, he spread his anti- Semitism which caused a chain reaction for people to mistreat Jews. If Hitler did not rise to power, then there wouldn’t be genocide of six million Jewish people and millions of other ethnicities. The Nazi Party was influenced to act on Hitler’s plans; most citizens of Germany didn’t participate in the holocaust, and the captured Jews....hey, you can’t blame someone for being born something. Though Hitler was not an actual character of The Book Thief, he was alluded through the dreams of Max Vandenburg. The Hitler in his dreams were idolized and given special privileges, such as allowing him to cheat in boxing (252). This also means the Hitler was allowed to cheat his way through the minds of the German people, which is one of the ways Hitler was able to commit the Holocaust.
Type of person: citizens of small German towns
ReplyDeleteCharacters from Book Thief: Liesel Meminger
Liesel Meminger is a young girl who was brought to the small town of Molching. There she lives with her foster family. She steals for fun, mainly books. Liesel hid a Jew in her basement during the Holocaust. The two bonded closely but shortly after, they separated. Liesel greatly missed Max. However there was nothing to be done, he had already left.
I agree with Grace, Liesel should be blamed much for the Holocaust. She did not participate in any actions against the Jews. She did in fact thought of Max as a human being and treated him as such. However, the German people along with Liesel should be blamed a little for the Holocaust. She followed her parent's orders to not allow him to have rights. He was secluded and even during the air raids he was not allowed to go to the shelter.
I disagree with Carol. I believe that there are many people to blame for the Holocaust, but I don`t think one of them is Liesel. Although she lived under Hitler`s rule, she did not agree with the discrimination of the Jews because she believed that everyone is equal. She tried to do what she could, she help out Max who was a Jew himself.
DeleteHow much do you think this group should get blamed for the Holocaust? Who else would you put in this group?
DeleteLiesel could have done much more, such as feeding him and providing him a safer place. She shouldn't be blamed much. Sorry had a typo there.
DeleteI strongly disagree with Grace and Carol.Liesel did as much as she could to help Jewish people. For instancei she helped Max by keeping him hid and help other Jews by giving them bread. Liesel.and Rudy risk a beating to just give bread to them,the Jews. Liesel is also only a child, what more can she do to help? She only has one basment!
DeleteI agree with Leslie and Jennifer, I also disagree with Grace and Carol. I think that Liesel did as much as she could considering she was a young girl and couldn’t really do much at the time. I agree that she did help Max a lot and even became great friends with him. She also kept quiet about having Max in the basement and did what she could to help protect him. For example, she purposely got hurt so that she could warn her foster parents about the NSDAP inspecting basements (340). She did this to help protect Max because she agreed with him that Hitler was unfair and she herself disliked him very much for what had happened to her real parents.
DeleteI did not say that Liesel should be blamed for the holocaust. I think Carol had a typo and forgot to put "not" in "shouldn't" because Carol says "She did not participate in any actions against the Jews. She did in fact thought of Max as a human being and treated him as such." which shows that she thinks Liesel shouldn't get blamed for the Holocaust. Carol said Liesel did help Jews and did not do anything to harm them, so i think Carol also thinks Liesel shouldn't be blamed for the Holocaust.
DeleteType of person: Hitler
ReplyDeleteCharacter from the book: The Führer
Throughout the book we get to see Hitler as the leader. He is mentioned in the book by the thoughts, words, and actions of the Germans. During the Holocaust, Hitler was in charge of Germany. He is the author of the book "Mein Kampf" (My Struggle). In order for him to have support from his people, he manipulated them and began to spread the ideas of anti-Semitism. As a result, every Nazi was against the Jews. Germans express their admiration towards him by the phrase of "Heil Hitler"(155).
Adolf Hitler should have a lot of blame. He was an unethical leader for creating so much conflict between the Nazis and Jews. He used soldiers and his followers to kill and get rid off any Jewish.
I chose a lot of blame for the following reasons; He was the leader of Germany, which means that he had all the power and authority to prevent the Holocaust. If it was not for his manipulative ideas towards the Jews, there wouldn't have been discrimination towards them. He used the Jewish people as his scapegoat when they were blamed for everything.
I agree with Tang and Jaymes because soilders should have some of the blame. These soilder didnt start the Holocaust but they coutinued it. They mistreated the Jews and didn't do anything to help them. However,Hitler started the whole Holocaust. He should be blamed more
DeleteI agree with Jennifer. I think Hitler should be blamed the most because he started the Holocaust. The fact the soldiers obeyed Hitler and continued with the Holocaust is just terrible. They could have rebelled and stood up for what they were doing. If you believed the Jews shouldn't be blamed for the misfortunes of Germany after World War 1 you should have taken a step forward and said what you want to.
DeletePeriod 8
ReplyDelete- Type of person- citizens of small German towns
- Characters from the book –Liesel Meminger, Rudy Steiner
- From beginning Liesel had her doubts in Hitler and the Nazis. She became the book thief through the death of her brother. Basically the whole doubt in her comes when she discovers her parents were communists. This makes her despise Hitler because in her eyes he is the cause of her losing her family in the first place. Liesel keeps on being a thief with Rudy Steiner. In other words they were partners in crime.
- Rudy Steiner was in training of Nazi guidance. He wasn’t all up for it because his satisfaction came from stealing and being around Liesel. In the end though, Rudy is angered because of his father being taken away from him. Rudy feels the urge and desire to kill Hitler.
-The citizens of small German towns deserve no blame for the Holocaust. Many had no intention of being involved meaning many were innocent. They may have wanted to do something about the unfair treatment being inflicted into them but they didn’t ever truly go against the Nazis because their fear had overpowered them.
-I chose no blame because they didn’t deserve unfair treatment in the first place. They were receiving brutal punishment as well. The bombing raids were a perfect example of how innocent civilians lost their lives. They had no fault and shouldn’t be blamed at all.
I have a question for you Mario, most of what you said is agreeable, but who would you actually say is the blame since your words state that the citizens of small German towns are not to blame?
DeleteType of person: Nazi Soldiers
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the book: Hans Hubermann, Alex Steiner, Michael Holtzapfel
Hans Hubermann was a kind and reasonable man. He knew right from wrong and did not believe in Nazism. Hans played the accordion and loved music. Hans was forced in the war because he was apart of the Nazi party. His kind personality made him join the war and Nazi party. When he helped the old Jew (394), it made the town go against him, causing him to wish for a punishment. As a punishment, he was sent to the war. Hans Hubermann was an ethical man who believed in Jews and that they shouldn’t be treated as animals.
Alex Steiner was a strong and also kind man. He cared and loved his family. Alex did not believe in Hitler’s ideas but followed them anyways, to protect his family. When Rudy pretended to be Jessie Owens, Alex spoke to him about it. He had nothing against Jews, but that they had to follow Fuhrer’s laws (50). Alex went to the war in place of his son. Rudy was going to be sent to a elite training camp. Alex didn’t want that and instead said he would join the war (410). Alex was an ordinary man who just wanted to protect his family
Michael Holtzapfel was a wounded Nazi soldier who returned home. He has experienced the battlefield and is a veteran. Before Michael was ready to die for his country, after he regrets everything. He had a brother named Robert. Robert had his legs blown off and died a painful death. Michael was there to witness his brother die. Michael was an ethical man. He felt that it wasn’t right or sweet to die for one’s country. That it brought more harm, and does the leader believe in his actions. In the end he took his life because of the events he witnessed.
These men should have some blame for the Holocaust. The men didn’t want to fight but had to because they were following orders. As a solider, they are always suppose to obey orders from their leaders. Since killing Jews was an order, the job had to be done. All of these men were kind and ethical people. It wasn’t like they enjoyed killing people, but were forced to. However, though they were forced, they could have said no. These men didn’t stand for what they believed in. If they disobeyed, the men could have saved some lives rather than taking it. Even though they have kind and ethical personalities, it wasn’t ethical to murder millions of Jews.
I thought that they deserved some blame because every German that took part in Nazism deserved some blame for the Holocaust. The soldiers should have done something about what was happening in the concentration camps. These men would kill Jews rather than saving them. Even though they were good people, these men deserved some blame for the Holocaust
Citizens of small German towns
ReplyDelete>Which characters from the book are in that type of person (citizens of small German towns)?
-Liesel, Hans, Rudy
>Describe each person and his/her personality, actions and ethics.
-Liesel: being fostered care, and have experienced helping a Jew, name Max. she have gotten along, and is loved by the actions, even though she's the book thief. For example whenMax just came that night, she was confused, then after a few days and months together Liesel and Max gotten to be friends, supporting and giving each other gifts, not caring of each other's status. She is fair in deciding whats the right thing to do, listening to her foster parents to not say anything to anyone even Rudy. But on the other hand, she steals with Rudy, books and fruits from farms.
-Hans: Liesel's foster father. He tried to apply for the Nazi group, but is rejected for his previous actions with the Jews. He plays the accordion and have a job as a painter, he really takes Liesel as his daughter, and trusts everything she does, like stealing. Then again, he is fair, helping jews even if it's wrong. Also the way that he protect his foster daughter from his wife, Rosa.
-Rudy: Liesel's best friend, that is with Liesel alot. He really wants a kiss from LIesel, but he dies while getting it. he died with no regrets in the cold river by the cold-ness, trying to save Liesel's book. He is fit and wants to be an atheltic. He is quite fair, he steals, but he does it for some reasons, like hunger, and helping Liesel.
>How much should they be to blame for the Holocaust? Why didn't they stop what was happening? Did they try to stop it? What was the consequence? For each post, identify if that group of people should be to blame a lot some none. Explain why you selected that amount of blame
-The Germans should be blamed alot. They were bystanders, and some of them helped by hiding them (Max) in their basements. But this isnt enough, if they knew that they will get in trouble and be excuted if caught, then why not risk it more for a better honorable death. They could have done more, but they didn't try to stop this genocide because they dont want stand out form the crowd. The Germans are like sheeps, none will go against the shepherd leader alone. If the German's oppose, they will end up just like the Jews, getting tortured and killed. The Germans have the power if they wanted, to rebell and revolt. They had all that oppputunity, but no one steped out.
I disagree with Simon, I think that by helping Max they did enough. Even though it was only one Jew they still made a difference. The Hubermanns did not have much food/money but still took Max in. Also Hans, Liesel, and Rudy tried to help the Jews while they were marching pass. I think the Germans should get some of the blame but not most because they tried to help the Jews.
DeleteBut thats the problem, they knew that they will be in danger jut hiding one, so why not done more if you knew that your life would be ending.
DeleteType of person: Citizens of small German towns
ReplyDeleteCharacters: Hans Hubermann, Lisel Meminger, Rosa Hubermann
Liesel Meminger: Liesel Meminger is a fourteen year old living in Hitler’s Germany. Liesel’s mother put Liesel and her brother up for adoption. On there way to their new home Liesel’s brother dies. This causes Liesel to have nightmares everyday. Her foster father, Hans Hubermann, is always with her went she has nightmare and teaches her how to read. Liesel loves to read and always steals books in order to have something to read. That is where her nickname, The book thief, came from.
Hans Hubermann: Hans Hubermann is a German Citizen who does not agree with the acts of the Nazi’s. Hans Hubermann is Liesel’s foster father. Hans makes a living as a painter and sometimes as a accordionist at local bars. Liesel loves Hans because he makes her feel safe. Hans Hubermann lives for protecting his family, but risk his life and his family’s for helping a Jewish man. Hans even went to war for helping a Jewish man.
Rosa Hubermann: Rosa is Liesel’s foster mother. Rosa makes a life doing laundry for the people in Molching. She is very strong and disrespectful woman, however she has a big heart. Rosa is the one makes Liesel obey her because if not Liesel gets a beating. Rosa does however love Liesel very much and also loves her husband Hans. Rosa has a big heart because she loves her family and also help a Jewish man during Nazi Germany.
I believe none of these three characters should be blamed because they all helped and cared for a Jewish man during Nazi Germany. Hans Hubermann loves his family and he risked there life for helping a Jewish man named Max. Twenty-two year old Hans Hubermann was fighting a war in France. There he met another solider named Erick Vandenburg. Erick and Hans became really great friends. Erick taught Hans how to play the accordion and saved his life(175). For this reason Hans does not approve of the Nazis and help Max Vandenburg by hiding him in his house. Hans couldn’t stand the sight of Jewish people starving to death. So when the Jewish parade was passing through Moching, Hans gave bread to a Jewish man. Hans received a whipping from Nazi soldiers because he did this. Liesel also shouldn’t be blamed because she cared for Max. Liesel cared for max because everyday after school she would run home to tell him about her day.When he was sick, everyday Liesel would read to him and for the 13 days he was sick Liesel would get him a present. When max had to go because Hans helped another Jew in public, Liesel missed him alot. Everyday Liesel hoped to see Max and hoped he was weel. Rosa also shouldn't be blamed for Holocaust because although she was poor and barly had food for her family she still gave Max food and the rest of her family. When Hans talked to Rosa about max staying over she did't argue with Hans but supported it.
I agree with you how Germans weren't to be blamed because they went against the law to help others even though they could at be risk into entering consequences. This shows that Germans supported Jews and that they were by their side, yet they could of done more to stop the Nazi.
DeleteType of Person: Citizens of Small German Towns
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the book: Liesel Meminger, Rudy Steiner, other citizens in town
Liesel Meminger, the protagonist, is known to be a caring and passionate girl despite her being influenced by Rosa’s style of speaking. During a Jew parade, Liesel looked for Max in the crowd. When she saw Max, she entered the parade and they reunited (510). Despite knowing the dangers and consequences of helping a Jew, Liesel acted so anyways. She got ostracized by the other citizens in town and even got harshly whipped by one of the Nazi soldiers. Although Liesel did perform in many unethical actions such as thievery, she performed more ethical actions. She helped out Jews. When Max was first introduced to Liesel, she felt indifferent. However, as time passed, Max and Liesel formed a strong bond. Liesel does not discriminate based on culture. This is what makes her caring. Liesel should not be blamed for the Holocaust. Despite her part take in thievery, she stood up to what she believed in.
Similarly, Rudy Steiner, a good friend of Liesel who also lived in Himmel Street, did his own fair share of good deeds. Although Rudy was suffering from starvation, he gives out bread to some Jews (440). This action shows how caring and unjudgemental Rudy is. Despite Rudy being part of the Hitler Youth program, he didn’t necessarily like it. In fact it was against his free will. Rudy is not to blame for the Holocaust because he did ethical actions. Unlike other citizens in German towns, Rudy wasn’t a bystander who performed apathy. Rudy is an ethical boy who gives up his rations in order to feed the most needed. Therefore, Rudy should not be blamed for the Holocaust.
Other citizens in town should be blamed for the Holocaust. Although the citizens were petrified with fear afflicted by the Nazis and the Fuhrer, fear isn’t a remarkable reason to not revolt. The fear of losing family members should be taken to account because those who revolted get punished. However, the citizens were indifferent. They performed bystander apathy. When Liesel helped Max in the Jew Parade, the citizens in town did nothing but stare at Liesel like she was a deer in headlights. Even Rudy helped afterwards when he spotted Liesel in the crowd. The fear of losing loved ones should be taken into consideration. However, fear didn’t stop Liesel and Rudy, who had family members, to stand up for what they believe in. Other citizens in town are indifferent, therefore they should be blamed entirely for the Holocaust.
Type of Person: Hitler
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the Book: Adolf Hitler
Hitler was the man who decided to place the blame on the Jews for all the problems that was occurring in Germany. The Nazi Party was created from his irrational action. Hitler's choice to place the blame on the Jews shows cowardice and pure stupidity. To just shove the blame on a specific group of people, his motives are unethical and unjust. His personality reflects on his actions which are evil and twisted.
Hitler deserve a lot of the blame for the start of the Holocaust because he was the one who led the Nazi Party to the decision to kill the Jews. The consequence was the death of 6 million Jews. No one tried to stop the Holocaust, few tried to help the Jews but others decided to let this slide and felt thankful that they weren't targeted.
I chose a lot because Hitler's twisted policies on the Jews sparked the start of the Holocaust. The Nazi Party took Hitler's ideas and proposed a "cleansing" of the Jews which Hitler gave a thumbs up for. Hitler basically agreed for the Nazi Party to officially slaughter Jews which resulted in the death of 6 million Jews.
I agree with you that Hitler has a lot of the blame for the Holocaust. Hitler was the brain and the encouragement for this atrocity and spread it all around. He brainwashed his citizens to obey him and go against the Jews and make situations worse, such as the killing of the 6 million Jews with minor interference by other Germans.
