A Jewish Citizen of Denmark
"'They plan to arrest all the Danish Jews. They plan to take them away. And we have been told that they may come tonight.'"
"'I don't understand! Take them where?'"
"[Annemarie's] father shook his head. 'We don't know where, and we don't really know why. They call it 'relocation.' We don't even know what that means. We only know that it is wrong, and it is dangerous, and we must help.'"
-From Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry, page 36
Directions: You are a Jewish citizen living in the capital city of Denmark. You have lived happily in the quiet country of Denmark ever since you were born. Now you are a prisoner in your own home. You are told that the religion you practice is wrong. You are not allowed to attend school, own a bicycle, own a radio, or even own a pet! You will reseach and record information in a journal entry to learn more about what it means to be a Jewish citizen of Denmark during the Holocaust. Make sure that you answer ALL OF THE QUESTIONS below in your journal entry. Remember to write the journal entry as if you were a Jewish citizen in Denmark!
***Also remember that you can also use the experiences of the characters from Number the Stars to help you write the journal entry.***
PREDICT:
You have just heard that the German government has invaded Denmark. The Germans say that they will let the Danish government keep control of the country. However, Germany is posting Nazi soldiers inside many towns of Denmark. Also, you have heard that Germany has signed a pact with Denmark, promising that they will not take complete control of the country. The King of Denmark says that he will prevent the mistreatment of Jews inside Denmark at the hands of the German army. He has set up laws that say that it is a crime to discriminate against the Jews. However, you are beginning to feel very fearful for your rights and for your life as a Jewish citizen of Denmark.
1. Do you believe that the German government will leave the country of Denmark alone?
2. Do you think that the King of Denmark will be able to protect you from the Germans? If not, what will you do to protect yourself?
READ:
You can remember a time when Denmark was a peaceful place for Jews to live. However, this is not true at the present time. The German government, lead by their leader, Adolf Hitler, has claimed that Jews were "inferior" people. The Germans say that they should rule the world and that the Jews should not even be able to live in this world. However, you feel strongly about your beliefs and will never give them up. To learn more about what it means to be Jewish, click on the links below.
RESPOND:
3. Based on the information from the sites above, give your definition of Judaism.
4. What does it mean to be Jewish? What makes being Jewish different from being any other religion, such as Catholic?
READ:
Suddenly, you hear that the German government has gone against their word. They are taking complete control of Denmark. You have heard that the German government has planning to deport all of the Jews in Denmark to a concentration camp. You must decide if you stay or secretly escape from the country. Read the following links and then make your decision.
What is it like to be a Jew during the Holocaust?
How can a Jew escape from Denmark?-Scroll down to the part about the "Danish Jews’ escape from Hitler’s genocidal plan."
RESPOND:
5. Based on the information above, do you decide to say in Denmark or try to escape before the Nazi can put you in a concentration camp?
READ:
You decide to try to escape from the Nazi soldiers. With the help of members of the Resistance and a Danish fisherman, you are carried safely across the sea from Denmark to Sweden. You know you will be safe in Sweden because it is a neutral country and the people of Sweden encourage the Jewish people to come to their country in order to escape from Hitler and his Nazi troops. Your story is a happy one. Click on the links below to read other happy stories about Jews escaping from the Germans.
RESPOND:
6. Are you impressed by these stories about rescuing Danish Jews? Do you respect the people who helped the Jews escape? Why?
CONNECT:
7. Using the information that you read and the pictures that you saw on this site, explain what it means to be a hero in Denmark. Would you be brave enough to help your Jewish friends?
Before turning in your journal entry, ask yourself the following questions:
-Did I answer all 7 questions above?
-Did I answer all 7 questions thoughtfully and completely?
-Did I write from the point of view of my character?
-Is my journal entry neat with no spelling errors? Remember that dictionaries are always available for your use.
-Does my journal entry look like I spent time on it and did not rush through it?
If you answered all of the questions with a "YES" then you may continue with your WebQuest.