I am the only living witness but I must say the truth. Contrary to the opinion of the National Socialists that the Jews were a highly organized group, the appalling fact was that they had no organization whatsoever. The mass of the Jewish people were taken completely by surprise. Never before has a people gone so unsuspectingly to its disaster. After the first anti-Jewish actions of the Germans, they thought now the wave was over and so they walked back to their undoing.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- He asserts that Jews lacked organization during the Holocaust, contrary to Nazi claims, leading to their being caught unprepared.
- In plain terms
- He says Jews were unorganized and surprised by the Holocaust.
- What can you take from it?
- Historical narratives can differ from official propaganda.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do we reconcile differing accounts of victim organization?
- What impact does propaganda have on historical memory?
Another view
The claim overlooks many documented resistance efforts.
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