“The Cage” Timeline
Jewish doctors prohibited by law from practicing medicine – July 25, 1938
History: On July 25th, 1938, it was illegal for Jewish doctors to treat people or give them any medicine. This was mainly done to stop Jewish people from getting any medicine for wounds or diseases because Jewish doctors generally would treat Jewish people. This would decrease the Jewish population.
(In the picture above a Jewish doctor helping a little Jewish boy who looks to be in pain.)
Source: http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/museum_photos/images/4412267.jpg
Application: This appears in the story when Riva needs a doctor but there are barely any doctors that will help Jews. She does eventually find a Doctor but sadly all he can do is tell her what is wrong and cannot help her at all. He also mentions that he cannot help anyone else that comes to him either and it upsets him. This is because the Nazis have banned Jewish doctors from practicing medicine. This also contributes to the conflict because the doctor can’t help Riva and she is stuck with this problem that will make surviving harder.
Nazis invade Poland – September 1, 1939
History: Nazis were interested in taking over Europe and exterminating it of Jews. Poland also had the biggest Jewish population (3.5 million) in Europe which is probably the biggest reason why they invaded it. But the Soviet Union also invaded Poland around the same time so Germany did not get to take over all of Poland.
(In The picture above you can see Nazi soldiers walking forward through a Polish city after an invasion.)
Source: https://www.ushmm.org/lcmedia/photo/lc/image/80/80487.jpg
Application: Nazis invading Poland was what made this memoir happen. If the Nazis had not invaded Poland “The Cage” would not exist because Riva would not have gone through what she had. She probably would have had a better life. She would not have lost her home, family, and friends. This is evidence that Riva is a dynamic character because before the Nazis had taken over her town she was happy, enjoying life, and she was friends with German people. After the Nazis invaded She was scared that they would come and take her away or her family. She also was no longer friends with the German people she previously was friends with because they wanted nothing to do with Jewish people.
Forced labor decree issued for Polish Jews aged 14 to 60 – October 26, 1939
History: Living Jewish people that were in sometimes would have to take part in forced labor. Forced labor was generally used to help the Nazis. The Jews would make uniforms, fix building, etc. for the Jews and if a Jew was unable to work they probably wouldn’t last long.
(In The picture above you can see Nazi soldiers walking forward through a Polish city after an invasion.)
Source: http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/othercamps/plaszow/Jewish%20women%20at%20forced%20labor%20pulling%20hopper%20cars%20of%20quarried%20stones.jpg
Application: In the book “The Cage” if you were of the age of 14 to 60 you had to partake in forced labor. If you were unable to work you would be taken away by the Nazis and most likely sent to a concentration camp. In the book “The Cage” Riva’s mother was working in forced labor and taking care of her children. She eventually got sick and was taken away by the Nazis because she was not working. Because of this Riva had to take care of her brothers and grow up way quicker than anyone else her age.
Yellow stars required to be worn. – November 23, 1939
History: All Polish Jews had to wear yellow stars if they were over the age of 10. This was done so everyone knew who was a Jew and who was not a Jew. The Nazis also did this to make fun of Jews. This made it easier for Nazis to see who is a Jew and take them and hurt them or something like that.
(In The picture above there are Jews wearing yellow stars while standing around a street Vendor.)
Source: http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/holocaust/france/images/occupation/08.jpg
Application: In the book Riva asks Saba if she feels embarrassed wearing the stars but instead she says that she feels proud to wear which completely nullifies the point of wearing the stars. The Nazis wanted them to feel embarrassed but instead the Jewish people are proud to wear them which means it didn’t work.
The Lodz Ghetto is sealed off from the rest of the world. – April 30, 1940
History: Being the third largest city in Poland, it was an easy decision for the Nazis to invade it. It also had the second biggest population of Jews next to Warsaw. After the Nazis had taken over Lodz they changed the name of the city to Litzmannstadt. The Nazis also enforced forced labor on the Jewish people and that they must wear the yellow star.
(In The picture above the Nazis are sealing off the Lodz ghetto and are making the Jews inside starve.)
Source: http://skepticism-images.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images/jreviews/Children_rounded_up_for_deportation.jpg
Application: When the Nazis sealed off the Lodz they also sealed off Riva and her family. In the ghetto, they had to be constantly scared of the Nazis because they could kill them or take them away at any time. They also had to starve and be surrounded by many different diseases without proper access to any doctors or medicine. In the book Riva says how every time they heard a knock at the door she would have to quickly hide in the cellar and close it before they came in. She also had to live in these conditions for years which is quite horrible considering the conditions she would have had to live through. She is lucky to be alive.
Lodz, the last Jewish ghetto in Poland, is liquidated – August 6, 1944
History: It was the last remaining ghetto in Poland. All remaining Jewish people still living in Lodz were moved to Auschwitz. It had a population of about 60,000 Jews. The Germans said that they were going to work camps in Germany but instead they were sent to Auschwitz where they were meant to be eventually exterminated.
(In the picture above there are Jewish people who have left the Lodz ghetto getting on trains that will be heading to the Chelmno Death camp)
Source: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/images/lodz2.jpg
Application: In the book a Nazi general comes to Lodz and tells the remaining Jews that the Russians are getting too close and that the Nazis want them to come with them to work camps closer to Germany. Riva and her friends didn’t believe him and decide to stay for as long as they can in Lodz. So, whenever they heard Germans at the door they would hide in the cellar. They kept this up for some time but eventually they decided that it would be best if they went with the Nazis and hoped that they would stay with each other if they leave with each other. Like they had predicted the Nazis didn’t take the to work camps but to concentration camps, specifically Auschwitz.