DeleteI strongly agree with you Nadda, the quality of a leader is to enhance and fix the problem, not to make things worse. Also to set a good example to the citizens. Yet he didnt either way because of his horrible actions and his choice of lying.
DeleteType of Person: Citizens of Small German Towns
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the book: Liesel Meminger, Ilsa Hermann, Rudy Steiner
Liesel Meminger is an adopted girl. She is the main character of the book. She is fostered by the Hubermanns when her mother and brother die. She loves to read, throughout the book she finds a way to steal new books to read, since people were not allowed to read. Liesel is very kind and likes to help others. One day a Jew, Max Vandenburg, comes into Liesel’s home and her family helps hide him in their basement. When Max is hiding in the basement Liesel is kind enough to talk to Max and become good friends with him while he is living in their basement.
Liesel should not be blamed for the Holocaust. She helped a Jew from being sent away to the Holocaust. She became a good friend of his and grew very fond of him.
Ilsa Hermann is the wife of the mayor of Molching. She is very intelligent, because she has her own library. She allows Liesel to come to her library and read there. She is very generous because she helps Liesel write and also read in her library.
Ilsa Hermann should have some blame for the Holocaust. Ever since her son had died in World War 1, she hasn’t moved on from his death. She has all these fortunes, such as food that she can give to the suffering Jews. She hasn’t tried to help them what so ever.
Rudy Steiner is one of Liesel’s good friends. He is 14 years old and is in love with Liesel. He does not support the Nazis. He is a great athlete and also great in school. Even though he did not have much to eat he still tried to help the Jews, he went “from a fruit stealer to a bread giver” (440). Rudy risked getting caught by the soldiers to help Jews. Rudy is a rebellious young boy because he loves to prove people wrong and do things his way.
Rudy Steiner should have no blame of the Holocaust. He should have no blame because he does not even support the Nazis. He is against what they are doing to the Jews.
Do you think that the citizens of Germany was to blame overall?
DeleteType of person: Citizens of small German towns
ReplyDeleteCharacters: Liesel Meminger,Rudy Steiner
Rudy Steiner is one of six children and is recognized for trying to be like Jesse Owens (56). He is Liesel’s best friend and also falls in love with her, and frequently tries to kiss her after it’s too late. Rude as a person is a good student and good athlete and for the majority of the time sticks up for Liesel, trying to protect her in any way he knows possible. Overall his ethics are for the good because even though he steals with Liesel, things like: apples, potatoes, and as well books from the Mayors house, he gives back bread to the Jews (440). Also he and Liesel are both put into Hitler Youth yet he isn’t brainwashed into thinking that Jews are the worst race alive. He instead goes against Hitler because his father becomes drafted into the army as a medical assistant. He should have no blame in the death of all the Jews during the Holocaust.
Liesel Meminger is the book thief, at first she doesn’t know how to read or write but throughout the book she teaches herself and her step father helps her out a lot as well. Liesel’s biological mother put her and her brother up for adoption. Turns out her little brother dies in the train while trying to get to their new family. This ends up with her having nightmares every night, but Hans Hubberman always helps her recover from them every night. LIesel is also put into Hitler Youth but just as Rudy doesn’t believe that all Jews are evil scum. She instead despises Hitler for the loss of her parents. Also when Max comes to live with them she doesn’t treat him different because he is a Jew. She instead becomes very interested in him. Liesel’s ethics are good because she helps out the Jews like Max especially when he becomes ill and is close to death. She reads to him thinking it’ll help him recover, which in a way does. She has no blame for the war or death of the Jews because she does not support and also tries to go against it.
The Citizens should get no blame at all for the war and death of all the Jews. They were blinded by all the propaganda given to them by Hitler, but even so some Germans still helped out the Jews, just like the Hubbermans. Their lives were greatly at risk because of hiding Max ( a fellow Jew). Even if the majority of the Germans did not like the Jews is was because they were blinded my anger to find someone to blame for how bad Germany became after WW1. If Hitler had chosen any other race to blame besides the Jews, the same thing would have happened to that race. The citizens were manipulated and driven my emotion. Also hidden from information of what happened to the Jews in the camps they were kept in, so I believe they should not be to blame.
Type of person: Hitler
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the Book: Liesel Meminger,Frau Diller and Hans Hubermann
1)Liesel Meminger was a young girl who in the beginning came from a train ride to her foster home in Molching,Germany. Her brother died on the train and was buried in a nearby town before reaching her destination. This burial site was where Liesel stole her first book known as The GraveDigger's Handbook dropped by one of the young gravediggers without notice(24).Later on she kept on stealing more books as part of her life to learn how to read/write under her foster father Hans Hubermann.Her ethics comes from her foster father since she usually goes to him instead of her abusive foster mother.In addition to her book stealing actions, she was overall a naive girl who don't know anything more than just stealing and going to her school Hitler Youth.For the Holocaust happening when Liesel is alive living her life, she shouldn't be blamed for any of it happening because she never knew such event like the killing and burning of six million Jews is happening right in Germany and other European countries.Also Liesel can't do anything about this happening because she is not an army that can just liberate the concentration camps with force and she never knew so she can't do anything until it's too late.When she finally noticed something with the Jews are happening infront of her eyes, it was when she noticed a truck load of Jews came marching on Himmel Street(390-91).
2)Frau Diller was a corner store owner who greatly respects Hitler by having her customers to salute to Hitler right after entering and exiting her store.She was involved in certain situations with Liesel Meminger and her friend Rudy Steiner where she sells candy to them when they have found some money on the ground(155).In addition, she is just like any other German who really hates Jews as much as Hitler himself. When Hans Hubermann helped out a Jew while standing by to watch a truck load of Jews marching, most of the people in the town even Frau Diller don't respect him like a German, but a Jew. Frau Diller even spat at Han's feet and others called Hans a "Dirty Jew lover"(401).With the Holocaust happening, Frau Diller should not be blamed for it because Frau Diller never killed any of the Jews with her hands at all.Also she only just hated the Jews to probably go with the flow in the Nazi party to avoid being labeled a traitor or Jew lover like Hans Hubermann.Eventhough she respects Hitler for what he does, it just happens with any citizen of any country to support their leader's actions anyway possible.She can't stop the Holocaust happening because she is part of the Nazi party and if she as one person interferes with the Nazi agenda of killing Jews, she will be labeled as a traitor and be thrown in one of the concentration camps just like a Jew.
3)Hans Hubermann is Liesel's foster father and is a closest father figure to Liesel.He is a respectable person for his kindness to everyone and he has pity for anyone in need.He survived the first world war through his luck of sending letters of dead soldiers to families and he likes playing the accordion that his friend left behind when he died.Furthermore, he is a teacher to Liesel by helping her learn how to read and write every night in the basement around midnight.He done many great things such as helping Liesel to helping a Jew on the street and take hits from a fellow German soldier for his kindness.Lastly, he is an honest person who doesn't lie to people who are closest to him.In this time period, Hans Hubermann was sent to the second world war and faced the same challenges as in the first world war with survival.For the Holocaust event,he should not be blamed for it happening because he is the one who stood up against Germany and its people to help a Jew since he know it's wrong to let someone starve for their religion.Hans did tried to stop the Holocaust by slowing down the death of a Jew with his generocity.When Hans gave some food to a Jew on the street during a Jew march to Dachau, he was beaten by a German soldier and was hated by his neighbors for what he done is right (401).
ReplyDeleteOverall, Hitler is the one to blame for the events of the Holocaust and everything that gave Germany a bad name for this time period.Hitler is the one who influenced the people by establishing the Hitler Youth which influences the future generations of German people to praise Hitler as their leader.Also he uses the secret police to induce fear to any German who does not support what he does even though most of the Germans do support Hitler as their leader.These two actions Hitler has done automatically makes him a leader who no one opposes since he "scares" the older Germans before Hitler Youth and he forces his ideas into the minds of the German children to grow up as anti-semetic Germans.In conclusion, he is able to influence the Germans enough to become soldiers to fight in his army and become anyone that can help Germany in any way possible.
Type of Person: captured Jew
ReplyDeleteCharacter(s) from the book: Max Vandenburg
Max Vandenburg is a German Jew that was known as a boxer during his childhood (due to the anger with family issues and the death of his father). Max was taken away from his family suddenly and never got to give a proper good-bye. He was taken somewhere private and was sent to take care of his own life. He went to live with the Hubermanns in their basement. He was fed and was made part of the family (but in secret). Max expresses his feeling through his writing which he passes down to Liesel Hubermann to read. Max is skinny and feeble and sometimes goes in a coma but comes back. Max, later in the novel, had to escape from the Hubermann's home so he's not caught.
Max Vandenburg should NOT be blamed for the Holocaust. Max was only a victim of the atrocities and had not done anything wrong to the people of Germany. Max was just a man that lived on his own with his mother in his uncles house. Additionally, one wouldn't accuse a victim, in a robbery case, for the robbery; it's almost the same idea. However Max did not try to stop what was happening to the Jews. There was nothing for Max to do to cease the genocide, and if he reacted, he would be killed instantly, not helping anyone's lives.
Captured Jews should NOT be blamed for the Holocaust. The Jews did not harm anyone to be accused off a “crime” (which was the purpose of the Holocaust). These Jews are normal people just like any other German. They should be allowed to raise families, have businesses, earn a degree; live like any other German. The Jews should not be accused and blamed for living and being the targets of the Holocaust. Additionally, the “Jews” should not have been categorized this way (by blood); Judaism is a belief and the Jews should not have been accused and blamed for a religion they believe in. all in all, the innocent captured Jews should not be blamed for being targets and “starting” the Holocaust.
Type of person: Hitler
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the book: Fuhrer/Hitler
Hitler was the leader of the Nazi Party and was involved in World War II. Max wrote a fable/fairy tale explaining that "the Fuhrer decided that he would rule the world with words" (Zusak, 445). Ruling the world with words meant that he would use propaganda to get the Germans to side with him. He was unethical because he assigned blame to the Jews for their economic issues. Scapegoating is a form of propaganda.
Hitler should have a lot of blame because he was the one that convinced the Germans that they were to blame for their economy. Hitler was the reason why the Holocaust even happened, so he definitely didn't try to stop it. The consequence was the death of millions of innocent Jews.
I selected a lot of blame because Hitler was the leader of all of it. He used propaganda to convince the people to follow him blindly. If he was ethical, he wouldn't have encouraged the genocide.
What other forms of propaganda did Hitler use to gain the trust of the people?
DeleteLily Zhu
ReplyDeletepd. 8
4/9/12
Type of person: Citizens of small German towns
Characters: Liesel Meminger, Hans Hubermann, Hans Junior
Liesel is the protagonist of the book who was introduced as “the book thief.” When her younger brother dies, her mother left Liesel to be taken care of by the Hubermanns. Liesel stole her first book during her brother's funeral which led to her passion in reading. Liesel continues to steal books as time passes by and learns to read with the help of her foster father Hans Hubermann.
Liesel should receive some blame. Even though Liesel was not anti-Semitic and even established a bond with Max Vandenburg who was a Jew, when she was put in a situation where she could of took action to help, she did not. There was a time where Nazi soldiers led a group of Jews through Liesel's town. She watched the malnourished Jews marching through her town with the soldiers forcefully pushing them despite the fact that they could barely walk. Liesel along with everyone else who was watching the parade did not say or do anything to help. Liesel thought that “she was utterly worthless to these people.” (393)
Hans Hubermann is the foster father of Liesel. Hans is a kind and brave man. He does not support the actions of the Nazi Party but he has to join for his own safety. Hans has previously survived WWI due to the help of a man named Erik Vandenburg who was a Jew. In return, Hans keeps his promise and helps hide his son Max in his basement.
Hans should no receive any blame. Hans was one of the few people that was brave enough to stand up for the Jews though it got him into trouble. During the “parade,” Hans was the only one who offered to help the Jews. He offered an old Jew a piece of bread and the Jew thanked him (394). He knew this would get him into trouble later on but yet he still offered to help. There was not many people like Hans during this time in Germany.
Hans Junior is Hans Hubermann's only son. He is a strong supporter of the Nazi party and is ashamed of how his dad is not part of it. He was extremely nationalist and supported Hitler. He called Hans a coward for not supporting Hitler. He left the house and did not return during holidays due to his disagreements with Hans.
Hans Junior should be blamed. He is an example of the citizens in Germany who were blinded by Hitler's propaganda and believing everything he says must be right. The ignorance of citizens like Hans Junior helped Hitler in carrying out the Holocaust.
Overall, I think that the citizens of these small German towns should receive some blame for the Holocaust. Majority of the people in these towns were supporters of Hitler or simply did not want to get themselves into trouble. They gave in to Hitler and did not even question his ways. This is a big reason why the Holocaust was successful. If the German citizens had opposed Hitler, the Holocaust could have been stopped. They knew what was happening is wrong but yet they performed bystander apathy. They were either too afraid to speak out against Hitler or brainwashed by his propaganda. Therefore they should receive some blame since they held the power to stop the Holocaust from happening but did not take action.
Types of people:Citizens of small German towns
ReplyDeleteCharacters: Liesel Meminger, The Hubermanns
Liesel is the main character from The Book Thief and her life has been told from someones else point of view. Death talks about her life as a witness the audience and what she sees and goes through during the times of Hitler. Liesel lost her family and she went through alot. She was adopted by Hans and Rosa Hubermanns. Liesel lost her family and saw her brother die right in front of he rwas to much to handle, and yet she is being transported to a new family. Jews did not only suffer. The Hubbermans were also very kind to go for adopting. They were even poor. They were poor due to ww1 where Germany was led to bankruptcy that is why ww2 came to a happening. So it isnt the Germans fault for being bankrupt. Hitler wanted to get rid of the Jews because they were the fault of it. If he hadnt taken action, the Jews will take over control and that not what the Germans needed. Either way now, Germans such as The Hubermanns were lacking money and Liesel lost her family. There wasn't any reason why Liesle had to go through so much especially her birth mother who had to sacrifice so much for survival. SO there wasn't much for them to do because what they had wasn't enough and they didn't want to lose more then they had already lost.
Hans Hubermann and Liesel were also very heart giving and generous to Max, a old Jew who they help take care by secret. They put him in the basement where they can feed him and have sleep with silence and peace. This was very dangerous because they weren't suppose to take care of Max. If someone caught them, they will get into deep trouble. Hans did get in trouble he went to serve for war. They tried t do what they can but they also had to look at the consequences so they couldn't be the fault of the murdering of 6 million Jews.
DeleteTypes of people:Citizens of small German towns
ReplyDeleteCharacters: Liesel Meminger, The Hubermanns
Liesel is the main character from The Book Thief and her life has been told from someones else point of view. Death talks about her life as a witness the audience and what she sees and goes through during the times of Hitler. Liesel lost her family and she went through alot. She was adopted by Hans and Rosa Hubermanns. Liesel lost her family and saw her brother die right in front of he rwas to much to handle, and yet she is being transported to a new family. Jews did not only suffer. The Hubbermans were also very kind to go for adopting. They were even poor. They were poor due to ww1 where Germany was led to bankruptcy that is why ww2 came to a happening. So it isnt the Germans fault for being bankrupt. Hitler wanted to get rid of the Jews because they were the fault of it. If he hadnt taken action, the Jews will take over control and that not what the Germans needed. Either way now, Germans such as The Hubermanns were lacking money and Liesel lost her family. There wasn't any reason why Liesle had to go through so much especially her birth mother who had to sacrifice so much for survival. SO there wasn't much for them to do because what they had wasn't enough and they didn't want to lose more then they had already lost.
Hans Hubermann and Liesel were also very heart giving and generous to Max, a old Jew who they help take care by secret. They put him in the basement where they can feed him and have sleep with silence and peace. This was very dangerous because they weren't suppose to take care of Max. If someone caught them, they will get into deep trouble. Hans did get in trouble he went to serve for war. They tried t do what they can but they also had to look at the consequences so they couldn't be the fault of the murdering of 6 million Jews.
Type of Person: captured Jews
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the book: Jew marching in the procession, Max Vandenburg
Jew marching in the procession: This Jew was an old man who wore a bread and torn clothes. He was really skinny and since he was old, he got tired of marching. So he would fall many times. (393) Hans Hubermann gave this Jew a piece of bread and they were both whipped. (394)
Max Vandenburg: A 24 year old Jewish man who was hiding out in the basement of the Hubermann's. When he was young boy, he would get into fist fights. As he grew older, he told himself that we would not die without fighting. He left his family in order to save himself and luckily one of his childhood friend's, Walter Kugler, helped him stay hidden before leaving to the Hubermann's household. There he met Liesel and they became good friends because they were able to relate to each other's experiences before they came to live with the Hubermanns. Max wrote two books for Liesel called "The Standover Man" and "The Word Shaker". Max ended up leaving the Hubermanns because it wasn't safe to stay there anymore. Then Max is captured and he's seen marching with other Jews in a procession by Liesel.
