Literary Comparison: Shedding Light on the Holocaust

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For many, the events of the Holocaust are too painful to speak of. During this time, Jews in Europe were subjected to progressively harsh persecution that ultimately led to the murder of 6,000,000 Jews (1.5 million of these being children) and the destruction of 5,000 Jewish communities (History). These deaths represented two-thirds of European Jewry and one-third of world Jewry (History). While both Kofman and Kertesz presented to readers the effects of the Holocaust on the Jewish child, Kofam focused more one rare aspects of being a Jewish child, while Kertesz gave vivid details about the realities of the fate the Jewish child.

Every Jew, regardless of gender, was equally a victim in the Holocaust. Children were seldom the targets of Nazi violence simply because they were children but were usually persecuted along with their entire families for racial, religious, or political reasons. Chances of survival were somewhat higher for older children, since they could potentially be assigned to forced labor in concentration camps and ghettos. Some children could pass as non-Jews and live openly. Those who could not had to live clandestinely, often in attics or cellars. Children posing as Christians had to carefully conceal their Jewish identity from inquisitive neighbors, classmates, informers, blackmailers, and the police. Even a momentary lapse in language or behavior could expose the child, and the rescuer, to danger.

One thing that was different about the two books was the situation that was presented in Rue and Fatelessness. A child that’s has been transformed, and a child that has been sent into forced labor. Kofman speaks about how Mimi had slowly transformation her head to toe, inside and out; changing her diet, hair, h...

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...le how life truly was for those in the camps, the day in, day out, monotony of horror that grew into weeks, months, and even years. The fact that there were survivors shows that there is something in us that cannot be taken away no matter what, and that is a true testament to the human spirit.

Works Cited

"History of the Holocaust - An Introduction." Jewish Virtual Library - Homepage. Web. 07 Aug. 2011. .

Wikipedia contributors. "Auschwitz concentration camp." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 1 Aug. 2011. Web. 7 Aug. 2011.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “The Holocaust.” Holocaust Encyclopedia. Web. 08 Aug. 2011 < http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/?ModuleId=10005143>.

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