Between Dignity and Despair

📖 The Scoop

Focuses on the reactions of Jewish women in Germany to the shock and devastation of the "Kristallnacht" pogrom. Some were concerned at first with the damage to their homes, but soon many of them assumed a new and active role - trying (and often succeeding) to gain the release of imprisoned male relatives. This involved great mental and physical hardships, often entailing bribes and humiliation, in order to obtain the required visas and emigration papers. Earlier, the women had generally favored emigration from Germany more than their more patriotic, more "German" menfolk. Despite their leading role in regard to emigration, the women (and the elderly) comprised a disproportionate number of those who did not emigrate and were left to their fate. This circumstance was linked to a number of gender-related factors, which are also discussed.

Genre: No Category (fancy, right?)