ADAPTED FROM THE FLORIDA CENTER FOR INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY "Teachers' Guide to the HOlocaust"
During the Holocaust, children were subjected to many injustices and cruelties. At first, Jewish and Gypsy children were restricted from going to school, and German children were taught that the Jews and Gypsies were racially inferior. One of the methods used to teach Gentile children about this inferiority was to have Jewish children come to the front of the classroom while the teacher pointed out their distinguishing features. Shortly, restrictions were placed on the Jews and later they were forbidden to go to German schools at all.
Later, the Jews were forced to live in ghettos with their families. The conditions in these ghettos were very bad and children often risked their lives to smuggle food into the ghetto in order to help feed their families. Many children were left homeless in the ghettos as their parents were either killed or deported to concentration camps.
Children were also deported to concentration camps where in some cases medical experiments were performed on them or they were subjected to slave labor.
Later, the Jews were forced to live in ghettos with their families. The conditions in these ghettos were very bad and children often risked their lives to smuggle food into the ghetto in order to help feed their families. Many children were left homeless in the ghettos as their parents were either killed or deported to concentration camps.
Children were also deported to concentration camps where in some cases medical experiments were performed on them or they were subjected to slave labor.
Children in Hiding
Some Jewish children were forced to hide with their families in concealed closets, holes, or even sewers. Living under these conditions prevented children from experiencing their childhood because they had to stay quiet and still continuously for weeks or months. Some of these families received small amounts of food from people who knew where they were hiding.
Other children hid their identities by living with Gentile families or traveling through the country and assuming Christian lives. Some children were able to conceal their identities because they blended in with the non-Jewish community. Sometimes they lived with Gentiles who didn't know that they were Jewish, and other times they lived in convents. Other children survived by working for short periods in villages and then moving on.
As a result of hiding, many children suffered from identity crises both during and after the war. When they were allowed to follow the Jewish faith again, many found it difficult to find their place either in the Christian or the Jewish religions.
Some Jewish children were forced to hide with their families in concealed closets, holes, or even sewers. Living under these conditions prevented children from experiencing their childhood because they had to stay quiet and still continuously for weeks or months. Some of these families received small amounts of food from people who knew where they were hiding.
Other children hid their identities by living with Gentile families or traveling through the country and assuming Christian lives. Some children were able to conceal their identities because they blended in with the non-Jewish community. Sometimes they lived with Gentiles who didn't know that they were Jewish, and other times they lived in convents. Other children survived by working for short periods in villages and then moving on.
As a result of hiding, many children suffered from identity crises both during and after the war. When they were allowed to follow the Jewish faith again, many found it difficult to find their place either in the Christian or the Jewish religions.
Kindertransport
After the Night of the Broken Glass, on November 9, 1938, groups of children were transported to Britain for safety via a program called "Kindertransport." Although all countries were asked to give aid to the Jewish children, only the United Kingdom agreed to help.
One of the conditions of the chidren's transport to the UK was that the Nazis be paid 50 pounds sterling (approx. $250) per child. This fee was paid primarily by the residents of the UK rather than by the government. In addition, the children had to be between the ages of 3 and 17 and they had to leave Germany alone, without their parents. Ten thousand children were transported to the UK on trains via Holland. Only about 20% of these children were reunited with their families.
After the Night of the Broken Glass, on November 9, 1938, groups of children were transported to Britain for safety via a program called "Kindertransport." Although all countries were asked to give aid to the Jewish children, only the United Kingdom agreed to help.
One of the conditions of the chidren's transport to the UK was that the Nazis be paid 50 pounds sterling (approx. $250) per child. This fee was paid primarily by the residents of the UK rather than by the government. In addition, the children had to be between the ages of 3 and 17 and they had to leave Germany alone, without their parents. Ten thousand children were transported to the UK on trains via Holland. Only about 20% of these children were reunited with their families.