Grade 11 Topic 3 – Source-Based Questions

An image showing the persecution of German Jews after the Nazi took powerImage Source Source 3A The source below shows how the Nuremberg laws affected Jews living in Germany Source 3A Imbued (infused) with the insight that the purity of German blood is prerequisite for the continued existence of the German people and inspired by the inflexible will to ensure the existence of the German nation for all times, the Reichstag has unanimously adopted the following law, which is hereby promulgated: (1) Marriages between Jews and subjects of German or kindred blood are forbidden. Marriages nevertheless concluded are invalid, even if concluded abroad to circumvent this law. (2) Only the state attorney may initiate the annulment suit. (3) Extramarital intercourse between Jews and subjects of German or kindred blood is forbidden. (4) Jews must not employ in their households’ female subjects of German or kindred blood who are under forty-five years old. (5) Jews are forbidden to fly the Reich and national flag and to display the Reich colours. (6) They are, on the other hand, allowed to display the Jewish colours. The exercise of this right enjoys the protection of the state. [From: https://spartacus-educational.com. Accessed on 16 June 2021] 3.1.1 What, according to the source, was the prerequisite for the existence of the German people? (1 x 1) (1) The purity of German blood 3.1.2 Use your own knowledge to define the concept ‘Anti-Semitism’. (1 x 2) (2) Hatred towards Jews Any other relevant answer 3.1.3 Describe TWO ways in which the German blood could be kept pure. (2 x 1) (2) Marriages between Jews and subjects of German or kindred blood are forbidden. Extramarital intercourse between Jews and subjects of German or kindred blood is forbidden 3.1.4 Use your own knowledge to explain how the Nuremburg laws affected Jews living in Germany. (2 x 2) (4) Many shops and restaurants did not serve the Jewish population Jews were banned from public parks, swimming pools and public transport Germans were also encouraged not to use Jewish doctors and lawyers Jewish civil servants were dismissed Jews were banned from universities Jews had to wear a Star of David that identified them as Jews Any other relevant answer 3.1.5 What do you think was the impact of the Nuremburg laws on Jews? (2 x 2) (4) Many Jews could not earn a living in Germany Many Jews emigrated Many Jews lost their citizenship Any other relevant response Source 3B The source below is an extract from David Buffam’s (American Consul in Leipzig) account of the Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) in November, 1938. Source 3B The shattering of shop windows, looting of stores and dwellings of Jews took place in the early hours of 10 November 1938, and was hailed in the Nazi press as a ‘spontaneous wave of righteous indignation throughout Germany, as a result of the cowardly Jewish murder of Third Secretary von Rath in the German Embassy in Paris.’ ..... In one of the Jewish sections an 18-year-old boy was hurled from a three-story window to land with both legs broken on a street littered with burning beds. The main streets of the city were a positive litter of shattered plate glass. All of the synagogues were irreparably gutted by flames. One of the largest clothing stores was destroyed. No attempts on the part of the fire brigade were made to extinguish the free. It is extremely difficult to believe, but the owners of the clothing store were actually charged with setting the fire and on that basis, were dragged from their beds at 6 a.m. and clapped into prison and many male German Jews have been sent to concentration camps. [From: https://spartacus-educational.com. Accessed on 16 June 2021.] 3.2.1 What, according to the source, triggered the attack of Jewish shops on 10 November 1938? (1 x 2) (2) Result of the cowardly Jewish murder of Third Secretary von Rath in the German Embassy in Paris. 3.2.2 List THREE targets of the Nazi attacks on the Jews. (3 x 1) (3) Jewish Shops Jewish stores and dwellings Synagogues 3.2.3 Use the source and your own knowledge to explain why Hitler hated the Jews. (2 x 2) (4) He blamed the Jews for Germany’s defeat in WWI He blamed the Jews for Germany’s economic crisis after WWI He perceived the Jews as an inferior race He believed that the Jews were conspiring to control the world He believed that the Jews were conspiring to control the world 3.2.4 Why do you think this event is known as the Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass)? (1 x 2) (2) It refers to the thousands of pieces of broken glass that were lying in the street. Any other relevant