This Blog is a resource tool for the students taking the "FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES" elective at Westborough High School, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
PERIOD 4: THE GESTAPO
You have been watching the BBC documentary, The Rise of the Nazis - A Warning from History. Please share your thoughts about the segment on the Gestapo that you saw today. What did you think of the interview with Resi Kraus?
22 comments:
Matt Mihaiu
said...
I found "The Gestapo" very interesting. I thought it was messed up how the Nazi's would kill mentally challenged people. I feel they don't do anything wrong in society, so I don't see why they have to be killed. I think it must have been frustrating to be a Jew during that time period because no one in their country liked them, yet they couldn't go into another country. I didn't understand why the United States didn't let them in. Was it because of the Great Depression? Overall, I found it very interesting.
I think the aspect of this film that hit me the hardest was the part about the people with the mental disabilities. I thought it was disturbing that for the child in particular that they mentioned, that his death was marked as a death by the measles. Another thing that I found disturbing about this was that Hitler honored the idea; I can't bring myself to imagine why anyone would be cruel to those with lesser abilities than themselves, and especially to be cruel enough to put them to death. Every person should have the opportunity to amount to something or just to live their life; it's not like being born with a mental disability is a choice. However, those with mental handicaps weren't Hitler's only targets.Being different was frowned upon in general which is also astounding because a world with no difference wouldn't be interesting to live in at all. I found this film to be interesting yet disturbing and it really showed me how evil humans can really be.
I thought the information on the Gestapo was very interesting, because it is one of the most feared police forces in history, and yet there isn't much public knowledge about it. I also thought it was interesting that a very organized force like the Gestapo could exist under the apparently chaotic Nazi administration. What surprised me most was the fact the the Gestapo followed the German army into the countries it invaded, in order to instill fear and respect into those under Nazi rule.
The video we have been watching over the past couple of days was very intriguing, especially the details about the Gestapo and how the Nazi's ruled. I found it incredibly astounding how chaotic and confusing it was with 5 separate committees all speaking for Hitler. So many Nazi's were trying to gain power and vying for Hitler's affections like a bunch of lost puppies. It was disturbing how first of all, the father who wrote to Hitler wanted to kill his own child, and secondly, hat Hitler heartily agreed with it and established a system for extermination. The way that Children's institutions claimed that disabled children had died of ordinary infections instead of by lethal injection was disgusting and makes me sick. Then, the information about the other woman, who was essentially killed for being accused of being different, was terrible; her own neighbors condemned her to a concentration camp and then didn't see anything wrong with their actions, 70 years later. To make matters worse, the United States and many other nations turned away helpless Jews and insured their deaths and inhumane treatment. The videos presented thought-provoking information that truly illustrated the terror that the Nazi's established.
The Rise of the Nazis has been a very informative and revealing documentary. The segment of the documentary that we watched today in class was definitely the most compelling. Learning more about the Gestapo itself was interesting since there is not much known about it and since it was such a powerful and violent group during the Nazi regime. The night of the broken glass was something that we had learned about in previous history or English classes and it brought back the knowledge that I already knew from the past. The interview with Resi Kraus was probably the most compelling part of the documentary. I feel like in the time when the Gestapo was big something like turning in your neighbors who were different was not considered such a horrible action. Although by today’s standards we view what she did as completely absurd, I feel like we can’t judge her based on the current status quo. From the interview I think you can tell that she isn’t proud of what she had done and that she is remorseful. She is so regretful that she doesn’t allow herself to admit what she did. She can’t admit it to the interviewer or to herself. I was really bitter at first when we watched it, I was disgusted but to really understand a person and their actions, you have to put yourself in their shoes.
I thought this film was really interesting because it really showed how the negative opinions people had about others were present even without the help of Hitler. Something I found so disturbing was the fact that young children were being killed for disabilities and mental disorders. The Nazi's were so obsessed with having such a pure and perfect human race that they would go to the extremes of "eliminating" those who couldn't meet their standards. The fact that they were covering it up by saying they died from things like the measles showed that they knew exactly how wrong what they were doing was.
