Critical Thinking/Discussion Questions - Elsa Frank

1. German Jews have a long history of assimilation.  Using the links in the resources below, discuss what it means to be assimilated as a Jew in Europe before the war.

“Ancient Jewish History: Assimilation”

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0002_0_01522.html

(n.d.). Retrieved April 29, 2017, from https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0002_0_01522.html

“Jewish life in Europe before the Holocaust”

http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007689

(n.d.). Retrieved April 29, 2017, from http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007689

 

2. Elsa discusses how her non-Jewish German friends turned their back on her. What is a bystander? Were her friends bystanders? What is a perpetrator?  Use the resources below for more information.

“The Role of Bystanders”

https://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/people/bystand.htm

(n.d.). Retrieved April 29, 2017, from https://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/people/bystand.htm

“Actions of the Perpetrators”

https://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/people/perps.htm

(n.d.). Retrieved April 29, 2017, from https://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/people/perps.htm

 

3. Although it was very difficult for her to do so, why do you think Elsa wanted to return to her hometown in Germany? Why might someone choose not to return? Margot Friedlander fled Nazi Germany for the United States, only to return to Berlin at the age of 92.  Compare Elsa and Margot’s choices and reasons for returning, after reading Margot’s story using the link below:

“A Long Way Home”

http://www.dw.com/en/a-long-way-home/a-6206049

(n.d.). Retrieved April 29, 2017, from http://www.dw.com/en/a-long-way-home/a-6206049