This group of people should get none of the blame for the war because the Jews were the main victims of the war. They weren't able to speak for themselves. They weren't able to talk at all. The Nazis made sure they're mouths stayed shut by committing genocide against all Jews. The only way for the Jews to survive was to keep quite and hide. In other words, they had no control over the Holocaust. So there was no way they can stop it. In the old man's case, he was already weak and old. Therefore, he had no strength in his body nor mind. Max was young on the other hand. He could have lead a group of young rebel Jews to fight against the Nazis. But it was understandable, that Max was too afraid to go against more than a hundred Nazi and at the time he didn't know any other Jews in Molching. So he'd be a one man army. Max obviously doesn't want to die since he's hiding. But now that he got captured, he has less of a chance of rounding up a rebel group since he too must have become weak from so much work and lack of food.
I chose NO blame because the captured Jews were all scared of what could happen to them. They had no control over their fates anymore. As long as they did what the Nazi soldiers would tell them to do, they'd be safe. But until then, it's the death chambers for those who are weak or disobey.
I agree with you Yaliz, because it is true that the Jews had no control. Also, remember that the Jewish people were a small proportion of Europe so the Nazis could easily kill them. The Jews should have no blame because they were the victims in the genocide.
DeleteLast Post of the First Post
ReplyDeleteType of person: Jews and citizens of small towns
Character from the book: Max Vandenburg (the Jew), Hans Hubberman, Rudy Steiner
Max Vandenburg is a Jew that lived in Hans Hubberman for a year or two. He stayed hidden at the basement of Hubberman to survive the Holocaust. He does not want to die and wanted to convert himself as a believer of Hitler (read the Mein Kampf (169)). Unfortunately, he was still not accepted by society and holds a grudge. He has drawn/written a book that describes Hitler as a cruel leader (279-280). Max seems to be a weak and cowardly Jew but holds a "fire" (literary tram) in his heart. He expresses his anger and cruelties of Hitler in his drawings. However, he deserves the SOME blame for the Holocaust.
Hans Hubberman is a German citizen of Molching. He is consider as a Jew lover or a helper of the Jew (since he helped Max). He is a weak but generous man. He's weak because he cowardly accepts being a soldier of Germany and does not try to fix his troubles. He does not question his fate as being called a "Jew lover" (395) and does nothing to fix it. Hans maybe weak but he has a generous heart. He shares his cigarettes with the other soldiers, adopted Liesel and helped Max to survive the Holocaust as much as he can. Hans isn't a dreadful person but a useless German at the Holocaust and war.
Rudy Steiner is a 14 year old mischievous kid. He is an irresponsible kid for attending the Hitler Youth and respecting his seniors. He has been unknowing involve in the war since he was recruited to become a soldier (403). Rudy isn't to be blame for the Holocaust since he was just a kid and isn't that of a person to influence other people to believe him. Rudy is a brother of many siblings and a figure of his home. His father joined the war and he was the support of his family to uphold it. He could dare to sacrifice himself to stop the Holocaust. If he did try to stop it, his whole entire family would die and be treated as "Jew lovers". Rudy is not to be blame for the Holocaust.
Jews and citizens of small towns are to be blame as SOME. Max could have express the wrong doings and methods of Hitler in his drawings. Hans could have tried to hide as much Jews as he can. However, if they were to take such actions, they would have not been just whipped but their families and friends would die. They would be taken but the SS and killed without a trace. Max and Hans could only express their anger by drawings and music. They couldn't do anything to stop the Holocaust but they should have tried. Max had great ideas to express Hitler and he could have sercetly send out his message. Hans could have helped some Jews to escape the Holocaust. The Jews and citizens of small towns has to take SOME blame to have not stopped the Holocaust.
~Jacky Lee
Type of person: Citizens of small German towns
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the book: Liesel Meminger, Rosa Hubermann, Rudy Steiner, Ilsa Hermann
• Liesel is nine years old in the beginning and about 15 at the end. Bombs destroy her home and kill her loved ones, Rosa and Hans Hubermann, at the end of the novel. In the beginning of the novel, Liesel can’t read. However, her foster father Hans teaches her how to read and write. Her brother dies in the very beginning of the story and she steals her first book at the burial, “the grave digger’s handbook”. She loves reading and starts stealing books from the mayor’s wife’s library. She also dislikes Hitler because she finds out he is the reason she can’t be with her parents.
• Rosa Hubermann is Liesel's foster mother. She seems like a tough person and always calls Liesel a Saumensch and Hans a Saukerl. She has a peculiar way of showing affection. She also was the one who gave Liesel a Watschen, a beating when she behaved badly. Yet she cares about her family and cares for Max when he is ill.
• Rudy, one of six children, is Liesel's best friend. He is known for painting himself black like Jesse Owens after the 1936 Olympics and running the track at Hubert Oval. He is in love with Liesel and is constantly trying to get her to kiss him, but he only receives his kiss after it is too late- when he is dead. He is a good student and a good athlete as well. He always protected Liesel whenever he could. Their relationship as best friends was very loving, he would call her Saumensch and she would call him a Saukerl.
• Ilsa Hermann is the mayor's wife. She lives at 8 Grande Strasse and gets to know Liesel because Rosa does the mayor's washing and ironing. She is depressed over her son's death in World War I. She is the one who sees Liesel steal The Shoulder Shrug from the bonfire during Hitler's party in Molching. She leaves the window open for Liesel so that she can come in and take books as she wishes. Frau Hermann leaves other gifts — cookies and a dictionary. She lets Liesel know that she is welcome to come to the front door, too. Ilsa also gives Liesel a journal to write her story in.
This group of people should have some of the blame because they lived through the event of the Holocaust and they all thought that it was a negative thing. However, they couldn’t really do anything about it because they were only a small group of people that only had a little bit of power. Each of these characters was negatively impacted by Hitler’s decisions. They don’t exactly agree with Hitler and the decisions he made but they didn’t really have any other choice but to follow orders and do what they were told to.
I selected some of the blame because they were in a way, the minority. The soldiers and armies had more power and they had a lot of power over the people. They feared their superiors because they had so little power. However, all the people from the different towns could have joined forces in order to stand up for what they believed in and what they felt was right.
This is the second post
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete2nd Post:(4/12/12)
ReplyDeleteType of person: Hitler
Character(s): Hitler
Hitler is a “strange, small man” who would “one day rule the world” (445). Hitler is the totalitarian leader of Nazi Germany and practically did rule the world. He tried to keep “promises” to his people for improving the citizens’ lives and the economy. He decided to accomplish this by discriminating and getting rid of the Jews. He created the Nazis to obey his rules and to cremate the bodies of useless Jews. He has no ethics, shown through his constant murders of non-Aryans and creating Jew-books book burning.
Hitler should be blamed A LOT for the Holocaust and the death of 6 million Jews. He should be blamed a lot because he was the one who started and encouraged the discrimination of the Jews. He encouraged the citizens to follow and obey his sayings, which included be harsh on the Jews and hate them. He even brainwashed his citizens to do so and corrupted their minds through his deceiving propaganda. If Hitler wasn’t born or became the leader of Germany, the Jews would not have been offended, discriminated, and destructed. Therefore, the Holocaust would not have been born and the millions of Jews would not have been killed.
Hitler obviously did not try to stop the Holocaust because he was the one who intended it to start. Since Hitler was the leader of Germany, there would be no consequences towards him if he tried to stop the Holocaust, which won’t even do from the start.
I agree with you that Hitler should recieve a lot of the blame because he started the Holocaust and spread anti-Semitism. He didnt really care about the big impact it would have on the citizens of Germany, he just wanted to get in power.
DeleteType of Person: Nazi Soldiers
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the book: Hans Hubermann, Alex Steiner, Reinhold Zucker
Hans Hubermann: Hans is Liesel's foster father and husband to Rosa Hubermann. He's very patient when it comes to both girls. He's ethical as well when it comes to the rights of people. He's aware of the mistreatment the Jews receive and does not approve of it at all. Sometimes he goes as far as to actually show what he feels. He feed a Jew during a parade of Jews that were under the rule of the concentration camps. Before that he painted over slurs that were written on Jewish shops. Hans was kind enough to know what the consequences were of feeding a Jew in public especially when Nazi soldiers are around. He was also very thoughtful enough to keep a Jew in his basement despise the dangers. Although, you can't blame the man for being paranoid. He couldn't tell whether the Nazi were going to come and get him for being so nice to the Jews.
Alex Steiner: Alex is Rudy's loving father. He loves he's son so much that we has willing to receive a beating so his son wouldn't be sent to the Nazi Army training academy. Alex is also the owner of a tailor shop in town. Even though he doesn't hate Jews, in a way he was happy to hear that he won't have any competition since the Jews were taken out of town. Alex was sent to war after he refused to let his son go to the academy. Either way, he lost his family because by the time he came back from the war everyone was dead from a bombing raid.
Reinhold Zucker: Reinhold is a 24 year old boy who served in the Germany Army during World War 2. He was bad at gambling. Rare were the times he won a game of cards. But when he did he would brag about it by showing of his winnings (cigarettes). He's sort of a hothead. Always complained when he lost is cigarettes then he wouldn't even accept them back. He argued over Hans’s seat on the truck. It did him no good since he died for sitting there in the first place.
I believe the Nazi soldiers should get some of the blame for the war because they were too single-minded to do anything for themselves. As seen through Hans and Alex, they didn't mind the Jews. They posed no real danger to them and their families. When they were sent to be soldiers, they became one type of soldier. There are two types: the ones who were in charge of concentration camps and the ones fighting on the battlefield. Hans and Alex were the ones fight for their lives. They were just soldiers so they had to listen to those who were in charge of them. They were there to serve the servants of the Fuhrer. They had no choice but to do what they were told. Soldiers in charge of the camps on the other hand actually had a choice. They knew that they were supposed to treat the Jews badly but could have slipped a piece of bread once and a while. Maybe let one or two escape from the camp one every two weeks. Those are the little things that make a big impact. One more life could have been saved from the horrors of the Holocaust.
I selected SOME amount of blame because Nazi soldiers are just following orders. They don't want to be treating just like the Jews. They want to feel like they have some power of their lives. So they just go with Hitler's flow and kill a bunch of innocent lives
I agree with you, I think that they only deserve some of the blame. I like how you said they wanted to feel like they had some power over their lives because in a way it's true, they didn't really have much control over their lives and this helped them be able to protect their families and themselves.
DeleteGroup-Captured Jews
ReplyDeletecharacters from the book- Max Vancenberg
Max Vanderberg is a Jew who is hidden by the Hubermanns from the outside world. Max is strong willed. He travels to Himmel Street in search of his father’s friend, Hans. When he gets there he meets Liesel, his soon to be best friend. Max stays spends his days in the basement by himself, sometimes he would read or even dream about fighting Hitler. When he became ill, his best friend Liesel took care of him. Max has a strong will because even when he was sick and had very little to live for he still tried to get better. Also Max never gave up on life, even though he spent his days in a basement he still found joy. Max has to leave when Hans helps another Jew who was marching and got caught by the soldiers. Hans was scared the police would go look through his house so he told Max to leave. Max got caught by the Germans and marched through Mulching.
Max should get none of the blame for the holocaust. Max should get none of the blame because he was one of the victims from the Holocaust. Max could not help other Jews because he was too busy trying to save himself. Max did not support the Nazis and wished it would stop. He had to stay in the basement and couldn’t see the outside world for months. Max was a victim of the Holocaust and did not have any power to stop it.
This group should get none of the blame because they were all victims of the Holocaust. If they could they would stop it but they had no power or voice to let people hear their problems. Also the Jews did not support or help the Nazis in the Holocaust.
I agree with you that the captured Jews should not be blamed at all. They indeed were the victims and had no power but to save themselves. They were perplexed by the disastrous killings and were frightened. They were full of fear and the only thing that would cross one's mind would be saving themselves. The Jews lived in misery and dreamed for the torture to end, supporting anyone who went against Hitler and the Nazis.
DeleteType of person: Nazi soldiers
ReplyDeletePeople: Alex Steiner, Hans Hubberman, and the S.S soldiers in the Jewish parade.
Alex Steiner is Rudys father who was drafted into the war. He was drafted because he would not let Rudy go to the army. He was stationed at an army hospital.
Hanns Hubberman is Lisels foster father. Hanns hid Max who was a jew in his basement because a jew once saved his life. He enlisted himself in the army because he feed a jew durring a jew parade bread. This caused him to make max leave so he doesnt get taken away (397). He joined the LES an air raud special unit that collected dead bodies (431-432).
The Nazis should get some of the blame because they were the ones killing jews even if they were just following orders, we have a right to free will. Maybe Hanns and Alexs groups shouldn't get the blame they were part of the war and they did contribute to it. Some members of the Nazis were drafted so some might have not wanted to join and be apart of the war but were forced to. The S.S who were in control of the camps and the Jew parades would beat the Jews and the people if anyone gave the Jews food. For example when Lisel gave the Jews bread Thed soldiers chased and kicked her (440). The Nazi soldiers should recieve some of the blame because they were a big part of the war and the Holocaust.
You didn't describe the S.S soldiers and the people you describe didn't do anything to hurt the Jews.
DeleteCould you describe in depth about the S.S. soldiers whom were present during the Jewish parade?
DeleteCould you explain in depth more about Alex Steiner? There was more about him around pages 80-100, so there is more to him then just being a minor character.
Post for 4/12/12
ReplyDeleteType of person: Nazi Soldiers
Characters from the book: Boris Schipper, Hans Junior, Alex Steiner
Boris Schipper was a sergeant of an LSE (Air Raid Special Unit) squad consisting of many men, like Reinhold Zucker and Hans Hubermann (432). Boris, was a good mannered man who would laugh and look out for his men, and later on helped Hans escape from the front lines of the war. Boris when asking Hans why he was here (Hans had given a piece of bread to an elderly Jew), laughed at Hans's situation (432). Though this would usually be a good thing (if it were a true Nazi, that Nazi would probably detest and even try get Hans out his squad), but Boris laughed at the situation, not seeming to care about it.
A sergeant, and whom seems like a veteran of the LSE squad, Boris Schipper must have been very aware of the treatment the Jews received and the reason why the war was being fought, yet he stood by laughing about it. This action is bystander apathy; it is indifferent neutrality that allows a Nazi to mistreat a Jew.
Boris doesn't seem to do much to prevent the Holocaust, yet he does not show any sign in the story of hurting the Jews even though he knows what is happening to them. Boris also shows no signs in supporting the Holocaust, so I believe that Boris should receive some blame for the Holocaust. Boris, may have been forced into the war, but to stand by watching a fellow human (Jew) being mistreated in society is as despicable as mistreating that fellow human (Jew).
Hans Junior was a son borne from Hans and Rosa Hubermann. He was a true Nazi, in the fact that he was not only in the Nazi Party but also resented his father (Hans) because his father was still not in the Nazi Party and Hans was not showing any initiative to join the Party (104). Hans Junior also adds that Hans is “either for the Fuhrer or against him” (105), and Hans Junior says that because he sees Hans is not in the Nazi Party, Hans is against the Fuhrer. Hans Junior believes so highly of Hitler that he reprimands his father further, asking why Liesel isn’t reading Mein Kampf (My Struggle-by Adolf Hitler; A book Hitler wrote in prison which talks about Hitler’s ideology of the Aryan race and more), a book he considers being wonderful (105).
Resenting his father and the rest of his family’s inactivity to join the Nazi Party, Hans Junior runs off and fights for Hitler at Stalingrad (106), where Death reveals at Stalingrad that many Russians and Germans died, and Hans Junior is one of them (106).
To be honest, I believe that Hans Junior deserved some blame for the Holocaust. In the text, he despised his father at his teens, and during the teenage years, Hitler Youth would have been prominently established, for teenagers and other adolescents. Hans Junior could be one of those youths who attended, and got brainwashed into thinking that Hitler was going to lead them to great victories. Hans Junior soon became a Nazi, supporting practically everything that had to do with Hitler, and acts ruthlessly to show it, his resentment towards his father, whom is not a Nazi.
Part two of my post:
DeleteAlex Steiner was an ordinary citizen of a small German town, Molching, but when the war was going bad, Alex along with Hans Hubermann had to go to war (419). Alex Steiner did not hate Jews even though he was a member of the Nazi Party (59). The only reason that is shown why Alex had joined the Nazi Party was to support his family (60). It is revealed by Death that Alex did not hate Jews, but when Jewish business was banned out, Alex was a bit relieved (59). Alex did not get sent to fight in the front lines of the war; instead he given a job to mend clothes, something of his expertise (431). Throughout the whole book, Alex shows practically no signs of violence, nor very bitter resentment towards the Jews, and near the end of the book, when the war is over, he even allows Max, a Jew to enter his shop and see Liesel (548).
