Something that I could not help but think about while reading Chapter 8, “Into Oblivion,” was the proximity of the Jewish deportations to non-Jewish German citizens. What I mean by this is that those who were taken from there homes were the friends, neighbors, and acquaintances of German citizens. This was illustrated by the anecdote…
Category: Field Studies
Jewish community in Berlin
The Nazi system withered one of the most vibrant Jewish communities in Europe. It was mentioned that it was not the constant depredations and humiliations of the authorities, but the lack of information on what happened to those who were taken away was what deeply worried the evacuees. The Nazi regime managed to break this…
Foreign Workers
Staying true to the book’s premise, the chapter Unwelcomed Strangers was all about giving a voice to those who have not been given one before. Moorhouse stated that ‘foreign workers’ were seldom mentioned in first-documents in wartime Berlin. They were a substantial group within Berlin (they worked at Speer’s megalomaniacal constructions) yet natives managed to…
Air Raids
After reading about all of the air raids and how people had to almost constantly seek shelter I got interested in seeing what the shelters really looked like. What I found surprised me. When I try and put myself into their shoes I just am shocked. I am a very claustrophobic and would have seriously…
April 11, 1939
A journal entry from Edith Färber, age 11 living in Berlin the morning her friend moved away. This morning I woke up to our land lord arguing with Erika’s dad. I ran outside and saw her mom crying. Mother quickly rushed me back into the apartment and shut the door. I went out later today…
Yom Kippur
Upon reading Into Oblivion of Berlin at War, I was shocked to read about the successful celebration of Yom Kippur. The extreme commitment to a faith, that for some unfair, unknown reason got others in their community imprisioned in the first place, was shocking to me. On October 1st, 1941, when Jewish Berliners were celebrating Yom Kippur at Levetzowstrasse, one…
Labor Camps
The Wilhelmshagen transit camp for the laborers were in a picturesque area. The author suggests that the idyllic atmosphere on the outside might have led some new arrivals to feel relief. But the relief stopped there. The laborers were gathered together, given identity cards, and numbered on their chests. Here is an image of women…
Construction Takes Off
Hitler wanted architecture to be utilitarian. The Nazis began construction after they seized power. It seems sort of ridiculous all of the projects they undertook. They built the Olympic Stadium, the Tempelhof airport, and the Germania project. The Germania project was the plan for the new capital, with new ceremonial buildings and space for political…
Poor Conditions
The conditions during winter were especially difficult for the Berliners. I was surprised that many had to wear winter clothing while indoors because it was so cold. I did not realize that with all the restrictions on water heating, that the people did not shower as much. It makes logical sense; it was just never…