I found “The Gestapo” very disturbing. The one thing that disturbed me the most was the segment on the mentally ill. I honestly had no idea that Nazi’s killed the mentally ill and menatlly ill young children. Prior to watching the film I had no idea that the Nazi’s targeted homosexuals, mentally ill, black people and really anyone who was different. One point that you mentioned in class which I disagreed with a lot was when you said that today we still talk badly about people who are different and judge other people the same way the Nazi’s did in 1939. I strongly disagree with this statement and believe that myself, my group of friends and everyone in the theatre community does not to this. At a master class I took this summer I learned how important it is in the Musical Theatre world to not only love yourself but also sell yourself and exposed and flaunt your differences as much as you can because that is what will make you get a job over someone else and sets you apart.. I strongly believe that saying that Americans and that our facing history class judges and discriminates others to the extent the Nazi’s did in 1939 is completely false and very disrespectful to everyone who is accepting and understands being different and saying that in class made me very annoyed and upset.
I thought what we watched in class today about the Gestapo was very interesting. i was amazed at how few people were actually in the Gestapo, since they were such a feared and what seemed to be active group. I was also surprised that they were able to keep such organized records and maintain order despite the chaos of Nazi rule. The part that hit home for me though, was the segment on the execution of mentally ill children. The idea that these entirely innocent children were deemed unworthy of life because of an illness that was not under their control disgusts me. I had a younger sister who died shortly before birth because she had down syndrome, and the thought that my sister would've been one of those kids terrifies me. The whole piece just amazes me that people can be so terrible and inflict such harm, especially on innocent people.
After watching the interview with Resi Kraus, I was absolutely appalled by the way she conducted herself. After turning in her innocent neighbor to the Gestapo for being “different” and then denying it 50 years or so later disgusts me. She voluntarily gave up information on her neighbor because she didn’t comply with society and has the audacity to not own up to in years later. Her own words and signature were written proof that she did do it. She brushes off the accusations as if they meant nothing and then proceeds to claim that she did not murder or kill anyone. In a sense she was right that she did not physically murder or kill anyone, but she complied with the wrongdoings of the Nazis and was a part of the purifying machine that was the Nazi regime in Germany in the 30s and 40s that lead to the murders of millions of innocent people. She was indirectly responsible for choosing not to try to admit to her wrongs and for the imprisonment and eventual death of her neighbor. I was so shocked that someone could even do that to another human being. Honestly, I pride myself on trying to be different from others and seeing people being persecuted and killed for that is just wrong on so many levels.
I thought the segment on the Gestapo was one of the more interesting parts of the documentary so far. For choosing prisoners and people to put to death, the system seemed to be frighteningly subjective. In the case of the mentally disabled kids, there was no real method to who was put to death. At first there seemed to be some sort of order in it, but after a while, doctors chose who was to be killed at random. The prisoner that was punished due to letters such as that from Resi Kraus was also chosen on a subjective basis. She was put away for being different, according to her neighbors. I thought Kraus's interview was appalling. I can't understand how she could deny her role so emphatically, and claim that the physical evidence in front of her was not true. It is surprising how a person can just completely deny their participation in the death of a neighbor.
It was so strange the effect the Gestapo had despite their small numbers. The citizens themselves were so zealous and actually took it upon themselves to contribute to this secret police. This situation is so alien and foreign to me. It made me wonder if I would have been one of those citizens, so willing to turn in others. It scares me a little. The part of the documentary about the killing of the mentally unfit saddened me. It's so shocking to know that the "caregivers" and "doctors" were so able to just end their lives without their consent. The interview with Resi Kraus was a little infuriating. The entire time, she squirrels around and even laughs at what she undeniably did. To some extent I feel that she feels no remorse for what she did. She's even offended that the interviewers bring this back up. Like it's some trivial matter that people should gloss over. She shies away from the topic now because it's condemned. Were it to be a situation similar to when she was a teen, as of now, she'd have no problems with it. I see no remorse from her, all I see is embarrassment.
I found "The Gestapo" very eye-opening and disturbing. Prior to watching this film, I always had the idea that during the time of the Nazis, Jews were the only ones who were targeted. I was shocked to learn that this was not the case. The Nazis targeted everyone from homosexuals to black people to even Germans who were mentally ill in order to keep the race 'pure.' What really got me thinking is how you mentioned that we really haven't changed from the time of the Nazis. I found this statement very interesting. If one really thinks about it deeply, then you will realize that we really haven't changed.
