April 1, 1933 – Nazis stage boycott of Jewish shops and businesses
History:
On April 1, 1933, the Nazis perpetrated the first nationwide law, arranging an action against Jews: a prohibition of Jewish businesses. A Nazi representative declared that the boycott was an act of retribution against both Jews and foreigners, including American and English columnists who had denounced the Nazi regime. The boycott was contemplated a fail initially, the law endured ephemerally, but afterwards, it became successful. However, the ineffective boycott was followed by a rapid sequence of regulations and laws which robbed the Jews of numerous entitlements.
Image:
(The image above shows Nazi storm troopers blocking the entrance to a Jewish-owned store. Their posters say: “Germans, defend yourselves against the Jewish atrocity propaganda, buy only at German shops!” and “Germans, defend yourselves, buy only at German shops!”)
Source: http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/boycott.htm
Application:
A boycott of businesses occurs in the novel, “The Cage,” as Riva’s mother used to own a tailor shop, until the Nazis confiscated all the Jewish shops and businesses. After their family had lost the business, Riva and her mother had to make coats for the Germans by force. Riva and their mother were forced to work to work at a German owned shop, were they made clothing for the Nazis. This is evidence of external conflict, which is outside a person’s mind. The conflict is between the Jewish business owners and the Nazis who want them shutdown. This conflict reflects on Riva’s mother, because it was her business that was taken away by the Nazis. This greatly affects Riva and her family because the business was their source of money, sustenance, clothing, and shelter.
September 15, 1935 – Nuremberg Race Laws against Jews decreed
History:
On September 15, 1935, at the annual party rally in Nuremburg, the Nazis initiated “The Nuremburg Race Laws,” which established numerous racial speculations. These laws were prevalent in German ideology. The laws were separated into two main categories, the “Reich Citizenship Law” and the “Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honor.” These laws did not define a “Jew” as someone with particular religious’ beliefs. To distinguish who is a Jew and a German, they observed how many grandparents they had. They claimed that Jews were a race defined by birth and blood. These laws made it illegal for German Jews to possess Reich Citizenship, Jews were deprived of their basic rights, and Jews and Germans were forbidden from intimate marriage.
Image:
(Above is an illustrated diagram explaining how Jews and Germans were categorized from “The Nuremburg Race Laws.”)
Source: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/nurlaws.html
Application:
“The Nuremburg Race Laws” appear in the novel, “The Cage,” as Riva’s neighbors, and family friends Harry, Olga, and Misses Gruber, do not want to speak Yiddish, celebrate Jewish customs, and to have intimate friendship. They, along with their home country, Germany, treat Jews with no moral respect. Even after a lifetime of being friends with Riva’s family, they take away their oven, and their warm clothing. This is an example of Harry, Olga, and Misses Grubber being dynamic characters, while going through a serious change. The conduct of Harry, Olga, and Misses Grubber began to adapt when the Germans invaded Poland in September 1939. Their actions were affected and influenced by the Volksdeutsche, which are members of the German community, whom later on they join.
April 30, 1939 – Jews lose rights as tenants and are relocated into Jewish houses
History:
On April 30, 1939, the Nazis decided to move Jews from their homes or if they are tenants, to then relocate them into Jewish homes. Doing this would give the Nazis space, and they could take any luxury they discover. This law is to assemble Jews in a small residence, to find out where people are, which is additionally more straightforward when crowding people. Instead of murdering the Jews by compulsion, rather the Nazis figured disease would spread to the Jews and kill them. In concentration camps and ghettos, the Nazis could not expand any additional land to house the Jews, and crowding them in small houses would conserve land and kill the Jews.
Image:
(The above image is in Warsaw, 1939, and the Nazis are looking for and taking anything of value in the isolated homes of Jews. These Jews had been relocated by force to ghettos or were transported to concentration camps.)
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/394276142349923970/
Application:
Jews losing their rights as tenants and being relocated in Jewish homes occurs in the novel, “The Cage,” when Shmulek, Riva’s friend and neighbor, returns from a labor camp. Before Shmulek came to Riva’s home, he went to see if his family was still living in their home, unfortunately they were gone. Shmulek is not indubitable if they were relocated or transported to a different home, ghetto, or concentration camp. Subsequently, Riva informed Shmulek to go stay at Henry’s residence. Henry used to live among eight other people, until they all perished, left the home, or were taken by Nazis. This quote is evidence of the theme, which represents the main idea of the novel. The theme of the story is that Nazis did whatever they delighted to. In “The Cage,” the Nazis could put whoever they wanted into Henry’s home, knowing they would perish from disease.