Alex Steiner deserves no blame for the Holocaust. Alex Steiner did join the Nazi Party, a treacherous organization led by Hitler to create the Holocaust and exterminate the Jews, but Alex joined to help support his family, a selfless act. In addition to this, though he was relieved that the Jewish businesses were put out, he never truly hated the Jews or anyone in particular and showed no actions to supporting the Holocaust.
Overall, I think that the group of Nazi soldiers should receive some blame. There were some soldiers, who joined the Nazi Party out of selfless reasons, but a majority of the Nazi soldiers joined and either showed bystander apathy, or took initiative and helped support the Holocaust.
Type of Person: Captured Jews
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the book: Max Vancenburg
Max was a Jew that the Hubermanns hid in their basement. Max is considerate of others and persistent. When he was little, he saw a man die without a fight. He wondered "Where's the fight?" (189). He's a Jew going through the Holocaust. He must be persistent to keep going and not give up. He understands that the Hubermanns can be punished for helping him. He fears them being caught more than him being exposed. He becomes good friends with Liesel. He writes her a sketch to show his point of view on Hitler.
Max should have no blame since he was actually a victim. If he tried to fight back or go against the Germans, he would be killed. He didn't have the authority to stop what happened.
I selected none because there was nothing he could possibly do. He couldn't even walk out of the basement without being afraid.
But shouldn't Max feel guilty for not doing anything but sitting around and waiting for the Holocaust to end? Doesn't it make Max have some fault since he's not helping at all?
DeleteI understan the way you see it, Sherenie. However, I think that Max should be blamed a little bit, because even though he couldnt do anything, he put Liesel`s and the Hubermann`s life in danger.
DeleteI disagree with you Leslie because he hand no other choice. His life was in danger and Hans didn't have to take Max in. It was Hans's choice to put his life and his families life in danger if anyone should be to blame, it should be him.
DeleteType of person: Captured Jews
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the book: Max Vandenburg, Jews in the parade
Max's father helped and taught Hans play accordion during World War one. When the Holocaust happened, Max asked Hans for help. Hans hid Max in his basement for a very long time. Max became a friend with Liesel during the time. Max likes to read, writing and drawing. He always wrote a story about himself and Hitler. He was a pathetic Jew. He was not allow to leave the basement or show up during the day. He felt happy when he got the chance to look out the window to see the sky during the bomb attack. However, Max needed to leave Hans' house when Hans help the Jews in the parade. Max was capture on the way.
The Jews had a parade when they transfer from one camp to other or on the way to their working places. The Jews in the parades was weightless, and their eyes show loss of hope. They were like a walking skeleton.
Captured Jews have no blame for the Holocaust because they were the victim. They were too weak to fight with the Germans who have more people and weapons. They try to hide from the German, but most of them fail. However, hiding helps some of the Jews survive.
I chose none blame because the Jews were the one be killed during the Holocaust. They did not hurt other people, and they were innocent.
Question:
Delete-Does anyone have views or ideas that the Jews should be blamed?
(i want to acknowledge other sides)
Second Blog:
ReplyDeleteHitler (The Führer)
In the novel The Book Thief, Hitler is commonly called the Führer. The word Führer in Germany means leader or guide. In Germany, Hitler controlled everything. He controlled the people by promising them riches and pride. However, this wasn’t the case. The Führer, instead of helping people, he made people suffer and sometimes kill them. Hitler killed homosexuals, gypsies, and millions of Jews. Hitler was a full of racism, nationalism, and militarism.
I believe Hitler should mostly be blamed for the Holocaust. Hitler was the man who began the Holocaust and had no intention of stopping. Hitler used his tactics to manipulate the people into supporting him. If that didn’t work, Hitler would send people to kill those who oppose him. In the novel everything that’s terrible is because of Hitler, “The word communist + a large bonfire +a collection of dead letters + the suffering of her mother + the death of her brother = the Führer”(115). Also, without Hitler the Holocaust would have never happened or never have worked. When Hitler committed suicide the Nazis only lasted two weeks more in World War II.
Hitler should be blamed the most and if he didn’t commit suicide, his trial results should have been the death sentence. Hitler began the Holocaust and took advantage of the conditions Germany was after World War I. Hitler is someone we know that supported the Holocaust 100% so he should be blamed a lot. He shouldn’t be blamed for everything because without help he couldn’t have made the Holocaust happen. Hitler was a racist and a nationalist that began the Holocaust, therefore he should be blamed a lot.
I agree with you that Hitler should be blamed a lot for the Holocaust. He was the one who started it and supported it. However, you also made a good point. Hitler shouldn't be blamed for the whole thing because it wasn't going to be possible without help, such as from the Nazis. The Nazis helped Hitler make the Holocaust happen and get worse over the years by capturing Jews and building/ keeping order of the camps.
Delete(To Jennifer & Nadda)
DeleteYes, however, the Nazi were being controlled by Hitler, he is responsible for this whole mess. And, yes, even though the Nazi helped Hitler, if it wasn't for Hitler, there wouldn't have been a Holocaust to begin with. Hitler should take most of the blame, the Nazi couldn't do anything without their leader. I don't believe that the Nazi should have blame for 'following orders'.
(Obviously, 'following orders' was just an excuse, but being brainwashed is not)
I agree with Sammi, Hitler brainwashed the Nazi members to follow him. If Hitler didn't brainwash Nazi members, they will not follow his orders.
DeleteI agree with Nadda and Jennifer, yes Hitler should be the #1 person to be blamed for he Holocaust.
Delete(To Sammi)
I disagree with your position that the Nazis should not be blamed for 'following orders'. I believe that they should be blamed because they had the ability of not following Hitler but they rather decide to hurt civilians with their actions.
to Minyi:
DeleteHitler did have Nazi members that did not agree with the Holocaust. For example, Hans Hubermann. He had to follow order to protect himself and his family. During this time in Germany people either follow Hitler or pretend to because of they don't they'll be treated just as badly as the Jews.
Who is the blame for the Holocaust? Part 2
ReplyDeleteType of Person: Captured Jews
Characters from the Book:
Max Vandenburg, the old man (who Hans helped) , and the group of marching Jews
Max Vandenburg is a 24 year old Jew who hides in the Hubermann’s household from the Nazis. Hans Hubermann helps Max, whose father was his friends and savior during World War I. Max has dark, swampy eyes and “his hair is like feathers” (216) as he is described by Liesel. Max is feels indebt to the Hubermanns since they are risking their lives to help a Jew during the Holocaust. He sleeps in the basement where he also draws, paint, and writes. The longer Max stays with the Hubermanns, the strong his bond gets with Liesel. Liesel becomes his best friend and his word shaker. He received thirteen gifts from her that he cherishes. He gave “The Standover Man” to Liesel for her birthday. He stays in the house when there are raids in Munich, Germany. “The Word Shaker” was given to Liesel from Max through Rosa after he left years later. It was too dangerous to still stay after Hans helped a captured Jew.
The captured Jew is an old man wearing rags who struggles when he marches to Dachau. Hans- without thinking went up to the man, helped him up and offered a piece of bread to him (394). In return, the old man gets whipped and so does Hans. Hans regrets his decision; he has not only endangered the Jew living in his basement, but also his family.
The group of marching captured Jews showed up several times in the book. Ever since Hans’ incident with the old man, Liesel would go with Rudy with a bag of bread and follow the group of Jews. They would feed the Jews anyway they can, and help however they can. (440). Liesel did not only go feed the Jews, but she wants to see Max again. She meets him again, but before they departed, Max got whipped, and so did Liesel.
The captured Jews have a very little amount of blame for the holocaust. The Jews were not able to do anything to prevent it, there were a whole group of anti- Semitist (Nazi Party) who wants to get rid of all the Jews. Obviously, the Jews couldn’t even try to stop (I’m exaggerating…) since they would be immediately sent to the concentration camp, to prison, or get killed right at the spot. However, the Jews do have some blame since they were Hitler’s target. Hitler blamed the Jewish people for all of Germany’s problems. He scapegoats them. It’s the Jewish people’s fault for being an easy target. The Jews were considered a huge support for communism (Bolshevism), which Hitler detested (since he’s a Totalitarian leader); it wasn’t difficult to build on that hatred.
Type of person: Nazi soldiers
ReplyDeleteCharacters from Book Thief: Gestapo, other Nazi soldiers
The Gestapo were soldiers under the order of Adolf Hitler. They took children away to military schools. Some of the Gestapo are seen visiting the Steiner's household. They wanted to take Rudy into one of their schools. Rudy's mother begged for them not to take Rudy.
The Nazi soldiers marched the Jews, parading them. They beat the Jews and also Germans or other bystanders that chose to help the Jews. One of them is seen beating Hans for giving one of them bread.
These soldiers should have some blame for the cause of the Holocaust. They chose to follow the orders of Hitler. By doing so, they killed millions of people. They could have stopped what was happening but they didn't. These soldiers also had family and friends to care for. If they didn't obey Hitler's orders they would have been killed. In the Book Thief, they didn't try to help the Jews.
I chose to to have the Nazi soldiers have some blame because it wasn't their ideas to create a genocide. They didn't try to revolt though. They didn't try to help the Jews, as seen in The Book Thief.
Do you think the Gestapo from the Book Thief would have helped the Jews even if he could?
DeleteOver all I agree that the soldiers should have some blame because they did enforce Hitlers ideas.
I think some would try to help them since after all they are humans.
DeleteType of person: Citizens of small town
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the book: Ilsa Hermann,Rudy Steiner, Liesel Meminger
-Ilsa Hermann is the owner of the library where Liesel steals the books. She is the Major`s wife and has a son named Johann Hermann.She was one of Rosa`s client, washing and ironing her clothes. This was how she met Liesel and has been the one to let her steal the books like The Shoulder Shrug.
-Rudy Steiner is Liesel`s partner in crime and best friends. They are always calling each other names such as Saukerl and Saumensch but at the end is the way their friendship works. He is very caring with Liesel and is always there for her.
-Liesel Meminger is Hans and Rosas` Hubermann foster child. Her brother died and her mother had to go away in order for her to be safe. She didn`t know how to read or write but Hans, her foster dad, began to teach her.One of the things she loves is to read. As she increases her reading and writing skills she sees herself stealing books from the major`s wife`s library. As a result, she is known as "the Book Thief".
The citizens of small German towns should have SOME blame because these people did not agree with Hitler`s actions. They believed that everyone was equal and that the events of the Holocaust were inhuman treatments. Even though they didn`t agree with the Fuhrer decisions, they still followed them because it would be worse if they went against him.
I selected SOME of the blame because they were just citizens and they didn`t have a lot of power compared to the soldiers or Hitler. They still deserve some of the blame because they didn`t stand up for their beliefs. The citizens decided to maintain neutral instead of breaking the silence.
I agree with the amount of blame you've placed on the citizens. They did deserve some blame because of what you've already said. These people didn't stand up for their beliefs and did remain neutral. Being neutral only helps the attacker, never the victim
DeleteMario Joya
ReplyDeleteApril 12, 2012
Post 2
Type of Person: Captured Jews
Characters in the book- Max Vandenburg
Max Vandenburg was always hidden in the shadows. He was a Jew living during the holocaust and this wasn’t the most pleasant position to be in due to the prosecution of Jews. Max was always the man running for his life and eventually ended up living in a basement in which survival wasn’t guaranteed as well. Not only was he risking his life but he was risking the life of his friends who were keeping him in the basement. Max showed he was a humble being when he was in the basement because he didn’t ask for much and didn’t expect much food or to be healthy. He didn’t ask for more than what the Hubermanns could give him so he accepted that he was not living in a great condition. Max always cared for Liesel and even left her a present when he left because he knew it was getting too risky for the Hubermanns.
Captured Jews should have no blame whatsoever in the holocaust. They did nothing wrong and were the victims of the whole prosecution. They were abused, mistreated, starved, and murdered for no reason at all.
I chose none because the Jews had no fault and had no right or power. They couldn’t do anything to get their freedom and to stop the holocaust because they had been inflicted by fear. The Nazis had developed a tactic that would cause so much fear in the Jews that fighting back wouldn’t even come to their minds.
I agree with you because the Jews were the ones who were targeted for extermination. They were constantly dehumanized and cruelly mistreated, so they really weren't responsible for the Holocaust to happen. In fact by the time Hitler ever did become the Leader of Germany, many Jewish people were eliminated in Germany's government, giving the Jewish no power or representation in government.
DeleteWho is to blame for the holocaust?
ReplyDeleteType of person: Citizens of small towns
Characters: Liesel, Hans, Rudy
Liesel- After becoming the Hubermann’s foster child and experiencing her younger brother's death she becomes a strong young lady. She learns to read and even steal books, she steals books when something goes wrong and she’s upset (287). Later on when she meets Max she develops a deep connection with him. Although Max is jewish Liesel doesn't care and sees nothing wrong with it. She shares her feelings and her ideas with Max and in return Max asks for information on the outside (220).
Hans- Liesel's step father is kind and giving, he cares a lot about his family and keeps his promises. He takes max in because he made a promise to his mother when he was younger after his father died in war (193). Hans doesn't believe in the Nazi party and would paint over jewish slurs on their houses and stores (184). Also when the Jews are being marched he gives an old man a piece of bread (394). He risks his life and his families because he knows what the Nazis are doing is wrong.
Frau Diller- She’s cold and intimidating, she is a strong Nazi follower. Frau Diller doesn't let any one who doesn't say heil Hitler buy anything in her store (50). She supported them by selling things under the counter and donating it to the Nazi party (50). She is strict and disliked Hans because she thought he was a jew lover (401).
I chose that this group deserves some of the blame for the holocaust because although there were people like Lisel and Hans, there were also people who supported Hitler like Frau Diller. The citizens could have done something to prevent Hitler from gaining so much power but they were too scared to go against him. People like Liesel and Hans did the little they could to save some jews but it wasn't enough. Saving one or two Jewish people didn't stop the massacre of millions of jews. People like Frau Diller who spread Hitler propaganda deserve some of the blame because they believed Hitler. They had the choice to follow Hitler or to realize that blaming the Jewish people wasn’t the answer. The Germans let themselves be fooled by the Nazis because they were desperate for someone to blame for their problems. The people who did see through Hitler's manipulation, were too frightened to do anything about it. I picked some blame because they could have never listened to Hitler and prevented him from gaining so much power.
Second Post
ReplyDeleteType of person: Nazi soldiers/German citizens
Characters from the book: Franz Deutscher, Reinhold Zucker, Hans Hubermann
Franz Dectscher isn't a real Nazi soldier but a leader of the Hitler Youth squad. Franz would be considers as a German citizen but where he holds power over Rudy and Tommy. He is a ruthless person where he bullies Rudy when he threw a rock at him. Franz beaten Rudy and broke some of his ribs (298). His actions are uncalled for because he has no reason to beat up Rudy because he only annoys him but he holds a strong grudge. Franz isn't a person to deal with and he has no heart for the weak.
Reinhold Zucker is a twenty-four year old member of the German LSE squad (Air Raid Special Unit). Reinhold is a man with a gloated attitude towards people and the card game. When he wins the game of cards, he would sniff his tobacco and say "the smell of victory" (463) and rub it in the faces of the losers. He is a young man with a cocky and disrespect aptitude towards his seniors and enemies. Reinhold has no sympathy towards his colleagues whenever he wins the game of cards. He does not offer comforts or tobacco to his fellow soldier like Hans did when he wins. He is a heartless man to does not help anyone but himself.
Hans Hubermann is an elected LSE squad member (Air Raid Special Unit). Hans is a very gentle and generous person even in war and Molching. He offers tobacco to his colleagues and comforts them with his music (478). Hans isn't a horrific person but he did became a Nazi soldier and killed people (436). He experienced war and carried a corpse of a twelve year old boy (436). Even so Hans wasn't meant to kill people, he still commit the sin of taking people's lives.
Franz Deutscher, Reinhold Zucker, and Hans Hubermann should be blamed for the Holocaust. Even if they are not full responsible for the Holocaust, they are still Nazis soldier and are involve with the Holocaust as well as the war. As Nazis soldiers, they hold the role to uphold the law and orders given to them. Franz Deutscher, Reinhold Zucker, and Hans Hubermann are just the examples of Nazis soldiers in the book but represent as soldiers who cause the Holocaust.
