Why couldn't the jews just say they weren't jewish during the holocaust?

Question

I'm not really sure what makes you a jew but if it is a religion couldn't they say "Hey, I'm not a Jew" just to save their lives?

Answer 1

People of the Jewish faith composed a very insular community- they married within their faith and community. So, the population developed certain key characteristics which could be used to identify them. Similar to those physical characteristics which are bred into Amish communities in America, but without such a strong possibility of inbreeding.

And even if they wanted to deny it, census records, records of their synagogue and other means could be used to identify them.

And if all else fails, the German authorities could alter a few pieces of paperwork and make anyone Jewish in the eyes of the state.

Answer 2

hitler wasn't exactly dumb. there are the following points to consider.
1.they had records of people living in a certain area.

2.jews have very different traditions, prayers, rituals,etc.

3.its not like the germans dint know the jews before the holocaust, they lived in the same village,town,city for god's sake.

4.jewish men are circumcised at birth, so that would be a defining point.

5.people were generally god fearing and devout then. the nazis could have asked them what religion they follow, if they said anything else, they must've said prove it. it's pretty hard to find a devout jew who can quote the new testament.

6.hitler wasnt only after the jews, it was all races other than pure blooded aryans. he started with the jews because of their abundance in germany, if they named a lesser known religion,he'd probably still wouldn't have spared them

7.some had a sense of pride who'd prefer death to lying about their identity.

hope this helps you get a clearer idea of the psychological and sociological mentality of the jews during the holocaust. m no expert. just ur average wasted 18 yr old. and m indian, neva met a jew in my life!!!!! cant bleve it!!!!

Answer 3

Most Jews in Germany in the 1930's were assimilated into German society much like in the US today so the fact they were Jewish was not obvious. However in most of Europe including Germany your religion or your parents religion at the time of your birth was part of the official records. In Germany in 1938 the "J-stamp" was introduced on compulsory ID cards and later on passports so they were easily identified. When the conquered other countries the system went with them. When proposals by governments to institute compulsory ID cards in the US and UK much of the opposition arises from people who remember the uses the Nazis made of them.

The Nazis did not think being a Jew was a matter of belief but a matter of ancestry so even if your parents had been raised Christian the fact that one of your Grandparents was Jewish made you a Jew.

Answer 4

First, it was as much a physical trait as a religious one. In the same way Germans considered an aryan nation to be one with mostly pure blonde hair and blue eyes, Jewish people could be grouped based on their physical characteristics. So, even if they chose to deny their religion, they could not deny their race and ethnicity.

Second, religion is not simply something you do on one day a week. If you consider yourself Jewish, you consider yourself to be holy, one of God's chosen people. You do not take that lightly and so said, you do not deny it either. To be a martyr for the faith (like so many in the torrah) was a huge deal anyway, so these people, though not happy about the results, were willing to give up their lives for the God they believed in and loved. Also, if they turned their backs on God, why should God not turn his back on them? So, they kept their faith.

Answer 5

The Germans are well known for their thoroughness. The Nazis went back through generations checking people's backgrounds and ethnicity. Having a great-grandmother who was Jewish I am, I guess, one-eighth Jewish. Had the Nazis conquered the UK that would have been found out and I would have been sent to a concentration camp (or rather, my father would have been) and I wouldn't be writing this today.

Answer 6

Well there are 2 main reasons. First the Jewsih people would go to there synogogs to prey and the Nazi took the books of all the people that went there and that book had there names and adress on it. Second it was there religion they wanted to stand up for what they belived in. Hitler was just a dumb German that wanted to become famous for doing something stupid. There are some good books on the holocaust like Behind The Bedroom Wall I am not sure who its by and then theres Number The Stars by Louis Lowery. Also if you are interrested check out Elite Wilsle night and check out his Bio

Answer 7

Well, in most cases that would like a black person saying he wasn't black. Or an oriental saying he wasn't. Your history, environment, relatives, namesake, identity and associates in Europe in the 30's and 40's, and sometimes physical features made it very hard to hide your Jewish faith. Some did get away with it. But not very many.

Answer 8

They were isolated by traditional practices, and the Nazi's would call anyone with Jewish ancestory, I forget the percentage, a Jew regardless of their current religious affiliation.

Answer 9

Census data. Have a look at this for example:

http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.cgi?path=133861129205890

Answer 10

you can tell, being jewish is they way they looked, the way they talked, the language they spoke, what they believed. they lived in a jewish community.