Lesson 11: Holocaust: Resistance to the Holocaust

Question 1

Events of Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

Answer 1

• 70-80,000 left in Ghetto by 1943 from 450,000 → resistance groups
• 18th Jan 1943: deportations to Treblinka
• 19th April 1943: start of uprising → Ghetto deserted, Jews gone into hiding
• Set fire to Ghetto, 2,054 soldiers

Question 2

Nature of fighting during Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

Answer 2

• 700 fighters
• Poorly armed
• Guerilla strikes from buildings, bunkers, tunnels
• Assisted by Ghetto pop.

Question 3

Significance of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

Answer 3

• 16th May 1943: Ghetto liquidated
• Destruction of the Great Synagogue
• 7,000 Jews killed in fighting
• 42,000 Jewish survivors → deported to C Camps
• Total Death Toll: 300,00 (bullet/gas), 92,000 (hunger/disease)
• Ghetto in ruins
• 20,000 Warsaw Jews continued to live in hiding
• Largest Jewish Uprising
• Inspired other Ghetto uprising (Treblinka Aug 1943)
• Unbroken spirits despite treatment

Question 4

Causes of Sobibor Uprising

Answer 4

• Opened March 1942
• 20-30 SS Soldiers + 90-120 Ukrainians
• 1,000 prisoners used to work at camp
• 250,000 killed at Sobibor
• June-Sept 1942: Rumor Killing Centre would be destroyed → all prisoners killed
  → Polish Jews lead by Leon Feldhander formed secret escape committee

Question 5

Events of Sobibor Uprising

Answer 5

• 14th October 1943: 4pm prisoners invited dep. commandant (Johann Niemann) into tailor shop → killed with axe
• Other camp = prisoners lured officer (Josef Wulf) to try on coat in belongings area → killed with axe
• 9 more SS personnel killed in next hour
• Roll call → guards alarmed + opened fire
• 300 fled and broke out
• Many shot

Question 6

Consequences of Sobibor Uprising

Answer 6

• All shot by end of following day on October 15th
• Following days = 100+ caught and killed during manhunt by SS, police and German army units
• Prisoners killed 11 SS staff + 2+ Ukrainian guards
• November 1943: Jewish prisoners murdered