"The Getstapo" was a very interesting film. It is aggrivating to see people act like they had nothing to do with sending people to concentration camps because they are embarrassed. The woman who "didn't know" how her signature on the letter to the nazis was worst of all. It also showed me that it wasn't only jews he went after but those who are deemed "different". This film was very eye-opening and I hope we get to watch more like it.
"The Gestapo" was very eye opening. It was very upseting and disturbing to hear that doctors would sign to have a baby killed if they were born with a disability. Even older children that had a disablity were killed just for being "different". It was also weird that jew were forced to eat the grass. I questioned myself what was the point of that? When Mr.Gallagher said nothing has changed today I agree because all we ever do is judge people with out even knowing who they are and what they have to offer.
i found this film to be extremly insightful and gave me a new perspective on the nazi party moviement and the phycological effect that it had on people. i thin that people during this time period living in germany not only had to fear the nazi party and the gestapo but people like your neighbor and other people who may try to rat you out for there own safty. in this time period many people were being killed or sent to work camps because they were diferent or didnt fit in. that is exactly what happened to the one lady in the film who died in her concentration camp. i als thought it was extremly sad to hear that so many kids who were handicaped were killed the way they were. therew ere a lot of things that the nazi party stood for and murder was something they didnt fear doing.
While watching the video I think the hardesting thing to watch was the Nazis killing the mentally challegened people. Its unfair because they are really just like you and me they just learn differently. Hitler only targets people that are not the same and its extremly not right. But overal I found this video extremly disturbing but very intresting on how people judge and who are extremly rude.
I thought that the documentary was very eye opening. The interview with Resi Kraus was interesting to see her opinion on the matter so many years later to what she did. Her reaction was as if she had done nothing wrong, and even though her signature was on it, she was convinced it was a mix up. She signed the paper because her neighbor was different, not the same as everyone else, and she has convinced herself over the years that she didn’t do anything wrong. She wasn’t the person to kill her neighborhood, so in her mind she had nothing to do with it but in reality, she had everything to do with it.
The Gestapo was a very heart breaking film. This section of the deocumentary has definitely had the most profound impact on me. I was shocked when i heard that the Nazi's not only targeted Jews, but also blacks, homosexuals and even babies with mental disabilities. To hear about how new born babies with mental disabilities were killed just because they interfered with the "purity of the German Race" definitely had the most impact on me.
The gestapo was a very disturbing film that showed how bad the gestapo were and how big of an influence they had on the holocaust. The gestapo were fueled by their desire to impress Hitler and how they wanted to move up the ranks in the Nazi party. It was very interesting also to see how the people of Germany also had such a large influence on who the gestapo abused or choose to send to the camps. It was eye opening to see how the holocaust could not have been possible without the full corporation of the German people.
The Gestapo was a very eye opening film. It angered me thy the woman wouldn't take responsibility for her actions and acted like she didn't have something to do with her nieghbors death. Although, the other woman who said she began to think differently after certain actions taken by the Nazi party. She gave me hope that at least some of those people who were once on their side had switch their thinking. I realized the extent of horror when they said they would kill thse who weren't mentally well. Instead of doing their job they chose to play God and choose for thenselves which sickened me. All in all the Gestapo film made me more aware of what my actions may cause and that I do have responsibility do everything I see happen and let go.
I found "The Gestapo" to be a pretty frustrating section of the film to watch. At first I felt angry and frustrated with the German woman for her taking part in murdering an innocent woman; however, I feel slightly more sympathetic to the situation now that I have had time to think about it. It is extremely difficult for us as Westborough students that have not experienced war or even any real hardship to understand the situation that the woman was in. Everybody in the country was constantly brainwashed and forced to believe certain facts about minorities that werent true, and as more and more people believed what they were told, the group mentality became harder to fight against. In her time and her country, this woman was just doing what she is told was the right thing. Despite the fact that, looking back, we know that her actions got a woman killed, this woman probably thought that what she was doing was morally correct based on the opinions of the vast majority of Germans. Overall, even though I can't quite forgive a woman for taking part in an innocent person's murder, we must comprehend the position and situation she was in at the time in order to see that she is not necessarily evil.
