Is there a reason why the Jews didn't pretend not to be Jewish during WW2?

Answer 1

1) Many Jews thought that the current pogrom would end and couldn't imagine 'Final Solution' as being possible. They went with a tried and true method - bend with the storm and stand up after. It worked for 400 years, so it made sense.

2) Most Jewish people were already identified as Jewish. Synagogues had membership rolls with names and addresses. In addition to physical characteristics it was hard to hide ethnicity.

3) Many did. They obtained new papers and used the support of friends and underground organizations. This was costly and dangerous, being caught meant instant death.

Answer 2

Some did, but there were devote ones who did not want to deny God. Also another factor was geography, the Nazis would go into Jewish areas and round everyone up.

Another issue is the Nazi's had a 'criteria' to spot Jews, anyone who fitted into it was classes as a Jew and treated accordingly.

Another interesting fact that one very famous WW2 figure had a Jewish heritage that was hidden from the public - Adolf Hitler.

Answer 3

If there was reason to be suspicious of a person it wouldn't of made a difference how much they protested otherwise.

Grandchildren of Jews who for one reason or another chose not to become Jews and had taken up other religions were also taken to concentration camps.

Irene Nemirovsky was an author of the period, her parents left Russia robbed of their riches with their family during the revolution by the Jewish bankers. Irene had Jewish heritage though she moved to France and was always Catholic, she is often reported as being anti-Semitic in this modern day world and had several stories published in known anti-semitic magazines, whether she was or not only she will have ever known. She was taken abruptly and eventually ended up in Auswitch, her husband fought for her release along with the help of friends to no avail, he was also disconnected from the Jewish, though he suffered the same fate and was taken to Auswitch and died, where his wife had a month earlier. Her children were also at risk despite only ever been raised as French and catholic were also threatened, though the close work from friends saved them from a fate possibly worse than if not death.

I'm afraid an answer of "Me sir? No sir. Christian, sir."
Would not have saved many.

Answer 4

Firstly, they didn't believe or comprehend what was going to happen to them, and when they were instructed to sew a Star of David on their clothing, did so, hoping that would be sufficient*. Secondly, many Jews in Poland etc lived in clearly defined ghettos or shetls and it would have been no good to pretend not to be Jewish. Thirdly, so fas as Germany was concerned, the Nazis were very thorough in chasing back through people's genealogy to find any element of Jewishness. (I have a Jewish great-grandmother on one side of the family, but otherwise have no connection with Jewry. However, I think that one-eighth Jewish blood would have been enough to condemn me). Fourthly, people don't give up their sense of identity or day to day customs very easily. Jews continued to attend synagogue and it would have been very easy for the Nazis to have stationed men outside taking names of those going in (as indeed they may well have done, I don't know)

*To Alison G. It was in Denmark where everyone from the King downward wore the Star of David as a gesture of defiance.

Answer 5

And deny their religion, culture and heritage?

Jews were a part of the establishment prior to WW2 so were well known. To turn round and then deny just that would a) be inplausible and not believed and b) denying their faith - something that a lot of people woiuld struggle with.

Part c) was also the jews not anticipating the actions of the Nazis.

Answer 6

They did. They often denied, however, most were registered as jews ("Jude" in german) on their documents; if someone was suspected of being a jew, he was asked to say the "Holy Father", a prayer that obviously the jews didn' t know. If by some reason they knew it, they were asked to undress to be checked for circumcision. If they were circumcised, they were recognized as jews and shot. I hope I have helped you, bye.

Answer 7

Semites(jews) are a race. It's more subtle than skin color, but you can use measurements and heritage to find out if someone's not Aryan. Certain attributes of the brow, head, nose, teeth and other parts can show whether or not someone is jewish. Also, race and/or religion was listen on birth certificates and passports at the time, so it was practically tacked onto your name as well. In short, they couldn't.

Answer 8

I know the Jehovah's Witnesses didn't deny their religion. They would rather obey God than Man. I'm sure the Jews felt similar.

Answer 9

I am not sure, maybe they wanted to practise their religion and that meant going to the synagogue when there wasn't a curfew. I also heard I can't remember where it was that everyone would wear the Star of David - so they couldn't tell them apart.

Answer 10

looked like jews, it was alredy recorded, some did, but some orthodox would corsider it better to die than to convert, but some did pretend, unfortun ately not thet simple was it?