September 15 1935: “Nuremberg Laws“
History-
On September 15 1935, the Nazis announced “The Nuremberg Laws,” The laws were divided into two parts, the “Reich Citizenship Law” and the “Protection of German Blood and German Honor.” Jews were not considered German citizens anymore. Germans were very prejudice and discrimination to Jews. Germans defined a Jew was anyone with three or more Jewish grandparents who identifies as a Jew. They used the laws have taken many Jews away and separated a lot of Jews family. The laws were deprived of Jews’ right and business.
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(The above image is a visual of how to distinguish between Jews and Germans.)
Application-
In the beginning of the novel “The Cage,” written by Ruth Minsky Sender, the Jewish family with their neighbor, German family was very harmonious. The German family, Mrs. Gruber and Harry were helped the Jewish family, Riva and mama prepared the Jewish holiday Pesach. However, when the Germans invaded Poland, Nazis started against the Jews. Mrs. Gruber and Harry moved to the Nazis side to protect themselves. They changed to sternly cool and unmoved. When Volksdeutsche robbed Riva’s home, they were very calm. They even took Riva’s family’s oven away. At that time, the oven was the only thing that could keep their house warm. Harry even joined in Hitler Youth. Germany was Harry’s fatherland, so he with his family was safe in Nuremberg Laws. However, mama, Riva and her three younger brothers were all considered Jewish. These evidences showed Mrs. Gruber and Harry being a dynamic character who went through a great change.
November 15 1938: segregated Jews from German
History-
On November 15 1938, all Jewish pupils expelled from German schools. All Jewish children were moved to Jewish schools. Jews were banned from many government professions. This meant that it was difficult to found a good job for Jews. They forced to sell their businesses. They did not have enough ability to maintain their family. Germans were also denied tax reductions and child allowances for Jews.
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(The above image is during World War II, the Nazis destroyed Jewish owned businesses.)
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In the novel, “The Cage,” written by Ruth Minsky Sender, within the ghetto, no one had a job. They did not have money to maintain their family. It was very difficult to have healthy food and enough energy. Riva and his younger brother, Laibele became ill because of malnutrition. Riva’s other brother wanted Riva and Laibele to get better. They traded their bread for a vitamin and a tangerine in the black market to help them get the nutrients. Riva was angry for his brother action, but she was also thankful. She felt the love of her brothers. This example showed the internal conflict between Riva and her brothers. In the ghetto, everyone helped each other and shared needed things.
September 1 1939: German invasion of Poland
History–
On September 1 1939, Germany invaded Poland and began the World War II in Europe. The act also started the Holocaust. A large number of Jewish civilians die in the bombing of Warsaw. Within a mouth of the German attack, Warsaw surrendered to the Germans. After German occupied Poland. They required Jews to wear armbands with a blue star to identify themselves and conscripted them for forced- labor.
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(The above image is the battle’s state of Germany attacked Poland)
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In “The Cage,” written by Ruth Minsky Sender, the Germans invasion of Poland caused great impact in the novel. Before the battle, Riva had a happy life. Riva and Harry was best friend, he was part of Riva’s family. However, they were friendship breakdown because of the battle. The best friend changed to enemy. Before very closed German’s neighbor, they also changed a lot because of the battle. Two nations people relationship was breakdown. Germans invasion of Poland also was foreshadowing for the story, such as, the Nazis set up the first ghetto and trade Jews like animal.
November 23 1939 Jewish badge
History –
On November 23 1939, all Jews over six years of age in German-occupied Poland forced to wear a
n armband or yellow star as their badge. The yellow stars were design by David. Jews need wear the badge at all times. There was also had punishment if someone without wearing the badge. The Germans used the badge to discriminate and humiliate Jews and segregate them from Poland. Every Jews worn the badge that Germans could easily to identify them, in order to deport them to killing centers.
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(The image of the Jews badge)
Source- http://www.scoopnest.com/user/haaretzcom/682184457466458114
Application-
“Jewish badge” makes an appearance in the novel, “The Cage,” written by Ruth Minsky Sender. Each of the Jews over six needed to wear a yellow star in front of their clothes. Riva and her cousin, Saba also needed to wear the yellow star that marked them as Jews. At that period, Jewish people did not have status in Europe. However, Riva and Saba did not feel shame of the yellow star. They were very pound to be a Jew. This part is the rising action for the story.
April 30 1940: Ghetto in Lodz
History-
During the Holocaust, the establishment of Ghettos was the key step in the Nazis process of separating, tormenting, and eventually destroying Jews. On April 30 1940, The Nazis set up the second largest ghetto in Lodz, Poland. There locked 230,000 Jews. In Europe, Poland had the largest population of Jews, so many Jews were sent to Poland. Within the ghetto, Living conditions were miserable. The Germans restricts the freedom of the Jews. The vast majority of Jews died because disease, starvation or were shot.
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Source- http://www.macleans.ca/society/life-in-the-jewish-ghetto-of-lodz-in-nazi-occupied-poland/
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In the novel, “The Cage,” written by Ruth Minsky Sender, the second largest ghetto was established in Lodz, Poland. The ghetto life almost covered half of the novel. Within the ghetto, there only had four categories of Jews, survivor, died by disease, died by shot, and sent to the labor camp. The old people and the disabled people only have one fate that was died, because they had no use for the Germans. Germans was separated Riva’s family. The characters such as Riva’s mother and Shmulek were sent away. Shmulek was sent to concentration camp. Although, Riva did not know where was her mother sent for, she had hoped that her mother might return someday.
May 20, 1940 Auschwitz concentration camp
History-
On May 20 1940, the Nazi established the Auschwitz concentration camp. It included three main camps. It consisted of Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II and Auschwitz III. All three camps used prisoners for forced labor. The camps were located in west of Krahow. The main purpose was killed Jews, the harsh labor work, or inhuman experiments. During this period, at least 1.1 million Jews died at Auschwitz.
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(The above image is people who worked in Auschwitz concentration camp)
Source- https://padresteve.com/category/holocaust-2/
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“Auschwitz concentration camp” makes an appearance in the novel, “The Cage,” written by Ruth Minsky Sender. Riva and her friends were sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp. They were forced to remove their clothes and important memories. They had to forget everything, such as names, religions, and self- esteem. Every Auschwitz member needed to remember a number that a new identities. Riva still did not give up to find her mother. Whenever Riva wants to give up, she always uses her mother’s words to motivate herself.