I found this film to be really interesting. watching this film made me angry because of what the lady was saying in the intweview. Clearly she knew all about it and she was lying. Now that she looks back to it she knows that what she dd was wrong so shes denying it right now but shes better off owning up to what she did.
22 comments:
I found "The Gestapo" very interesting. I thought it was messed up how the Nazi's would kill mentally challenged people. I feel they don't do anything wrong in society, so I don't see why they have to be killed. I think it must have been frustrating to be a Jew during that time period because no one in their country liked them, yet they couldn't go into another country. I didn't understand why the United States didn't let them in. Was it because of the Great Depression? Overall, I found it very interesting.
I think the aspect of this film that hit me the hardest was the part about the people with the mental disabilities. I thought it was disturbing that for the child in particular that they mentioned, that his death was marked as a death by the measles. Another thing that I found disturbing about this was that Hitler honored the idea; I can't bring myself to imagine why anyone would be cruel to those with lesser abilities than themselves, and especially to be cruel enough to put them to death. Every person should have the opportunity to amount to something or just to live their life; it's not like being born with a mental disability is a choice. However, those with mental handicaps weren't Hitler's only targets.Being different was frowned upon in general which is also astounding because a world with no difference wouldn't be interesting to live in at all. I found this film to be interesting yet disturbing and it really showed me how evil humans can really be.
I thought the information on the Gestapo was very interesting, because it is one of the most feared police forces in history, and yet there isn't much public knowledge about it. I also thought it was interesting that a very organized force like the Gestapo could exist under the apparently chaotic Nazi administration. What surprised me most was the fact the the Gestapo followed the German army into the countries it invaded, in order to instill fear and respect into those under Nazi rule.
The video we have been watching over the past couple of days was very intriguing, especially the details about the Gestapo and how the Nazi's ruled. I found it incredibly astounding how chaotic and confusing it was with 5 separate committees all speaking for Hitler. So many Nazi's were trying to gain power and vying for Hitler's affections like a bunch of lost puppies. It was disturbing how first of all, the father who wrote to Hitler wanted to kill his own child, and secondly, hat Hitler heartily agreed with it and established a system for extermination. The way that Children's institutions claimed that disabled children had died of ordinary infections instead of by lethal injection was disgusting and makes me sick. Then, the information about the other woman, who was essentially killed for being accused of being different, was terrible; her own neighbors condemned her to a concentration camp and then didn't see anything wrong with their actions, 70 years later. To make matters worse, the United States and many other nations turned away helpless Jews and insured their deaths and inhumane treatment. The videos presented thought-provoking information that truly illustrated the terror that the Nazi's established.
The Rise of the Nazis has been a very informative and revealing documentary. The segment of the documentary that we watched today in class was definitely the most compelling. Learning more about the Gestapo itself was interesting since there is not much known about it and since it was such a powerful and violent group during the Nazi regime. The night of the broken glass was something that we had learned about in previous history or English classes and it brought back the knowledge that I already knew from the past. The interview with Resi Kraus was probably the most compelling part of the documentary. I feel like in the time when the Gestapo was big something like turning in your neighbors who were different was not considered such a horrible action. Although by today’s standards we view what she did as completely absurd, I feel like we can’t judge her based on the current status quo. From the interview I think you can tell that she isn’t proud of what she had done and that she is remorseful. She is so regretful that she doesn’t allow herself to admit what she did. She can’t admit it to the interviewer or to herself. I was really bitter at first when we watched it, I was disgusted but to really understand a person and their actions, you have to put yourself in their shoes.
I thought this film was really interesting because it really showed how the negative opinions people had about others were present even without the help of Hitler. Something I found so disturbing was the fact that young children were being killed for disabilities and mental disorders. The Nazi's were so obsessed with having such a pure and perfect human race that they would go to the extremes of "eliminating" those who couldn't meet their standards. The fact that they were covering it up by saying they died from things like the measles showed that they knew exactly how wrong what they were doing was.
