Fearless Jewish Women

Over 6 million are dead, with the next Ben Franklin or the cure for cancer gone forever. All of this happened because of a man named Adolf Hitler. Though the Jews believed the Germans would not harm the women or child, they were victims as well. Women and children were often mass murdered or sent to concentration camps. “This was, of course, not the choice of the women or of their husbands. It was a German decision,” Ruth Bondy states. World War II tore families apart and numerous dead, but the women remained strong through it all.

The lives of the Jewish were very traditional; the men worked for the economic support of the family, while the women were responsible for the house, children, and family. Most women were excluded from the business world, so they were less likely to have other families to protect them during the Nazi raids. In the early months of the war, men were often beaten, harassed, imprisoned, or executed. alone. Escaping was often on the women’s mind for the men to flee to Russia. While the husbands were away, the responsibilities increased as they tried to provide for their family.

Because women thought the Germans only selected the men and left the women and children alone, it led to tragedy on July 16, 1942, or “Black Thursday”. Some Jews were warned of arrests to be made by policeman and office workers. Since many believed only the men were going to be arrested, the women made plans to try and protect their men. They made arrangements with neighbors, hide them, obtained false documents, or planned escapes. The women and children remained at home, where they thought they were safe. On that fateful day, 5,802 women and 4,051 children were arrested and sent to Auschwitz. The women learned that...

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