answer 3.2.5 What was the impact of Kristallnacht on the Jews living in Germany? (2 x 2) (4) Many more Jews left the country Thousands were arrested Many Jews were sent to concentration camps Any other relevant response Source 3C This source is an extract from Rudolf Höss’ (commandant of Auschwitz) experience of killing Jews at the Auschwitz death camp. Source 3C In the spring of 1942 the first transports of Jews, all earmarked for extermination, arrived from Upper Silesia. It was most important that the whole business of arriving and undressing should take place in an atmosphere of the greatest possible calm. People reluctant to take off their clothes had to be helped by those of their companions who had already undressed, or by men of the Special Detachment. Many of the women hid their babies among the piles of clothing. The men of the Special Detachment were particularly on the look-out for this, and would speak words of encouragement to the woman until they had persuaded her to take the child with her. I noticed that women who either guessed or knew what awaited them nevertheless found the courage to joke with the children to encourage them, despite the mortal terror visible in their own eyes. One woman approached me as she walked past and, pointing to her four children who were manfully helping the smallest ones over the rough ground, whispered: “How can you bring yourself to kill such beautiful, darling children? Have you no heart at all?” One old man, as he passed me, hissed: “Germany will pay a heavy penance for this mass murder of the Jews.” His eyes glowed with hatred as he said this. Nevertheless, he walked calmly into the gas-chamber. [From https://spartacus-educational.com. Accessed on 16 June 2021.] 3.3.1 Define the concept ‘extermination’ within the context of the persecution of Jews. (1x 2) (2) Mass murder of the Jews Any other relevant answer 3.3.2 Quote evidence from the source that indicates that not only Jewish men were killed in the gas chambers. (2 x 1) (2) Women hid their babies They persuaded her to take the child with her How can you bring yourself to kill such beautiful, darling children? 3.3.3 Use the source and your own knowledge to explain Hitler’s Final Solution. (2 x 2) (4) There were too many Jews in the German occupied territories – impossible to emigrate Death camps were built in Poland Jews were put to death with poisonous gas Six million Jews died in these death camps Any other relevant answer 3.3.4 Comment on the woman’s statement to the soldier: “Have you no heart at all? (2 x 2) (4) Soldiers had no sympathy Soldiers did not show remorse Soldiers were inconsiderate Soldiers did not care about the feelings of others Any other relevant answer 3.3.5 Explain the reliability of this source to a historian researching the Final Solution. (1 x 2) (2) Reliable because it is a first-hand account of the event primary source Rudolf Höss, was the commandant of Auschwitz – well-renowned death camp The information can be verified/corroborated by other historical sources Any other relevant answer. Source 3D This source depicts the Jewish victims at the Auschwitz death camp. Image Source Accessed on 16th June 2021.] 3.4.1 Compare Sources 3C and 3D. How does the information in Source 3C support the evidence in Source 3D with regards to the Final Solution? (1 x 2) (2) Source 3C mentions that both women and children were killed in the gas chambers whilst Source 3D shows the Jewish women and children that arrived at the death camp Any other relevant answer 3.5 Using the information from the relevant sources and your own knowledge, write a paragraph of about SIX lines (about 60 words) explaining the measures Hitler implemented to persecute the Jews. Hitler believed that Germans were a master race and Jews were inferior Hitler blamed Jews for all Germany’s problems He passed the Nuremburg Laws – banned marriages between Jews and non-Jews (Source 3A) He banned sexual relationships between Jews and non-Jews (Source 3A) Kristallnacht – a Jew murdered a German diplomat (Source 3B) Thousands of Jewish shops and synagogues smashed (Source 3B) Thousands of Jews were arrested and some were sent to concentration camps (Source 3B) From 1940 Jews were moved to ghettos Many Jews died as a result of starvation and diseases in the ghettos Final Solution – death camps and gas chambers built to destroy Jews (Source 3C) &Jewish men, women and children were killed with poisonous gasses (Source 3D) Death camp in Auschwitz where German soldiers showed no mercy (Source 3C) Any other relevant answer [50] This content was originally produced for the SAHO classroom by Ayabulela Ntwakumba and Thandile Xesi