I found “The Gestapo” very disturbing. The one thing that disturbed me the most was the segment on the mentally ill. I honestly had no idea that Nazi’s killed the mentally ill and menatlly ill young children. Prior to watching the film I had no idea that the Nazi’s targeted homosexuals, mentally ill, black people and really anyone who was different. One point that you mentioned in class which I disagreed with a lot was when you said that today we still talk badly about people who are different and judge other people the same way the Nazi’s did in 1939. I strongly disagree with this statement and believe that myself, my group of friends and everyone in the theatre community does not to this. At a master class I took this summer I learned how important it is in the Musical Theatre world to not only love yourself but also sell yourself and exposed and flaunt your differences as much as you can because that is what will make you get a job over someone else and sets you apart.. I strongly believe that saying that Americans and that our facing history class judges and discriminates others to the extent the Nazi’s did in 1939 is completely false and very disrespectful to everyone who is accepting and understands being different and saying that in class made me very annoyed and upset.
I thought what we watched in class today about the Gestapo was very interesting. i was amazed at how few people were actually in the Gestapo, since they were such a feared and what seemed to be active group. I was also surprised that they were able to keep such organized records and maintain order despite the chaos of Nazi rule. The part that hit home for me though, was the segment on the execution of mentally ill children. The idea that these entirely innocent children were deemed unworthy of life because of an illness that was not under their control disgusts me. I had a younger sister who died shortly before birth because she had down syndrome, and the thought that my sister would've been one of those kids terrifies me. The whole piece just amazes me that people can be so terrible and inflict such harm, especially on innocent people.
After watching the interview with Resi Kraus, I was absolutely appalled by the way she conducted herself. After turning in her innocent neighbor to the Gestapo for being “different” and then denying it 50 years or so later disgusts me. She voluntarily gave up information on her neighbor because she didn’t comply with society and has the audacity to not own up to in years later. Her own words and signature were written proof that she did do it. She brushes off the accusations as if they meant nothing and then proceeds to claim that she did not murder or kill anyone. In a sense she was right that she did not physically murder or kill anyone, but she complied with the wrongdoings of the Nazis and was a part of the purifying machine that was the Nazi regime in Germany in the 30s and 40s that lead to the murders of millions of innocent people. She was indirectly responsible for choosing not to try to admit to her wrongs and for the imprisonment and eventual death of her neighbor. I was so shocked that someone could even do that to another human being. Honestly, I pride myself on trying to be different from others and seeing people being persecuted and killed for that is just wrong on so many levels.
I thought the segment on the Gestapo was one of the more interesting parts of the documentary so far. For choosing prisoners and people to put to death, the system seemed to be frighteningly subjective. In the case of the mentally disabled kids, there was no real method to who was put to death. At first there seemed to be some sort of order in it, but after a while, doctors chose who was to be killed at random. The prisoner that was punished due to letters such as that from Resi Kraus was also chosen on a subjective basis. She was put away for being different, according to her neighbors. I thought Kraus's interview was appalling. I can't understand how she could deny her role so emphatically, and claim that the physical evidence in front of her was not true. It is surprising how a person can just completely deny their participation in the death of a neighbor.
It was so strange the effect the Gestapo had despite their small numbers. The citizens themselves were so zealous and actually took it upon themselves to contribute to this secret police. This situation is so alien and foreign to me. It made me wonder if I would have been one of those citizens, so willing to turn in others. It scares me a little. The part of the documentary about the killing of the mentally unfit saddened me. It's so shocking to know that the "caregivers" and "doctors" were so able to just end their lives without their consent. The interview with Resi Kraus was a little infuriating. The entire time, she squirrels around and even laughs at what she undeniably did. To some extent I feel that she feels no remorse for what she did. She's even offended that the interviewers bring this back up. Like it's some trivial matter that people should gloss over. She shies away from the topic now because it's condemned. Were it to be a situation similar to when she was a teen, as of now, she'd have no problems with it. I see no remorse from her, all I see is embarrassment.
I found "The Gestapo" very eye-opening and disturbing. Prior to watching this film, I always had the idea that during the time of the Nazis, Jews were the only ones who were targeted. I was shocked to learn that this was not the case. The Nazis targeted everyone from homosexuals to black people to even Germans who were mentally ill in order to keep the race 'pure.' What really got me thinking is how you mentioned that we really haven't changed from the time of the Nazis. I found this statement very interesting. If one really thinks about it deeply, then you will realize that we really haven't changed.