Franz Deutscher, Reinhold Zucker, and Hans Hubermann would want to stop the Holocaust because they are the Nazis: German soldiers who would follow Hitler as their leader. They are soldiers who would listen to the higher-ups and would not refuse the orders given to them. They hold no authority to refuse the orders given to them and if they were to help the Jews: they would be killed or thrown into the concentration camps.
Nazi soldiers/German citizens should be taken SOME blame because they aren't the real cause of the Holocaust but are still involve. They should be given some blame because as Nazi soldiers/German citizens they still commit the sin of killing and standing by when the Jews are being killed and tortured.
~Jacky Lee
Lily Zhu
ReplyDelete4/12/12
pd.8
Type of person: Hitler
Characters: Führer (Hitler)
Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany after World War I. He blamed all of the problems of Germany on the Jewish population. At first, Hitler promised that he would solve all of the problems of Germany which was what earned the trust of the German people. He established the Nazi Party and flooded Germany with his propaganda. Hitler's book Mein Kamf also became popular in Germany as he gained power. The book described his political views and antisemitic views. Many people began to blindly support Hitler and following everything that he does. This is shown in The Book Thief when the shopkeeper Frau Diller required everyone who entered her shop to say "heil Hitler" (50) which is a Nazi salute. Soon, Hitler began his plan to execute the whole Jewish race through the Holocaust. He already had enough followers which made it easy for him to carry out the Holocaust. He did not actually fire a gun or kill a Jew himself but made others do so for him (445). Hitler was a man full of nationalism and racism.
I believe that Hitler should receive A LOT of blame for the Holocaust because after all, it was his plan to exterminate the whole Jewish race due his antisemitic beliefs. He gained the trust of the German population through the use of words, or propaganda (445). This made his plan successful because since majority of the German population was strongly devoted to their leader, they easily agreed with everything he proposes. Hitler also used fear which made it difficult for anyone to stand up against him. He had secret police who would execute anyone that seemed to be against Hitler. He used the people, controlled them with fear and committed genocide on the Jewish race. Therefore, Hitler should receive the most blame for the Holocaust.
Type of Person: Citizens of Small German Towns
ReplyDeleteCharacters: Liesel Meminger, Rudy Steiner, Hans Hubermann, Rosa Hubermann
Liesel - Liesel is Hans and Rosa's foster child due to a private matter regarding her mother and Hitler. Liesel was a girl who resorted to stealing with Rudy to obtain a bit of food and to satisfy their thieving desires. For Liesel to be a thief, it was unethical but seeing that times are pretty bad enough that she had to drink soup everyday for dinner, stealing didn't seem that unethical to the starving girl. Apart from her stealing, Liesel is pretty considerate and can be described as an indifferent child since she loves reading books.
Rudy - Rudy is an outgoing boy who is in love with Liesel. He was partners is crime with Liesel in their thieving acts. Same reason as Liesel, Rudy stole food to obtain food and satisfy his thieving urges. He was also pretty poor and since he has 5 other siblings with him, the food he gets is pretty limited. Rudy idolizes Jesse Owens, a black track runner, and is pretty fast himself. He would do anything for Liesel and would often request a kiss from her if he did her a favor.
Hans - Hans is Liesel's foster parent and Rosa's husband. He is an accordion players and even as a German, he helps out Jews like Max. Hans is a good man in every way, he is nice, reliable, and compassionate.
Rosa - Rosa is Liesel's foster parent and Han's wife. She has a mean and scary exterior, but she is nice on the inside, she just doesn't show her true feelings much. Her personality is pretty bad seeing that she curses at Liesel and Hans, though she doesn't really mean it in a bad way.
These people should deserve none of the blame for the start of the Holocaust because they didn't do anything related to the Holocaust. In fact, Liesel, Rosa, and Hans even helped a Jew named Max. Even though they helped a single Jew, they couldn't openly help other Jews or even let anyone else know about this. If anyone found out, they would be reported and the German soldiers would come and shoot them all along with Max.
I chose no blame because they are citizens who suffered under the control of Hitler. Not to mention that Rosa, Hans, and Liesel are compassionate people who helped a Jew escape from death, the citizens couldn't do anything to help the Jews openly in the first place. If they did, they would be shot and seeing that there are a large majority of people who are in the Nazi Party and felt that Jews are to be blamed for the problems of Germany, the citizens could do nothing but stand back or possibly risk their lives helping a Jew in secret.
I would have to disagree with you on the part about the blame. I believe that they should have some blame, even though they helped a Jew. Hans still took part in the war and joined the Nazi party. Liesel was in the Hitler Girl Youth which they learn about Hitler's ideas.
DeleteI disagree with you Jaymes because it's the duty of Hans to be part of the war since he is in the Nazi party and he joined the Nazi party because he wants to fit in with the rest of Germany. Also even though if Liesel was in the Hitler Youth did she even had developed a hatred against the Jewish religion and its people?
DeleteType of Person: Nazi Soldiers
ReplyDeletePeople from the book: Hans Hubbermann’s Son, Hans Hubermann, Alex Steiner
Han’s Hubbermann’s son, Hans Junior, was the son of Rosa and Hans Hubermann. He was a Nazi and very ignorant towards anyone who wasn’t a Nazi. An example of that was his father Hans Hubbermann. He disliked him because he had not joined the Nazi Party and therefore said that he was against him. Hans Junior was so Pro Hitler that he even went on to criticizing how they were raising Liesel and why she was not reading My Struggle by Adolf Hitler. He was so disgusted by his father not being part of the Nazi party that he ends up going back to fight for Hitler at Stalingrad, where he ends up dyeing.
Alex Steiner, Rudy’s father, was drafted to the war. He was part of the Nazi party but had nothing the Jewish people. The only reason he joined was to support his own family. In the war he was stationed in the army’s hospital. Overall the ethics of Alex Steiner seem positive; throughout the whole book he doesn’t commit any actions of hate towards anyone.
Hans Hubbermann, a very fatherly and caring person who was drafted as well into the war. Hans treats Liesel as if she was his own daughter and also keeps Max, a Jew, in his own house. He helps out Max because he was once rescued by a Jew. His ethics are very generous; he feeds a Jew bread in a parade and faces the consequences because German soldiers saw him. Even after that he still keeps Max in his basement and treats him as a regular individual. He then joins the army as a person that collects dead bodies.
The Nazi soldiers should get some of the blame because they were the ones that killed tons of Jews and mistreated them or anyone that tried to help them. They had a choice to question why they were only aiming for Jews but yet again they were ignorant and the majority didn’t say a word. People like Han’s and Alex Steiner shouldn’t get any blame because they actually cared about people no matter what race they were, but people like Han’s son should take some blame because they were so ignorant that they believed everything Hitler told them.
I disagree that the Nazi soldiers should not get blame because they think that killing Jews is a good thing since they were taught that way. Also if they knew what they're doing is wrong, then why would they still do it and why would they be in fear when there are more soldiers than Hitler himself?
DeleteI disagree with you Mathew, soldiers do receive the blame because they are supporting Hitler. If they had the courage, they could of all have come together to rebel Hitlers rule. They can do that because after all they are all humans in the end. They are basically destroying their own kind.
DeleteLike I wrote, the Nazi soldiers are taught when they are little that they are superior to everyone else that are not part of the "perfect" Aryan race that Hitler described as blonde hair and blue eyes. Also the soldiers wouldn't have the courage since it's just like trying to fight your own loved ones so to speak. They are taught to kill to Jews with the goal of complete extermination, if they go against their teachers what makes them a better person in their minds?
DeleteFinally, the Nazis don't believe that Jews are actually as equal and powerful as them so they kill them even though they are both human. The border of beliefs between Jews and Nazis is what divides them apart making them different from each other and they won't considered each other to be the same kind.
Due 4/12
ReplyDeleteType of person: Hitler
Characters from the book: The Fuhrer
The Fuhrer, or Hitler, was the leader and prime minister of Germany, though his personality and information is rarely given in the book, he could be depicted as a terrible person. The Fuhrer is a sleaze ball, rat, sore loser, and a whole lot of other despicable words. Using outside information, he was a man who brought Germany out of a depression. Leader of the Nazi party, he turned Germany into a dictatorship and started World War 2. He is infamously known for causing the Holocaust, the extermination of Jews. In the book, the Fuhrer is a sore loser because when he lost a fight, he made the German people fight for him so he wouldn’t lose (254). The Fuhrer was a terrible man who has no moral boundaries.
The Fuhrer should have ALL the blame for the Holocaust. The Fuhrer is the main person who caused the war and the Holocaust. Hitler was a bad person, he was way worse than all the Nazi soldiers put together.
The Fuhrer was an anti- Semitist, which means he hated Jews. He had a drive to kill all the Jewish people. The Fuhrer encouraged these killings by brainwashing all Germans that Jews were bad. He didn’t try to stop himself or his immoral actions. Hitler is the person that should have a lot to ALL of the blame for the Holocaust
I thought that the Fuhrer deserved ALL the blame because he was the person to start the Holocaust. It was his anti-Semitism ideas that caused the Holocaust. He was the one who spread his ideas to the people of Germany, allowing them to follow it. The Fuhrer was a disease that infected Germany’s mind and soul. Hitler encouraged his people to continue killing Jews and putting them into concentration camps. He would spread bad and racist ideas about Jews to make them look bad compared to the other races. The Fuhrer made the Jews inferior to his so-called “Aryan” race. Hitler definitely deserves all the blame for the Holocaust.
I see why you would say that he deserves ALL the blame, but you have to remember that he wasn`t the only one that participated in the Holocaust. The Nazi soldiers also had some blame for being followers instead of being leaders.
DeletePost for 4/12/12
ReplyDeleteType of Person: Nazi Soldiers
Characters from the book: Reinhold Zucker, Michael and Robert Holtzapfel
1)Reinhold Zucker is one of the soldiers who are in the same squad as Hans Hubermann during the second world war. He is introduced by the narrator when Hans and the rest of the squad are playing card games for cigarettes. Reinhold is represented as a sore loser when he keeps complaining about how Hans constantly winning every round of card games (463). In a side note, Reinhold Zucker is a twenty-four year old man who gloats when he wins a round of cards and hold thin cylinders of tobacco to his nose calling it "The smell of victory" (463). Overall, Reinhold is a soldier who fights for the Germans and should not have the blame for the Holocaust since he only fights in the war. He doesn't kill any Jew and he can't stop the Holocaust because it's basically insubordination against the Nazi commanders if he interferes with the Nazi agenda. As a consequence he will end up like a Jew himself being thrown in a concentration camp.
2)Michael Holtzapfel was a German soldier who fought in the frontlines of Russia and was the brother of Robert Holtzapfel. He is introduced when Liesel came to visit his mother's home for one of the reading days instead of Michael's mother answering the door, it's Michael (465). He told his story to Rosa Hubermann when he visited her home to talk to Liesel and Rosa was suprised to see that Michael returned home since he would of died in Russia with his brother in battle. Michael talks about how his arm got blasted and how his brother died from his injuries (469). Michael should not be blamed for the Holocaust because he was injured fighting the second world war and he never killed a Jew also. He can't stop the Holocaust because it's the same reason as for any German and German soldier, if they interfere then they will suffer the same fate as any traitor to the Nazi regime.
3)Robert Holtzapfel was Michael's brother who died during battle because his legs were blown off (469). Robert died at a field hospital next to his injured brother while they were having a conversation (470). Robert as a sum should not be blamed for the Holocaust because he fought for the Germans in the war, but never killed a Jew according to the narrator. He's an innocent man who died for Germany and he can't stop the Holocaust because it's treason to do so.
The Nazi soldiers as a whole should not be blamed for the Holocaust at all because they are just following orders. Also they killed the Jews because they were taught at a young age that the Jews are their inferior and must be wiped out. They wouldn't dare question authority because they will end up being killed. In addition these soldiers think what they're doing is right to them and they don't know what they're actually doing is wrong which means that the soldiers will keep killing without questioning because no one will question something that they know the answer to.
Type of person: Hitler
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the book: Fuhrer
Hitler is a dictator that took over in Germany. He wanted to expand Germany because they lost so much land from the Treaty Versailles after World War 1. Hitler is in power of the Nazis. He blamed the Jews for Germany losing all of their fortunes.
Hitler should have a lot of blame for the Holocaust. Hitler started the idea of anti Semitism. Anti-Semitism is racism against Jews. Hitler hated the Jews and even called them an inferior race. He thought little of them. When Hitler spread the idea of anti Semitism everyone believed him and followed him.
I chose a lot of blame on Hitler because he started the Holocaust. Starting the Holocaust is the worst thing he did. He caused people to take orders that were against what they believed. He was the cause of the 6 million Jews who were killed.
Nazi soldiers
ReplyDelete>Which characters from the book are in that type of person (Nazi soldiers)?
-Hans Junior, Erik Vandenburg
>Describe each person and his/her personality, actions and ethics.
-Hans Junior, Han's and Rosa's son. Hans Jr. is persuaded by propaganda in Hitler's time and joined the Nazis. He visits the Hans on holidays. Plus so far Rosa heard that he's still alive in Russia.
-Erik Vandenburg,a jew soilder from WWI and have been comrades with Hans. He saved Hans from going into battle by telling him to stay behind and do a writing assignment. Erik passed on the accordion to Hans, the one that Hans have at the moment.
>How much should they be to blame for the Holocaust? Why didn't they stop what was happening? Did they try to stop it? What was the consequence? For each post, identify if that group of people should be to blame a lot some none. Explain why you selected that amount of blame.
-The should be blamed very little. They didn't stop what was happening because they were persuaded and controlled. They were like sheeps, that follows, and does what is ask. Soilders like sheeps following the shepherd (comander/Hitler). You can't blame sheeps for following the shepherd, so the blame can't really blame the soldiers for following their orders. The consquence for doing this would be getting left out by society, like Hans. Hans which helped the nation's enemies, is rejected the Nazi loyalist.
Overall, no one should be blamed more due to choices of propaganda.
Type of person: Citizens of Small German Town
ReplyDeleteCharacters: Rudy Steiner, Liesle Meminger,Rosa Hubberman
Rudy Steiner: Good friends with Liesel. Very athletic,yet rebellious. Not a supporter of Hitler,especially When his father is sent to work for him. When at the Hitler Youth group, he gets disqualified on purpose (Zusak 364). Rudy fits the criteria for what the Gestapo was looking for. But didn't want to go. He doesn't really speak his mind on how he feels Hitler treats the Jews; but he still despises him anyway.
Liesel Meminger: Seems to worship Hitler. Yet she cares for Max with all her heart (Zusak 378)
She tends to be a bystander when ever someone gets hurt, such as when her Father was whipped in the street for giving a Jew bread.
Rosa Hubberman : Liesel's step mother, wife of Hans Hubberman. Never really speaks about her views on Hitler, but always prays when there is an inspection in her town,especially In her own
Home (Zusak 344).Also often a bystander (bystander apathy)
Citizens of Small German town are NOT to blame for the holocaust, because if anything they were impacted by the acts of Hitler. Hitler had these people in fear, and had them worshiping him daily! All they could do was stand by and watch the Jews get tortured, because they were afraid of having the same things done to them (starvation, torture chambers etc.). How can you possibly blame the ones effected for the uproar of the Holocaust?
Type of Character: Hitler
ReplyDeleteCharacters: Hitler/ Führer
Hitler was the absolute leader of Germany at the time of the Holocaust. He is one of the most prominent political figures of that era. In many people's eyes, he was the sole reason for the deaths of millions of Jews, making him perhaps the most infamous person in history. Though he is not described very in-depth throughout 'The Book Thief', it is clear that he is "the bad guy". A few times in the book, Liesel would blame her problems directly on the Führer himself, representing the beliefs of a small portion of German citizens. Of course this is not entirely reasonable.
Due to the fact that the whole concept of what would become the Holocaust was Hitler's idea, he deserves about half of the blame for the events that occurred. When a ship sinks, the blame immediately falls on the captain. The holocaust was his idea, so it was his fault. Simple as that. However, Hitler himself did not carry out the events of the Holocaust, nor was he the sole reason it was able to go on as long as it did.