October 26, 1939 – Forced labor decree for Polish Jews over aged 14 to 60
History:
Nazis subjected millions of people (both Jews and other victim groups) to forced labor under brutal conditions. From the establishment of the first Nazi concentration camps and detention facilities in the winter of 1933, forced labor was often futile and mortifying, and imposed without proper gear, clothing, and nourishment. Even before the war commenced, the Nazis imposed forced unpaid labor on Jewish civilians, both inside and outside concentration camps. In early 1937, the Nazis utilized the forced labor for economic gain and there was a scarcity of labor which made them very desperate. The physically unable, were frequently the first to be shot or deported.
Image:
(The above image is an Jewish women working in a lingerie factory, this is an example of forced labor in the Lodz Ghetto.)
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/357754764122929136/
Application:
Forced labor for Polish Jews transpires in the novel, “The Cage,” when Riva, who is a legal mother to Motele, and Moishele, is forced to do labor. Riva’s condition for working is appalling, she can barely walk, and can collapse at any time. This is due to the insufficiency of nutrients and vitamins. If Riva quits her job, which is fabricating big and heavy coats for the Germans, she will not be able to feed her brothers. For working hard and long hours, all Riva would receive would be limited bread for a week of food. This verifies that Riva is a heroine, who sacrifices herself for the greater good. Riva puts her brothers in front of herself, she also makes sure they are jolly. Even with her leg agony, she still works long and arduously to provide for her precious brothers.
November 23, 1939 – Yellow stars required to be worn by Polish Jews over age 10
History:
On November 23, 1939, Hans Frank, the Nazi Governor-General of Poland, decreed that all Jews over the age of 10 must wear a white badge with a yellow Star of David on their left or right arm or chest. This yellow star was an act of to symbolize who is Jew and a who is not. Jews who failed to wear the yellow star risked death and punishment, while Jews who did were them were more likely to become victims of antisemitism attacks and harassment.
Image:
(The image above is how Jews wearing the Star of David. Nazis would distinguish who is a Jew and who is a German by examining who is wearing it.)
Application:
Jews 10 and over wearing yellow stars make an appearance in the novel, “The Cage,” when 13-year-old Riva, and 15-year-old Saba, are walking to the post office together to dispatch a mail to their relatives in Argentina. When Riva notices that everyone is wearing the Start of David, she perceives that Saba is not wearing the yellow star. The Star of David is used to recognize and acknowledge who is a Jew. Jews over the age of 10 who fail to wear the yellow star can be punished or brought to death. The Nazis gather everyone up, Riva is apprehensive what will transpire to Saba, since she is not wearing the yellow star, and the Nazis are shooting their rifles. This is evidence of symbolism, because the Star of David represents who is a Jew, and symbolizes the Jewish religion.
April 30, 1940 – The Lodz Ghetto in occupied Poland is sealed off from the outside world with 230,000 Jews locked inside
History: The Lodz ghetto had 230,000 Jews in an area of four kilometers, and then was shrunken down to three kilometers. Initially, there was insufficient room to house the Jews in Lodz, after a brief period, non-Jewish citizens were evicted of their homes. The final enclosure of the ghetto and its full isolation from other parts of the city took place on April 30, 1940. Barriers and barbed wire entanglements were placed around the ghetto. Even after the closure of the ghetto, Jews were allowed postcards, which had to be written in German, and had to be about personal news. Even though postcards were authorized, many Jews did not know where to send them, as a consequence, many postcards were frequently thrown out by Nazis from post offices.
Image:
(Above is the Lodz ghetto, where Jews are stuck behind the wooden and barbed wire fence that separates Lodz from the rest of the city.)
Source: http://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/pa1070782
Application:
The Lodz ghetto being sealed off, transpires in the novel, “The Cage,” when the gates close, and Riva’s family is trapped from the outside world. Riva is trapped within the ghetto walls, along with her brothers, Motele and Moishele, who will most probably never see their mother and three siblings ever again. Even though postcards are permitted, Riva does not know where her family is. 230,000 men, women, and children trapped in a small area, thousands dying. This evidence best explains the physical setting of “The Cage,” which is located in the Lodz Ghetto, in Poland, during the Holocaust. This also depicts the emotional setting of story, which is sadness and sorrow. Sadness and sorrow is the emotional setting because all that the ghetto depicts is death and suffering, and it reflects on Riva and her family.