"The Getstapo" was a very interesting film. It is aggrivating to see people act like they had nothing to do with sending people to concentration camps because they are embarrassed. The woman who "didn't know" how her signature on the letter to the nazis was worst of all. It also showed me that it wasn't only jews he went after but those who are deemed "different". This film was very eye-opening and I hope we get to watch more like it.
"The Gestapo" was very eye opening. It was very upseting and disturbing to hear that doctors would sign to have a baby killed if they were born with a disability. Even older children that had a disablity were killed just for being "different". It was also weird that jew were forced to eat the grass. I questioned myself what was the point of that? When Mr.Gallagher said nothing has changed today I agree because all we ever do is judge people with out even knowing who they are and what they have to offer.
i found this film to be extremly insightful and gave me a new perspective on the nazi party moviement and the phycological effect that it had on people. i thin that people during this time period living in germany not only had to fear the nazi party and the gestapo but people like your neighbor and other people who may try to rat you out for there own safty. in this time period many people were being killed or sent to work camps because they were diferent or didnt fit in. that is exactly what happened to the one lady in the film who died in her concentration camp. i als thought it was extremly sad to hear that so many kids who were handicaped were killed the way they were. therew ere a lot of things that the nazi party stood for and murder was something they didnt fear doing.
While watching the video I think the hardesting thing to watch was the Nazis killing the mentally challegened people. Its unfair because they are really just like you and me they just learn differently. Hitler only targets people that are not the same and its extremly not right. But overal I found this video extremly disturbing but very intresting on how people judge and who are extremly rude.
I thought that the documentary was very eye opening. The interview with Resi Kraus was interesting to see her opinion on the matter so many years later to what she did. Her reaction was as if she had done nothing wrong, and even though her signature was on it, she was convinced it was a mix up. She signed the paper because her neighbor was different, not the same as everyone else, and she has convinced herself over the years that she didn’t do anything wrong. She wasn’t the person to kill her neighborhood, so in her mind she had nothing to do with it but in reality, she had everything to do with it.
The Gestapo was a very heart breaking film. This section of the deocumentary has definitely had the most profound impact on me. I was shocked when i heard that the Nazi's not only targeted Jews, but also blacks, homosexuals and even babies with mental disabilities. To hear about how new born babies with mental disabilities were killed just because they interfered with the "purity of the German Race" definitely had the most impact on me.
The gestapo was a very disturbing film that showed how bad the gestapo were and how big of an influence they had on the holocaust. The gestapo were fueled by their desire to impress Hitler and how they wanted to move up the ranks in the Nazi party. It was very interesting also to see how the people of Germany also had such a large influence on who the gestapo abused or choose to send to the camps. It was eye opening to see how the holocaust could not have been possible without the full corporation of the German people.
The Gestapo was a very eye opening film. It angered me thy the woman wouldn't take responsibility for her actions and acted like she didn't have something to do with her nieghbors death. Although, the other woman who said she began to think differently after certain actions taken by the Nazi party. She gave me hope that at least some of those people who were once on their side had switch their thinking. I realized the extent of horror when they said they would kill thse who weren't mentally well. Instead of doing their job they chose to play God and choose for thenselves which sickened me. All in all the Gestapo film made me more aware of what my actions may cause and that I do have responsibility do everything I see happen and let go.
I found "The Gestapo" to be a pretty frustrating section of the film to watch. At first I felt angry and frustrated with the German woman for her taking part in murdering an innocent woman; however, I feel slightly more sympathetic to the situation now that I have had time to think about it. It is extremely difficult for us as Westborough students that have not experienced war or even any real hardship to understand the situation that the woman was in. Everybody in the country was constantly brainwashed and forced to believe certain facts about minorities that werent true, and as more and more people believed what they were told, the group mentality became harder to fight against. In her time and her country, this woman was just doing what she is told was the right thing. Despite the fact that, looking back, we know that her actions got a woman killed, this woman probably thought that what she was doing was morally correct based on the opinions of the vast majority of Germans. Overall, even though I can't quite forgive a woman for taking part in an innocent person's murder, we must comprehend the position and situation she was in at the time in order to see that she is not necessarily evil.
I found this film to be really interesting. watching this film made me angry because of what the lady was saying in the intweview. Clearly she knew all about it and she was lying. Now that she looks back to it she knows that what she dd was wrong so shes denying it right now but shes better off owning up to what she did.
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