Introduction

The Holocaust is genocide of approximately six million European Jews during World War II; this was conducted under the sanctioning of the Nazi Germany (led by Adolf Hitler) and their collaborators. During this infamous activity, the Jews were subjected to brutal persecutions and massive killings by the Nazis. Despite all these adversities, they had a strong will to live on and they employed whatever tactics were necessary to survive wherever they were. They fought with the few weapons within their reach, individually protested against and flouted the Nazi forces and dared to obtain the basic needs of life (food and water) in the face of death. Compliance was also a survival strategy for some of the Jews. Endurance through the suffering was utilized by a number of them. Others made daring attempts of escape from the concentration camps that were either successful or horrendously unsuccessful (Hilberg 2006). Some Jewish families opted to hide in bunkers and caves to protect themselves from the cruelty of the Nazis. Some chose to die with dignity as a form of resistance to the intimidating, dehumanizing acts of the Nazi to the Jewish community.

The Jews were forced to live in ghettos. Ghettos were designated areas mainly in Eastern Europe that were meant to confine the Jews. They had walls or barbed wire fences. They were overly crammed in small areas. Food, water and other basic needs were supplied by the Nazis in very little amounts while movement out of the ghetto was restricted. Some of them resulted to smuggling of food and supplies into the ghettos. Some were apprehended while others were gunned down including children aged five to ten (Hilberg 2006). Despite the brutality of this magnitude, the Jews persisted in smuggling of the goods without cease. This was done: across the walls of the ghettos, at the exit points, through the houses on borderline, through underground tunnels and even sewers.

Other Jews chose to hide amongst the Germans rather than to live in the ghetto. This required false documentation (Aryan Papers) and physical and psychological make up to conceal their true identity (Kimel 2009). They had to prove their legitimacy form a trustworthy and respectable German. However, they were exposed to grave danger from the Jews hunters. Life by Aryan papers was difficult as it was full of fear of detection. Only the strong hearted and the discrete managed to live on the Aryan side (as it commonly known) for one had to exude calmness despite the endangering one’s life. Unfortunately for some, they were blackmailed by the Germans who discovered their disguise into giving up of their property or money.