Hitler only gets half of the blame because he is only one person. The topic at hand is the death of six million others. You cannot place all the blame on one man for such a catastrophic event. Hitler was able to take power and plant his ideas in his peoples' minds because Germany was in a weakened state. German citizens were willing to believe anything in order to get themselves out of their nationwide rut. With their naivety, some of the blame must fall upon them. With that, Hitler gets half of the blame because the Holocaust was his brainchild and he was the leader of the responsible country, but only half because it was not he himself who carried out the atrocities that occurred.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete2nd Post 4/12/2012
ReplyDeleteType of Person: Captured Jews
Character from the book: Max Vandenburg
Max Vandenburg is a 24 year old Jew who hides from the Nazis in the Hubermannss basement. Max holds guilt and conflicting emotions before arriving on Himmel Street. This is because Walter Kugler, a drafted German Soldier, offers to hide Max away. As a result, this leads Max to leave behind his family. When Walter brings disastrous news of his family’s disappearance, Max finds it hard to live knowing this tragedy. The cause of his family disappearing is likely that they were taken to a concentration camp. Due to the consequences of hiding a Jew, Max was constantly spending his days in the dark basement. Afterwards, Max leaves the house after Hans Hubermann gives an old Jew marched to a concentration camp a piece of bread.
Max Vandenburg should get no blame for the Holocaust. This is because he was a victim of this predicament. The Holocaust caused Max to lose his family, home, and friends. Also, the Holocaust created negative emotions to Max. Because Max had to leave his family behind, he was in great grief.
Captured Jews should not get any blame for the Holocaust. Although the Holocaust was started because of Jew population in European countries, the Jews were merely sufferers of it. The Jews were horribly oppressed.
3rd POST (4/15/12)
ReplyDeleteType of person: citizens of small German towns
Character(s): Liesel Meminger, Hans Hubermann, Rudy Steiner, Rosa Hubermann
Leisel Meminger: Liesel is a little girl that lives with foster parents, since her mother gave her up and her brother died. Due to many separations and deaths that she experienced, she constantly kept getting nightmares and would stay awake in the middle of the night. Liesel and her father would read her books that she stole (from the mayor’s library, floor or in the fire). Liesel is very kind and friendly; she even becomes great friends with Max (a Jew), shares stories with him, and shows great care.
Liesel should NOT be blamed for the Holocaust because she tried to stop it and was very much against Hitler and his actions. There was a time that she yelled out in the street that she hated Hitler for taking away her mother, but Hans smacked her because it was wrong to yell out such a thing. Liesel continued to help the Jews by giving bread to them when they passed by the town in a Jew parade. Unfortunately, a Nazi soldier caught her, ran after her, and kicked her back. Liesel tried a lot to help the Jews and stop the Holocaust. She gave care and food to her Jew friend and Jew strangers.
Hans Hubermann: Hans is Liesel’s foster father and he is very kind and fatherly. He paints for a living and loves to play the accordion. He taught Liesel to read and would accompany her during her nightmare nights. He keeps Liesel’s secrets and even gives Liesel champagne (once when very excited). He’s a veteran of the First World War and became part of the LSE air raids during World War 2 (but he didn’t want to).
Hans should NOT be blamed for the cause of the Holocaust and the death of 6 million Jews because he as well was against Hitler and the Nazis and never wanted to join them. Hans tried to stop the Holocaust and help the Jews. He kept Max in his basement and made him part of the family. He gave care and respect and risked his life to keep a Jew’s life. Additionally, he helped a stranger Jew during another Jew parade by giving him a piece of bread. A Nazi soldier caught him as well and gave him a harsh beating, to the Jew and to Hans.
Rosa Hubermann: Rosa is Liesel’s foster mother who is very rude (calls a lot of people ‘pig’) but is very caring. She washes and irons other people’s clothes for money but kept getting fired (due to harsh times). She has an argument with the next door neighbor, Frau Holtzapfel but is forgotten after they make a deal in which Liesel would read to Holtzapfel.
Rosa should NOT be blamed for the Holocaust because she helped the Jews and risked her life. Rosa was kind enough to let her husband keep a Jew living in their basement and making him part of the family. She fed Max with the food available and gave him a place to sleep. Rosa helped the Jews rather than being against them and was not a cause of the Holocaust.
(Post continued)
DeleteRudy Steiner: Rudy is Liesel’s best friend who has a crush on her and constantly demands a kiss from her (which she refuses). He goes to Hitler Youth and is bullied by one of the head leader who makes him run laps in the mud. He also steals with Liesel and in addition to books, they joined a gang to steal fruits. Rudy is also known for a “Jesse Owens incident” in which he colored himself black and ran for a long time.
Rudy should NOT be blamed for the Holocaust and the deaths of 6 million Jews because he was against Hitler and very much hated him. There was a time that he ran up to a hill and searched for Hitler to he can kill him and yelled out he hates him. Additionally, with Liesel (originally his plan) they fed Jews bread during a Jew parade. He held a basket-full of bread and put them on the floor. Luckily, Rudy was not caught. Rudy was against hatred of Jews and tried to stop the Holocaust, therefore he shouldn’t be blamed.
Frau Diller: She is a store owner in Munich street and is very nationalistic. She supports Hitler and makes sure her costumers do as well. She hangs up a photo of the Fuhrer on the store wall and makes sure whoever passes by, greets and says “heil Hitler”.
Frau Diller should be blamed a lot because she was one of the citizens that expressed hatred towards the Jews and gave loyalty to Hitler. Frau Diller didn’t do anything to help the Jews get liberated and stop the Holocaust and continued to live life with content.
The citizens of a small German town should be given SOME blame. They should be blamed a little because there were some citizens who didn’t try to help the Jew and some who did try to help the Jews. If we blamed all the citizens a lot for the Holocaust, it wouldn’t be fair to the ones who did help. There were people who tried to do the right thing and help and obviously tried to stop the Holocaust and these characters shouldn’t be blamed at all. The ones who didn’t help should be blamed because they let issues to get worse and that’s why the citizens should only get SOME blame.
Type of Person: Nazi Soldiers
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the book: Alex Steiner, Hans Hubermann, Hans Junior
Hans Hubermann is Liesel's foster father. He was forced into the war since the letter said that "a member of the party would be happy to play a role in the war effort" (417). If not, "there would certainly be consequences" (417). Hans Hubermann was caught feeding a Jew. Sending him to war shows Germany's desperation, but it is his punishment as well. He doesn't deserve any blame because he tried to help Jews. He hides a Jew in his basement and feeds the Jews in the parades.
Alex Steiner is Rudy's father. He was also punished because "letters like that were sent out as punishment to Germany's Hans Hubermanns and Alex Steiners - to those who helped the helpless, and those who refused to let go of their children" (418). Alex occasionally tries to help the Jews like Hans. Joining the army was also his punishment. Alex deserves some blame because he secretly "felt a percentage of relief when Jewish shop owners were put out of business" (59). This shows that he was selfish. He was more concerned about how his business goes than what would happen to the Jews.
Hans Junior is Hans Hubermann's son. When he goes home for Christmas, he tells Hans that he has to "go out and be part of the party - despite [his] past mistakes" (104). By mistakes, Hans Junior means helping the Jews. He disagrees with his father's actions and blindly follows Hitler. Hans Junior deserves some blame because he believes that the Jews are at fault for their economy. He's blaming the Jews for their economic issues, but in reality it's not entirely their fault.
Overall, Nazi Soldiers deserve some blame. Although some soldiers joined the army because of punishment, others are actually glad the Jews are killed. Those who believe that Jews should be killed still don't deserve too much blame. Hitler used propaganda and different techniques to blind them into thinking that the Jews are at fault.
Type of person: Hitler
ReplyDeleteHitler is to be blamed for all the misery he put into the characters in the book thief. Hitler had absolute control of Germany. Germany was weak due to all the debts. Germans suffered economically, for example the Hubermanns. That is why they adopted Liesel, so they can receive benefits. Germans were already suffering enough, then comes Hitler where Germans have to obey him with no choice. Later on in the book, Max, an old Jew was being cared by the Hubermanns secretly because they cared about him and he was suffering because he was a Jew. In the time period of book thief, life was a living hell for Jews. Liesel and her family were very open hearted to secretly put him in their basement where no one would see him. They fed him and gave him a place to sleep. If the German polices caught the Hubermanns doing this to a Jew, there would be serious consequences. At that time, both Max, and the Hubermanns lives were in danger. All because the rule of Hitler. Later on the book, when they released Max, Hans Hubermann and Rudy’s father were requested to serve in the war. It was enough that there life wasn’t like it used to be, now they have to leave everything and their family to serve the war because of Hitler. A leader is supposed enhance a country, not to lead to more conflicts. That is why Hitler is to be blamed.
I agree with your argument with Hitler being the most to blame. He caused everyones lives to be miserable and alter in unexpectable ways.
DeleteAdditional note: don't forget to describe Hitler's actions, ethics, and/or personality for full credit. Also add if he was to blame for the DEATH of the Jews.
Blog 3
ReplyDeleteType of character: Captured Jews
Character from the book: Max Vandenberg
Max Vandenberg is a Jewish man who is living Nazi Germany. Max was born in 1916 and grew up in Stuttgart(187). When Max was nine his father, Erik Vandenberg, was shot during war. Max grew up loving to fight. He especially loved to fight a boy his age named Walter. During the beginning of the Holocaust Walter was the man who helped Max out. Walter had hid Max for two years in a building he has worked in the previous years(194). After the two years Max and Walter need help because they could get caught any minuet. Max then searches for Hans Hubermann’s help. Max then stays in the Hubermann’s basement to hide from the Nazis. To pass time Max draws and writes book for Liesel Max gives Liesel The Standover Man and The Word Shaker. Max however had to leave the Hubermann’s house because of the risk of being caught.
I believe the Jews had no blame in the Holocaust. The Jewish people did not support the Holocaust because they were the biggest target. The Jewish people had no control in what was happening to them. Even if all the Jews would have come together to over rule the Nazi, the Holocaust would have happened. The Jew during Nazi Germany took up only 1% of the population. The Jews did not harm anyone and were actually trying to hide from the Nazi, who created the Holocaust.
Jewish people should NOT be blamed for the Holocaust. The Jews were just victims of the Holocaust and them more than anyone wish it never happened. The Jews had no power or control of the Holocaust, therefore they should not be blamed.
Due 4/15
ReplyDeleteType of Person: Captured Jews
Characters from the book: Max Vandenburg
Max Vandenburg is a Jew that is forced to hide from the Nazis in the Hubermanns`s basement in order to survive. Hans Hubermann decided to give him shelter, he offered hospitality knowing that it was against the rules. Since Hitler spread his ideas of antisemitism, it was wrong to help a Jew, especially let them live in their house. Therefore, he spend all of the time in the dark and lonely basement. Everything changed when Hans gave a piece of bread to a Jew. Max had to escaped because he didn`t want Liesel and the Hubermanns to keep risking their life for him.
Max Vandenburg should have some blame for the Holocaust because he was also a civilian. However, his blame is not a lot because he is also considered a victim for being a Jew and losing friends and leaving his loved ones behind for his own survival. Being a Jew was an obstacle for Max because he couldn`t do anything or else he would be killed.
I selected some blame but not a lot, because Max is a Jew and like any Jew they didn`t have enough power to stand up and fight. On the other hand, he did put innocent people`s life in danger by benefiting himself. Overall, Max or any other captured Jew did not have the ability to go against anything because they were being oppressed and mistreated by the Nazis.
I have a question for your comment, how much blame should Max Vandenbug have for the Holocaust exactly?
DeleteIs it for putting Hans,Rosa, and Liesel's life for his own or is it for being a Jew?
Lastly,"like any Jew they didn't have enough power to stand up and fight" this statement you wrote is an assumption which makes me ask how do you know that the Jews can't fight for themselves?
Leslie I don't think Max had another choice but to go to Hans even if it meant placing their lives in danger. I don't think he's to blame for the Holocaust because if his life wasn't in danger neither would Liesel, Hans, and Rosa. He doesn't deserve to be blamed for wanting to live.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteType of person: Hilter
ReplyDeleteCharacter in the book Hitler/Fuhrer
Hitler is the main cause of the Holocaust. He wrote the book Mein Kampf, which is about his political ideology. In that book he decribes how be a Nazi and why Germany was in debt because of the Jews. In the book Rudy wanted to kill Hitler, Lisel blammed her problems on Hitler, and Max dreamed of fighting Hitler. Hitler was blamed for many peoples problems but he blamed the Jews for their problems.
Hitler gave the ideas of the Holocaust. He did not kill the Jews or others on his own. The leaders don't do the killing the soldiers do. So hitler should recieve all the blame but some of it. He should recieve some of the blame because he did install the ideas in peoples heads, but did not do the killing. The killing was done in his name but again he didn't do the killing. His soldiers didn't have to follow his orders so I wouldnt give him all the blame but some of it.
I agree with your comment, but I think Hitler should have all the blame for it because without Mein Kampf he wrote and his influence to the German people, there would be never a Holocaust to exist in the first place. Also Hitler started the whole Holocaust even though the soldiers in the German army killed the Jews. Although Hitler didn't kill the Jews physically, he killed the Jews as a race through words.
DeleteTo Mathew
DeleteI agree with you but not about the part where you stated that Hitler "killed the Jews as a race through words". You might have agreed with the authors opinion about Hitler, but obviously Hitler has killed a Jew. If he was so obsessed with murdering Jews, he probably have shown an example of executing a Jew for the Nazi Party to remember.
Post for 4/15
ReplyDeleteType of person:Captured Jews
Characters from the book: Max Vandenburg and the Jew on the steet during the Dachau march.
1)Max Vandenburg was a Jewish man who took refuge in Hans Hubermann's basement during the second world war and the Holocaust. When he was young, he is known to be as a Jewish fist fighter who fights people his age around him for fame. He has one close friend who's name is Walter Kugler who helped Max be on his way to a safe place which was Hans Hubermann's basement. Also Walter only gave what he can give to Max which was a razor,spoon,shaving cream, and scissors (159). Furthermore, he wrote two short story books for Liesel as a gift for when she is ready to recieve and he talked to Liesel like a friend/brother to her. He cared for Liesel as much as she cares for Max. Lastly, when he is captured by the Germans and seen by Liesel as a marching Jew to Dachau, Max has no fear of dieing when the sky is beautiful (512). In all these events happening in Max's life he should not be blamed for the Holocaust because he as a Jew have no reason why to die and deserve to be killed as a Jew. Max can't stop the Holocaust because he just lets it happen and doesn't question whether why something like this just happend because of a sick reason from Hitler and the Nazi party.
2)The Jew on the street in the Dachau march appeared when Hans Hubermann gave him a piece of bread resulting in getting beaten by a fellow German soldier (394). The Jew should not be blamed for the Holocaust because he is the victim of the Holocaust and he can't stop it because he can't stop an army of strong,hateful Germans who are willing to kill any Jew that dares to rebel against them.
The captured Jews should not be blamed for the Holocaust because they are the victims of hatred from Hitler and are persecuted because of their religion. Also the Jews don't even know the reason why that Hitler hates them so much that he gets his own private army, the S.S. to follow orders to exterminate the Jewish race completely off the earth. Overall, the captured Jews just die for their religion they believed in and have no idea about why it happens.
I agree with your opinion about the amount of blame to place on the Jews. They were the victims in the war, so why should the be blamed?. They were targeted and exterminated because of their religion, which obviously, isn't ethical
DeleteMario Joya
ReplyDeleteApril 14, 2012
Post 3
-Type of person: Hitler
-Characters from the book: Hitler
-Adolf Hitler is basically the dictator of Germany. He is who influenced the Holocaust and inflicted the fear into the Jews. He captured the Jews and made orders for them to be burned, injured, and killed in the gas chambers. He was the cause of Liesel losing her original parents and losing her new father. He was also the cause of Rudy losing his father. Hitler was determined to end with everyone but the Germans because he wanted to prove that the Germans were the superior race.
-Hitler deserves most blame but not all of it. He was the leader and was the one in charge of all these horrible orders, but in the end the Nazis were involved as well. They did wrong so they should have some blame as well. Hitler deserves most blame though because he did the most in planning and ordering the Nazis to take action against Jews and other types of people as well.
-I chose most blame because Hitler was the head of this whole holocaust operation occurring. The only reason why he doesn’t deserve full blame is because he didn’t do it alone. He had help from the powerful Nazis as well.
To Mario
DeleteI disagree that the "only reason why he doesn’t deserve full blame is because he didn’t do it alone". Shouldn’t Hitler take full blame? I mean, he started the Holocaust and he should take responsibility. If it wasn’t for him, no one would have had the courage to announce the destruction of all Jews. Not to mention, Hitler was admired for his abilities during the World War I. Even though Hitler got help from the Nazi Party, they couldn’t have started without him
Type of person: Hitler
ReplyDeleteCharacters from book: Hitler
Hitler was the ruler of Germany during World War II. He controlled many aspects of people's lives in Germany. One huge aspect was the hatred of Jews. Hitler had blamed the Jews for all of Germany's problems, which caused them to be segregated. Hitler would order his soldiers to do his work. Hitler solves his problems in a very unethical way. Max imagines himself beating Hitler up in a wrestling match. This partially shows how much hate Hitler receives.
