Night Night Elie Weisel

Historical Background: Auschwitz Concentration Camp

0Was originally built by Hitler to house Polish political prisoners or anyone considered a threat to the German occupation of Poland.

0The Nazi’s wanted to makes Poles a nation of slaves. 0The camp provided slave labor to nearby factories

0 Lime, water, coal which were main ingredients in rubber and fuel for war effort .

0Hitler had plans to invade Russia and exterminate large sections of the Soviet population. 0 Within 9 months of invasion

03 million Soviet prisoners were taken0 2 million killed 01 million were working at Auschwitz

Auschwitz Cont.

0Hitler blamed Jews for losing WWI. 0Encouraged Germans to rise up against them by

spreading propaganda in the daily news. 0By the time the Jewish population ended up at

Auschwitz the Germans had no qualms about killing them because they believed the Jews had cheated the Germans and there families.

Prisoners of Auschwitz

0 They had “standing cells,” where many prisoners were crammed into one cell leaving only enough room to stand.

0 “Starvation cells” where they were locked up until they died of starvation.

0 Prisoners feared if they resisted or attempted to escape their entire family would be tortured or murdered.

0 A few did escape due to the Polish Underground (a large group that resisted these practices). This is how allies learned about Auschwitz and what it was being used for.

Liberation

0Many of the Allies would not step forward to destroy the camps or the railways that led there, claiming plans were needed elsewhere.

0The Americans did bomb the factories nearby. 0By the end of WWII, a total of ten million people had

been murdered at Auschwitz and the other concentration camps.

0Six million were Jews.

Important People of the Holocaust WS

Author Biography: Elie Wiesel WS

Discussion Starters01) It is always best to speak the truth, no matter what the

consequences may be. 02) People tend to reveal their true selves in difficult

situations. 03) People don’t change.04) Mankind is basically good. 05) Our basic human instincts dictate to us that we must

protect ourselves first in times of trouble.06) When someone is influenced by others to do something

against their natural tendencies, it is really their choice, not peer pressure.

07) When faced with something we disagree with, it is almost always best to stay quiet and accept it.

Holocaust Identity Day Telling the Jewish story…

0Grab a persona as you walk in. This is WHO YOU ARE today. Please navigate toward your group number that is located on the top right of your persona.

0We will be rotating groups every 10 minutes 0For tomorrow, come in with your experience reflection

sheet completed.

Auschwitz Virtual Tour

0Virtual Tour

Why Elie Wiesel wrote Night

0Words too can become a prison...

Elie Wiesel Tour of Auschwitz

0 Interview