This week we began the story "Night" by Eli Wiesel, a holocaust survivor. He lived in Romania, in the Seghet community, with his family and jewish neighbors. World War II began in many of Romania's neighboring countries. The neighboring countries had either been invaded or allied with Germany. Life for Eli escalated very quickly in the mid 1940s. Moishe the Beadle, a friend of Eli, warns his jewish community of terrible murderous actions that the German Nazis did. However, the community thought he was either mad or wanted the pity of those in the community. Moishe was not wrong. In 1944, The Seghet community, Eli's jewish community, was forced into ghettos by the Hungarian police and Nazi officers. As they adjusted to the new life style, they were moved to a smaller ghetto. They did not stay there very long. They were then transported to a labor camp via convoy.
I am personally amazed by the fact that the Sighet community did not leave as soon as they were given some obvious signs. Neighboring countries were wither being invaded or allied by Germany. The biggest clue was when Moishe the Beadle told the community his story. Why did they stay where they were and continue on with their lives while a large war was going on? Did they not think that they could be invaded. Information outside the story tells us that during the war the people of Romania awaited the Red Army (Russians) to meet the Germans and that would eventually lead to the end of the war. However, considering the fact that Germany was becoming very large and invading much land, they should not have had so much hope in the Red Army and flee their current land. Even if the Red Army was able to encounter and stop the Germans at their western border, the people of Romania should have left just as a precaution. However, I do understand that all of this might have been hard to take in, interpret, and act upon in the short time they had. Everything escalated very quickly for Eli and his family which is why his family and his Jewish community ended up in a labor camp.
I am personally amazed by the fact that the Sighet community did not leave as soon as they were given some obvious signs. Neighboring countries were wither being invaded or allied by Germany. The biggest clue was when Moishe the Beadle told the community his story. Why did they stay where they were and continue on with their lives while a large war was going on? Did they not think that they could be invaded. Information outside the story tells us that during the war the people of Romania awaited the Red Army (Russians) to meet the Germans and that would eventually lead to the end of the war. However, considering the fact that Germany was becoming very large and invading much land, they should not have had so much hope in the Red Army and flee their current land. Even if the Red Army was able to encounter and stop the Germans at their western border, the people of Romania should have left just as a precaution. However, I do understand that all of this might have been hard to take in, interpret, and act upon in the short time they had. Everything escalated very quickly for Eli and his family which is why his family and his Jewish community ended up in a labor camp.