Hitler should be blamed a lot for the Holocaust. I disagree that Hitler should have received all or most of the blame. It wasn't just him who caused the genocide of 6 million Jews. It was his words that influenced others to follow him. The people who responded and followed his orders should have been blamed the most. Hitler might have been a evil person himself, but he couldn't possibly have been the only one who hated the Jews enough to want to kill them.
I gave Hitler a lot of the blame because he was the ruler of Germany of the time and he spread these mindless ideas to the people who had prayed to him for hope. If it wasn't for Hitler, there wouldn't have been such a numerous amount of people killed.
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DeleteI agree with Carol, I also believe that Hitler should receive a lot of the blame but not all of it. Hitler was not the person who killed everyone, even though he gave the orders, without the help of others he wouldn't have been able to kill all of them. I would also give Hitler a lot of the blame because he caused the Holocaust but did not kill the Jews so he should not get all of the blame.
DeleteI agree since it is true that the actions Hitler took were treacherous, but it was the German people who took in what he said and made it true. Blame should not all be placed upon the dictator. In the end, Hitler is like all of us; we are all human with feelings and ideas, but it was Hitler who had the most extreme ideas to initiate and feelings to make them true.
DeleteI think Hitler should have some blame, because:
Delete" was the ruler of Germany of the time and he spread these mindless ideas to the people " -carol
He wasnt the ruler yet, he used propaganda to get people to believe him, and the ideas could have been discovered, the Germans should have blame too. They were the mindless, not searching in depth.
EX: the KONY, is an example the people are blaming KONY, but some people figured out that it was just a propaganda by invisible children, for own gains.
Type of Person: Citizens of small German towns
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the Book:
Paula, Werner, and Liesel (the Meminger family)
Paula Meminger is Liesel’s and Werner’s mother. She is a wife of a communist and also known as a “starving mother” (111). Paula abandoned Liesel and Werner because she would have put her children if she stayed with them. “Who know where she is? Who knows what they have done to her?” (96).
Werner Meminger is Liesel’s younger brother. He dies very early in the book, on a train when they were going to meet the new foster parents (20). Even though he’s dead, Liesel always have nightmares about him. Werner does not only haunt Liesel at night, but he is also a supportive figure who helps Liesel build up her confidence and good deed (such as returning the plate. 472).
Liesel Meminger is the main character of the book. She was abandoned by her mother at a young age and became the foster child of Hans and Rosa Hubermann. She has blond hair, but dangerous dark brown eyes (31). Liesel is a young German girl. She is best friends with Rudy Steiner, her neighbor who she had a little incident with, and a Jew, Max Vandenburg. She is told to hide the secret about Max living with her because Max with be in danger, and not to mention the fact that Hans, Rosa, and herself will be in dander too. Liesel can relate to most with Max since they both have nightmares and make gifts for each other. Very soon, Max leaves, and so does her father. Then, her father returns, Max does not. Four months after Hans returned, Liesel finally meets Max (510), but they separated very quickly. Near the end of that same year, Liesel lost her family and loved ones again. Hans died, Rosa died, even Rudy died. She loved Rudy. After World War II, Max was rescued and released from the concentration camp, the first thing he did was look for Liesel. “They hugged and cried and fell to the floor” (548).
The citizens of small German towns should have some blame. Most Germans were not able to do anything but sit back and watch the Nazi play their ‘game’. However, people like the Hans, Rosa, and Liesel risked their lives to help a Jew. During the Holocaust, the Jews were treated with disrespect and were commonly hated by the Germans. If anybody was caught helping one, they would also be sent to the concentration camps, questioned, or killed; those included are also people who were against Hitler, such as a communist. The German citizens have some blame since the majority of them did nothing but follow Hitler’s rules and degraded the Jews. But there was also Germans who did not exactly hate the Jews and did not participate in inhuman acts against the Jews. The citizens should be blamed for not doing anything or supporting the Nazi, but they should not be blame for the Holocaust, they did not cause it, some Germans even helped the Jews.
I disagree with the idea that the citizens should have some blame. These people weren't involved in the war, but were really just "viewing" it as it passes. They had no power to stop the war, nor hide the Jews. I think that these citizens should have no blame because they were just normal people who couldn't do anything
DeleteI disagree with Jaymes and agree with Sammi. I think that the citizens could have done something to try to stop it. Although they had little power, they could have joined together with other people who felt that the war was negatively affecting them. For example, Hans and Alex both were negatively affected by the war. Frau Hotzapfel lost her two sons because of the war as well. Many people were negatively affected by the war and felt it was wrong. Therefore, they should have done something abut it instead of just letting themselves be pushed around.
DeleteYes, but since they are CITIZENS of Germany, and they should have equal responsibility for the blame.
DeleteDue 4/15
ReplyDeleteType of character: Captured Jews
Character from the book: Max Vandenburg
Max Vandenburg was a Jewish man who lived in Germany. He was a kind and honorable man. Everyday Max would thank the Hubermanns for hiding him, and tries to do anything that could repay them. When Max was a boy, he lost his father, Erik, in World War 1. Max grew up to be a fist fighter, beating everyone in his neighborhood. At 24, Max came to the Hubermanns for refuge (185). Everyday, Max was so grateful that he would rather sleep in the basement than disturb Liesel (207). Max Vandenburg was definitely an ethical man. He knows between what was right and what was wrong. He knew that Hitler was terrible and that Jews were mistreated. Max Vandenburg was a man who should not be blamed for the Holocaust.
I think that this man should NOT be blamed for the Holocaust. He didn’t agree to Nazism, and tried to fight it. He was taken from his family and tried his hardest to fight and protect them. Max went on the run because he tried fleeing the Nazis. Max wanted to help and end the Holocaust, but he couldn’t. For the risk of being caught was to great. Max, in dreams, would fight the Fuhrer and dream about finishing him off. Max Vandenburg did not support the Holocaust and should not be blamed for it.
The reason Max and all Jewish people in general should not be blamed is because they are the victims. Max was a victim during the Holocaust. He had to leave his family and run from the Nazis. Max hid from Germany in a dark and cold basement. Jews were targeted and killed because of their religion. They couldn’t stand up for themselves and fight. They were scared of being killed, the only thing these people could do was to run. In the end, Jews aren’t the ones responsible for the Holocaust.
Jaymes I have a question, would you consider Max's family and the Jews being marched characters from the book?
DeleteI'm writing mine but I was wondering if Max was really the only one.
Jayali, I was wondering the same thing. In a way I think they would be considered captured Jews just like Max although, Marzus Zusak doesn't really mention them much throughout the book. I think that if you don’t really have much information about them then you shouldn’t use them.
DeleteThank you Wendolinne!
DeleteType of Character: Captured Jews
ReplyDeleteCharacter from the book: Max Vandenburg
-Max Vandenburg was a Jewish man who is currently hiding away from the Nazi Party to avoid being murdered like his family. His family pushed him out at the last moment before the Germans murdered his family and now Max is living with the Hubermanns. Max is an understanding man whose ethics came from his experience from the Jews the Germans murdered, especially his family. During his time he was hiding, Max created a book on Liesel, Hitler, and himself where words were used instead of violence.
Max should deserve no blame for the Holocaust. Max was a Jew so there was nothing much that he could have done to stop the Holocaust. If he tried in any way, he would be shot or possibly assassinated by the Nazi Party. The only way Max showed rebellion over this matter was the creation of a book he made where Hitler used words instead of violence.
I chose no blame because he was a victim of the Holocaust and he managed to survive. He had no power over this matter and would most likely be killed if he even tried in any way. Of course if he even exposed himself, he would be hunted down and killed by the Germans.
Wikie, i get your point, but your kind of bias, sticking to only one side of view(Max). Their were some Jews that fought back, Can you express on their point of view too?
DeleteType of Character: Hitler
ReplyDeleteCharacter From the book: Hitler
Hitler was the person who started the war and was extremely racist against the Jews that he created concentration camps to torture and wipe out the whole Jew race. He blamed the Jews for the problems that Germany had at the time. Since Hitler was the ruler of Germany at the time of World War 2 he gave out orders to kill or mistreat any Jew that was against him, or send them to the concentration camps. Hitler’s ethical are very unethical as he uses violence, terror, and genocide to solve his problems. Liesel even says she hates Hitler because she blames him for the loss of her parents.
I believe Hitler should get most of the blame for the Holocaust for he was the one that actually made it happen. He shouldn’t take all the blame because he wasn’t the one physically harassing or killing every single Jew. He had his soldiers do it for him, but he was the one that brainwashed them into thinking their actions were right. Since he was the leader of Germany he should get most of the blame because if he hadn’t manipulated his people with his words and ideas, not so many people would have suffered.
*Hitler killed all Jews in general (not only the ones against him).
DeleteI agree with you Bryan. Words was such a big thing for the Germans. Hitler was able to manipulate their minds with the power of words and people followed his orders to kill the Jews and have other Germans suffer.
However, do you still think that he should have complete or some blame? (You seem to be in the middle about the argument).
Type of person: Hitler
ReplyDeleteCharacter from book: The Führer, Hitler
He doesn’t really show up in the book. However, there are a few descriptions of him in Max’s sketchbook that he makes for Liesel. Max describes Hitler as a strange, small man who decided he would rule the world. He was not a stupid man; he would use words (445).
Hitler should get a lot of the blame because he was the one that started the Holocaust. He spread anti-Semitism throughout Germany. He used the Jews as a scapegoat to get in power and rule Germany.
I selected a lot of the blame because he started the Holocaust and didn’t think about the harm he would implement on a lot of people. He didn’t only hurt the Jews, but some German citizens as well. However, he is human and all humans make mistakes. Then again, the Jews were humans too and they didn’t deserve to be dehumanized the way they were by Hitler’s regime.
Type of Person: Citizens of small German towns
ReplyDeleteCharacters from the book: Alex Berg, Rudy Steiner, Frau Diller
Arthur Berg: Arthur is a young boy that's only 15 years of age. He's the leader of a group of young thieves, in which Rudy and Liesel are apart of. Arthur someone who know's how to be fair. He divides the food among the group equally. He's very kind to those in the group. He was kind enough to even allow Rudy and Liesel join even if they were younger than the rest. Arthur was also generous enough to leave a bag of chestnuts before he left town.
Rudy Steiner: a boy with a lionheart who's willing to do anything to win Liesel's love. Although he's a bit hasty when it comes to making decisions. Rudy probably didn't think it through when he jumped in the freezing cold water to save Liesel's book. But that's what best friends are for right? Yet Rudy's always asking for a kiss in return for his good deeds. In the end, Rudy does get his kiss but Death already claimed him before he could actually savor it. Rudy also hates Hitler very much for sending his father to fight in the war.
Frau Diller: Frau is a shopkeeper and a is a pro-Nazi. Very pro-Nazi. One can't go inside her shop until they salute and say "hail Hitler". Frau took joy in where Rudy and Liesel only had one pfennig (German coin) and they asked for mix candy but they only had enough money for one piece. (155). Goes to show, she's not kind enough to give away candy to the poor children. The kids later get revenge on her by selling chestnuts they got. They made 16 pfennigs and asked Frau for mixed candy (167).
Citizens of small German towns do get some of the blame for the Holocaust because they're German so they have the choose whether to listen to Hitler's crazy ideas or not. There are those who just don't care about the Holocaust, are against it or are for it. Arthur didn't care about the Holocaust. He just want to steal food to feed himself and his group. It's possible the Holocaust affected him because he was poor so he can't afford food and most of the food would go to the Nazi soldiers in war or the soldiers in the camps. In Rudy's case, it's more like he was making fun of all the Jews in the concentration camps when he threw piece of bread at the Jews marching in town. Then again, Rudy's a child. He doesn't exactly understand why things are the way they are. However, Frau is old enough to know exactly what's going on. She supports Hitler so she's obviously supports the Holocaust. The thing about all of them is that their all German. So for one; they live and two; they can choose sides but if they choose the opposing side, they have to be quiet about it. So they can't be blamed so much for the Holocaust. The German citizens had to no control over Hitler's decisions. They had control when they were voting who should rule their country and they chose Hitler the crazy. The fact that they let him manipulate them with his words and then cause them to vote for him makes it their fault for the deaths of so many Jews. But they weren't the ones who killed or made da final decision to commit genocide on the Jewish race.
In conclusion, I decided that the citizens of small German towns get SOME of the blame because they are Germans so they had the choose of whether to have Hitler in office or not. Once Hitler became a totalitarian there was no one who could stopping him and his "mission" to eliminate all Jews from the world.
To reply to you last sentence, would you not say that if the German people and other nations did not appease Germany, would Hitler's "mission" be able to be stopped? In history, there were certain actions taken that could perhaps would have altered how Hitler could be stopped. Just because he was a totalitarian does not always conclude that he could not be stopped.
DeleteType of character: Hitler
ReplyDeleteCharacter from the book: Hitler
Adolf Hitler (Fuhrer) was the leader of the Nazi party. In the book Hitler is their leader and everyone must follow his rules. Hitler was an anti-Semitist; he blamed Jews for Germany’s problems. Hitler tried to take over the world and persuaded people he would help Germany become a great nation again after the punishment from World War I. Hitler created concentration camps where he would send Jews to work for him. The Jews were mistreated and fed little. Hitler had youth classes for children to learn and train for the army. Hitler could be described as cunning; Hitler used words to trick the citizens of Germany.
I think Hitler should get a lot of the blame. Hitler was the leader of the Holocaust. He gave the orders and was the one who started it. Even though he caused it, he shouldn’t get all of the blame. Hitler was the leader but without the help of others he wouldn’t have been able to succeed. Hitler deserves a lot of the blame because he also created Hitler youth. In Hitler youth he indoctrinated the young. Hitler deserves a lot of the blame because he created concentration camps but did not kill the Jews in it. Hitler did not do any of the dirty work but hired others to do it for him. Overall Hitler deserves a lot of the blame but not all.
I gave Hitler a lot of the blame because he was the leader of the Holocaust. Hitler was the one who told others what to do and they listened to him. Hitler caused the holocaust and gave the dirty jobs to other people. He even brainwashed children to fight for him.
Grace, since you said Hitler only deserves a lot of the blame but not all of it. Who else do you believe is to blame? Hitler had his followers but their were also people such as Hans and Liesel that didn't agree with him. Are the people who didn't help the Jews but knew it was wrong to blame too?
DeleteJayali, your question is connects to Wiesel's speech that we read in English class, "Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. I think people like Hans and Liesel who know it was wrong, but didn't stop it should also be blamed.
DeleteI agree with minyi, Hitler is not the only one that recieves blame because Hitler became of a dictator, thanks to the supporters. Hans and Liesel should be blame because they were bystanders. (this is just like bullying, the bully is Hitler, and bystanders and victims)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteType of person: Captured Jews
ReplyDeleteCharacters: Max Vandenburg
Max is a Jewish German during the Holocaust and Jewish persecution. He’s is the son of Erik Vandenburg, a man that saved Hans Hubermann’s life in World War l. Now Max is living in the Hubermann basement because it's illegal to help a Jew and he knows they would be killed if anyone knew he was there (208). He develops a very close relationship with Liesel because she spends time with him and gives him weather forecasts (220). He in return for her love and kindness writes her two books because of her love of books (278). He’s just a man trying to survive the injustices that are being committed against him and his people. In Max’s time of living with the hubermann’s he never did an unkind or selfish things to anyone. He doesn't deserve any blame for the Holocaust.
The captured jews shouldn't have any blame because they didn't do anything wrong and yet were still punished. They were blamed for things that they had no control over by the Nazis. Millions of Jews were massacred, innocent men, women and children were killed and others were forced to work in labor camps. I decided that they deserve no blame because it wasn't their fault that they were being killed and they couldn't do anything about it. If the Jews could have prevented the Holocaust they would have but they were powerless because Hitler brainwashed almost everyone. It was them against their country and they lost terribly.
Sammi asked a question before:does anyone have views or ideas that the Jews should be blamed, so I want to bring up a couter point. I remember that we discuss about where the idea of anti-semitism come from. The Jews always isolate themselves from other groups. Most of them live in their own neighbourhood and go to Jewish school. People always scared of the thing that they not know much about. Can we conclude that Jews also have SOME blame because if they not that isolate, other people may not blamed them for all the problems.
DeleteLily Zhu
ReplyDeletepd. 8
4/15/12
Type of person: Captured Jews
Characters: Max Vandenburg
Max Vandenburg was a Jew living in Nazi Germany. He was the son of Erik Vandenburg, who saved Hans Hubermann's life during WWI. Max decides to find Hans to help hide him in return of his friendship with his father. Max then hides in the Hubermann's basement to avoid being sent to the concentration camps. Max establishes a strong bond with Liesel while he was staying in the Hubermann's basement. However, when Hans Hubermann gave bread to an old Jewish man during the parade, Max decides he has to leave the Hubermann's home. He is afraid that he will bring them trouble now that Hans is in danger. Max was eventually captured and sent to the concentration camps. Liesel recognized him by his hair during a parade years later (510). When Max was a teenager, he enjoyed the art of fist fighting. He vowed that when death strikes, he will fight death (189). However now that he was captured, he did nothing to fight back when the soldiers whipped him (513) because he is far too weak and knows he would be killed if he does so.
Max and the captured Jews in general should not receive any blame for the Holocaust. They were the victims and targets of this terrible genocide. They had nowhere to escape to and were too weak to fight back, for the Holocaust was extremely well organized. They could not of prevented the Holocaust in any way since they did not have a voice in the government. The only way that Max could fight for himself was in his imaginations when he would beat Hitler. However, this was impossible in reality. Though Max attempts to escape from being captured by the Nazis, he eventually still gets captured which shows how impossible it was to escape the Holocaust. Thus, the Jewish population should receive no blame for the Holocaust since they were the victims and were powerless against it.
Type of Person: Nazi soldiers
ReplyDeleteCharacter: Hans Hubberman, Reinhold Zucker, Soldiers in Jewish parade
Hans Hubberman is the foster father of the main character Liesel. He is a German soldier who participated in WWI and WWII. During the WWI, Hans learned how to play accordion from Max's father. Max and his father are Jews. During the Holocaust, Hans hides Max in his basement to protect him. He also dislike the way that other people treat the Jews. He gives bread to the Jew in the parade and get beat up by the soldiers.
Zucker is a young man who participates in the Air Raid Unit with Hans. He is arrogant and stingy.
When he lose in the card game with Hans. He said that "He's cheating" (463). He didn't accept his failure and blame other for the lose. According to this personality, he will be the one agree with Hitler who blamed Jews for all the problems.
The idea of Jewish parade was first come from the soldiers because they want to shame the Jews. As more parade, the soldiers' action getting more impolite. People who try to help the Jews during the parade will get beat up by the soldiers. This include Hans and Liesel who help the Jews during the parade.
Nazi soldiers should have SOME blamed for the Holocaust. The soldiers responsible to guard the Jews tread the Jews badly. They didn't try to stop what was happening because it is their duty to cause what was happening. Even Hans didn't try to shop what was happening because he is too weak to against the whole country and he needs to take care his family.
I chose SOME because they were brainwash by the Nazi and follow the orders that his superior given to them. It's not their desire to hurt the Jews.
Post for 4/15/12
ReplyDeleteType of person: Hitler
Adolf Hitler was a totalitarian dictator, who completely crafted lies of human races (He claimed that the Aryans were the superior race and Jews were a race lower than the Aryans) and tried to create genocide upon the Jews. Though Hitler was not truly present in "The Book Thief," there are still tiny excerpts of him performing inhumane crimes. One example would be in Max Vandenberg’s allegorical short novel, "The Word Shaker," where Hitler is portrayed as a strange small man who put many people “on a converyer belt…Words were fed into them….they now knew everything they needed to know. They were hypnotized” (Zusak 446). Hitler, as Max demonstrates in “The Word Shaker" attempts to brainwash the German people, by feeding them words of hate and spite. This is exactly what the real Hitler did; back then, Hitler was known for using the book he wrote (“Mein Kampf”-My Struggle) to brainwash many people with lies he invented, and one particular program he opened when he came to rule over Germany was Hitler Youth (At Hitler Youth, many young adolescents were brainwashed).
In addition to the brainwashing, Hitler eliminated many Jewish items of heritage such as the sacred Torah scroll(s) and any books, or items he saw that would intervene with his rule. On his birthday there was a huge bonfire (109) where they burned many such items. By burning books and other items Hitler deemed dangerous, Hitler was making the effects of his brainwashing last longer on the German people. By brainwashing many German citizens, all his actions would not be questioned by many and he would be able to initiate absurd actions, such as starting the Holocaust!
Overall, we understand that Hitler deserves a lot of blame for the Holocaust. Hitler was the very man who even created the Holocaust, for he was the very same man to brainwash the German people to hate Jews and with their support, create the Holocaust. Not only does this make him to deserve a lot of blame for the Holocaust, but his initiation of war in Europe which soon spread worldwide, making the war into what we know as World War II today. Many lives were lost because of Hitler (Jewish, German, American, etc.) and Hitler has caused destruction upon many parts of Europe, attempted a genocide on the Jews, brainwashed youth’s minds, and other crimes against humanity and atrocities.
Third Post
ReplyDeleteType of person: Hitler
Characters from the book: Hitler/Führer
Adolf Hitler was the leader of Germany when the ruler of Germany died and seized it's power. Hitler was also the leader of the Nazis Party he created. He manipulated many of his people from the media and lies he fed to them. He was also the person who contributed the idea of the Holocaust; "Can you see that this enemy has found its ways" (254). He was the one who came up with the idea of the genocide of the Jews. He was considered insane or delusional about his actions to start the world war and the massacre of the Jews. He toys with the minds of his people from his speeches and power that he seized. Adolf Hitler was the man who came up with the idea of destruction and death.
Adolf Hitler should receive A LOT of blame for the Holocaust. Hitler was the one who order his subordinates to set off his plans for the mass killing of the Jews. Hitler was the one who made the Jews his scapegoats the Germans to take their anger on. Hitler was a powerful dictator that manipulated his people and ordered mass killing of inferior human beings. His actions won't made him take all the blame for the Holocaust because he was one man who came up with this idea. Adolf Hitler should receive A LOT of blame for the Holocaust but not all the blame since it also happens to be the Nazis soldiers fault. Hitler was not personally killing the Jews but his men. Hitler is considered as the mastermind where he should receive A LOT of blame. His men that he manipulated should also receive the blame of the Holocaust since they listened to this mad man and did his bidding of killing the Jews. Adolf Hitler is the mastermind and creator of the massacre of the Jews and where he should receive A LOT of blame for the Holocaust.
~Jacky Lee
Hitler
ReplyDelete>Which characters from the book are in that type of person?
-Hitler
>Describe each person and his/her personality, actions and ethics.
-Hitler, is a dictator, that participated in genocide activities. He tried to blame the Jews for the war, and getting rid of them. He used the power of propaganda and the army to get rid of his obstacles. He suggested the idea of blames on jews, but it was the people who agreed and put it in action by supporting him. So he is fair, he doesnt force them to join, its all illusions.
>How much should they be to blame for the Holocaust? Why didn't they stop what was happening? Did they try to stop it? What was the consequence? For each post, identify if that group of people should be to blame a lot some none. Explain why you selected that amount of blame.
-He should be have some blame. He didnt stopped his conquest of genocide, because he needd someone to blame in order for his own goal in becoming leader. He havent decide to stop, because there was alot of supporters, and there was no need or chances for him to be competed. He got support from the "people" it was the people's fault/ desire, so you can't blame him. Its like a situation in which you cant back out because of fame and people watching.
Third Post 4/15/12
ReplyDeleteType of Person: Hitler
Characters from the book: The Fuhrer
Adolf Hitler was the totalitarian leader in Germany. Hitler created a fascist group called the Nazis. He was a corrupt leader that influenced people with his own ideology. Hitler used propaganda to persuade the people of Germany to follow him. He ordered his secret police, the Gestapo, to keep order. Adolf Hitler despised Jews. At first his hatred started with having Jewish stores ransacked but eventually his hatred lead up to the genocide; the Holocaust. He created concentration camps specifically designed to slaughter all Jewish people. Despite Hitler not being prevalent in the book, he is still addressed to be the source of the problem. Liesel Meminger, Rudy Steiner, and Hans Hubermann all have mutual feelings associated with Hitler; hate.
Hitler should get all the blame for causing the Holocaust because he was the one who started the genocide. Due to his nationalist view, he believed that the Jews were inferior to the Aryan Germans and therefore believed that they were unworthy to be in countries he controlled. This resulted in the Holocaust. Hitler should get blamed for the Holocaust because he was an unethical and corrupt leader.
Type of Person: Captured Jews
ReplyDeleteCharacters from book: Max Vandenburg
Max Vandenburg is a Jew that was forced to hide from the Nazis. He hid in the Hubermann’s basement. Hans Hubermann provided Max food and shelter. Max doesn’t want to be caught by the Nazis or he will have to be brought to a concentration camp.
Max shouldn’t be blamed for the Holocaust. He is just an innocent Jew. He never thought something like this would happen to all the Jews. He was the victim during the Holocaust. He was getting hurt and not the Nazis.
Captured Jews in general shouldn’t be blamed for the Holocaust. They were the victims of this genocide. They were blamed for something they never did. Hitler blamed them for the misfortunes Germany had after World War 1.
Type of Person: Captured Jew
ReplyDeleteCharacters: Max Vandenburg
Max is a former runaway Jew who stayed with the Hubermanns for quite a while. He was forced into hiding for fear of being captured by the Nazis. Much of the time he spends with the Hubermanns is filled with guilt that he is putting innocent Germans in danger. When this guilt proves to be to much, Max leaves the Hubermann house and is soon captured and taken to a concentration camp.
Max himself did nothing to deserve an blame for the Holocaust. He did what he saw fit to survive, and that was that. In no way did he help the Holocaust become an unfortunate part of history. He was just a victim of it.
It would be hard to say that the Jews deserve any of the blame for the Holocaust. Doing so would be kind of insensitive. The only (weak) argument that can be made to say any Jews deserve blame for the Holocaust is to say that they did not resist like they should have. With millions of Jews captured, one could say that those numbers should have been enough to have some form of resistance to the Nazi genocide. Personally, though, I think that's nonsense. The Jews went through enough, they don't deserve any of the blame.
Type of person:Captured Jew
ReplyDeleteCharacter: Max Vandenburg
Max Vandenburg is a young jew who was In hiding for two years from the Nazi's. His child hood nemesis Walter grew to be his friend(Zusak 191), and when the Nazi invasion occured,Walter gave Max the opportunity to leave with him and his family. After Max being in hiding for two years ,Max gets great news from Walter that, he might be able to receive food and shelter at the Hubberman residence(Zusak 194),and that's where he remains for another two years.
Max, definetly can not take the blame for the holocaust because he was affected by the outcomes of it.His dignity was slowly stripped away from him, that he was even afraid of what Liesel might do or say to him (Zusak 186).
Captured Jews should NOT be blamed for the holocaust because they were mentally and physically damaged from the harm the was stowed upon them during this awful period in time. How can you blame the ones who were effected by the outcome of these tactics?
Erick Bonilla
ReplyDelete4/15/12
Type of Person: Hitler
Character from the book: The Fuhrer
Hitler was a man who had the idea of creating a genocide. When he was in power he wrote his book called Mein Kampf so that he may grab the attention of the people to listen to his ideas, thus the Nazi party was born. He blamed the Jews for Germany's failures and with the Nazi party he started killing evey Jew. What he wanted was to create the pefect race called the Aryan race. The people who went against him were killed aswell. In the book Liesel, Hans, and Rudy hated Hitler because of what he's done.
I believe Hitler should take all the blame because he was the man with idea to eliminate the Jewish race. He created the genocde and his idea was a powerful one at the time. Germany was falling because of the treaty and therefore Hitler saw the advantage to take power and manipulate everyone in to listening to him. If Germany was in a fine state thenmaybe the holocaust would've never happened. That's why I see that he is the real person to be blamed, if he would have never said the idea the Jews wouldn't have died.
Type of person – Hitler
ReplyDeleteCharacter – Fuhrer
Adolf Hitler was the leader of the Nazi party. He gained power in Germany after the melt down of World War I. He told Germany that he would fix all the problems that were created by the aftermath of the First World War. Adolf Hitler had a strong hatred for Jews; he blamed everything he could on them. This strong racism towards Jews is called Anti-Semitism. Hitler wanted to exterminate the Jewish people as a whole. Germany taught its people to admire their Fuhrer in many ways. Whenever someone was to enter a store they would have to greet the shopkeeper with a “Heil Hitler” (155) in order to show respect. Hitler created concentrations camps that served as a confinement for Jews. Millions of Jews were sent to these camps by Nazi soldiers, and were starved and worked to death (521). Adolf Hitler attempted to take over Europe, but failed when appeasing countries came together and brought Germany back to the bottom where they at the end of World War I.
Hitler should receive most of the blame for the Holocaust because he initially started the Holocaust by portraying a strong sense of anti-Semitism. Before Hitler was in power, Jews were not considered something less of a human. But once he gained power and presented his beliefs, Germany soon began to follow. Germany was not in a good state before Hitler was in power, so it’s not surprising that they would follow his beliefs; he did stabilize the country. Germans admired Hitler because he helped bring Germany back to the top, which is why they did not disagree with what he planned to do with the Jews. Although the Germans could have chosen not to follow his beliefs, he had a strong Army of Nazi’s behind him, which did use force.
I selected most of the blame because, as a leader of a country that has so much influence on his people, he had control of the way Jews were viewed. He gave them their negated appearance in society. He had complete control over what the Nazi’s and Citizens believed because he was in such an honored position. Although everyone has their own opinion, when someone brings you from the bottom to the top of power, it’s easy to be blinded on what’s right or wrong.
Type of person – Citizens of small towns
ReplyDeleteCharacters – Liesel, Rosa, Hans
Liesel Meminger is a young girl who was left with a foster family because her mother had reasons to not take care of her anymore. Her young brother died on their way to the foster home. Living in Molching, she developed a love for reading. Because of a lack of money, Liesel steals books to extend her personal library. This is where she gets the name “the book thief”. Liesel was very good at keeping the secret of hidden Jew, Max, in the basement of her home.
Rosa is the foster mother of Liesel. As a living she would clean the clothes of the wealthier people in the neighborhood. But once the war was at its peak, she basically lost all of her costumers because of the drop in economy. Rosa completely agreed to take Max in, even though they had financial problems. Despite their issues, she fed and took care of Max as much as she possibly could.
Hans was the foster father of Liesel, and the husband of Rosa. Hans and Rosa were constantly fighting about different things here and there, but when it came to Max living with them, they both agreed. Max was the son of a man that saved Hans life in the First World War. This is the reason why they risked being taken away just to save one Jew. Hans had a good heart; he was caught one day giving bread to a Jew that was marching in the street (394). This caused the Jew and him to be beaten. Out of fear, he told Max that he had to leave.
The citizens of the small town should be blamed slightly. Rosa, Hans, and Liesel were doing something very nice by hiding a Jew in their basement. Although it was only one person compared to millions that were killed, it’s still one less life that would have been taken. But the reason they should be blamed is because they let fear get to them. If Hans wouldn’t have tried so hard to help everyone he could, then things would have been good for Max. But because he gave the Jew bread and was caught, he had to pay the consequences of slipping up. It is wrong that it was a crime to give hungry man bread, but if Hans was using his brain correctly, Hans wouldn’t have had to be one of those hungry men.
The reason I used slightly as the blame is because they did do a big part when it came to trying to help the Jews. However it was not enough effort, too much was given away when Hans was caught.
Type of person – Nazi Soldier
ReplyDeleteCharacters – Michael Holtzapfel, Alex Steiner
Alex Steiner is Rudy’s father. He is a tailor and owns a shop. He does not believe in what Hitler wants to do with the Jews. Alex Steiner was sent to join the military. Alex does not find anything wrong with Jews, but he does believe that he had to follow whatever Hitler says (50). Instead of Rudy going to war, he went. Alex Steiner is a family man, and would do almost anything to make sure his family is safe.
Michael Holtzapfel is one of Frau Holtzapfel’s sons. He lost three of his fingers when fighting in Stalingrad. The reason he came back home was to bring the news that his brother died. He greets Liesl at the door to tell her he would come get her, this was weird to Liesel, because she normally reads to his mother daily (466). Michael ends up killing himself because he felt so bad that he survived, but his brother didn’t.
Both of these soldiers should have some blame for the Holocaust. Although they didn’t want to fight, they still did it anyway. They were in a situation where they were somewhat forced into joining the military, but that still doesn’t mean that they had to do everything they were told. They were part of a whole group of people that probably didn’t want to fight, but they still did. This means that by them obeying orders and fighting, they are adding on to the total mess of the Holocaust. However, they are still not bad people because they do show sympathy for the Jews involved.
The reason they had some blame was because they still had a choice of whether to follow orders or not. They played a part in the whole Holocaust by being those soldiers.