Holocaust Unit - Journal of Terror

 Day 1

                The United States has just announced that the race or religion you belong to is undesirable and not wanted anymore.  You are now looked upon with hatred and disgust.  People of the “chosen” race now spit on you and call you names anytime you are in public – even school.  How do you feel?  What is your reaction to this hatred?  How are you now going to act and react in public when you have to go out?

Day 2

                You are no longer allowed to watch television, listen to the radio, or read the newspaper.  To enforce this new law, police have ransacked your house and taken all of your radios and televisions – even the ones you had hidden.  The newspapers are no longer in operation either.  Explain what this will do to your life.  How are you going to get information about what is happening in the city and country?  How do you feel about this?

Day 3

                Pretend you are of marrying age.  You have been dating a special person for years and you are very much in love.  You decide to get married.  Well, your right to marry whomever you choose is now gone.  No longer is your race or religion allowed to marry anyone of a different race or religion and your special someone falls in this category.  You can be in serious danger if you are caught breaking this law.  What are you going to do?  How do you feel knowing you are going to have to give up your dream and the future you had planned?  Remember… the police are watching you!

Day 4

                You and your family lose your right to vote.  How do you think this will affect your particular race or religion?  How will your opinions be heard?  What will you do to make a difference?

Day 5

                It’s the middle of the school day and you are called to the cafeteria.  Upon arrival, you find other students standing around.  Finally the principal walks in and makes an announcement.  You and the other students are told that because of your race or religion, you are no longer welcome at this school.  You are told to gather your things quietly and leave immediately.  As you leave, you wave good-bye to some of your friends that are not of the same race or religion.  How do you feel about not being able to go to school, to get an education, or to socialize with your friends?  Explain what you are going to do now.

Day 6

                You and your family can no longer drive a car.  In fact, your car and all of your valuables must be turned over to the police.  You are no longer allowed to go to movies or to any type of concert either!  What do you think about this?  What will you do now?  How will you get around and what will you do for entertainment?

Day 7

                All people of your race and religion now have a curfew.  You must be in your house by 9 p.m. in the summer and    8 p.m. in the winter.  Also, you must now wear a symbol on ALL your clothes that lets people know that you are of the “undesired” people.  How do you feel about this?  Are you experiencing any kind of humiliation?  What do you think as you look out the window at night and there are others that are allowed to play and move about because the law doesn’t apply to them?  What will you do?  Describe how you feel emotionally?  Remember… the police are everywhere!

Day 8

                The police come and take away your telephones.  Also, through the “grapevine” you find out that your people are being sent away to concentration camps.  First of all, how are you going to communicate this to anyone?  Secondly, what are you feelings about going to a concentration camp?  What will you do?

Day 9

                Guess what?  You can’t leave your house without the permission of the police!  What are you going to do?  How do you feel being a prisoner in your own home?

Day 10

                You must give all of your spare clothing to the police – everything except what you have on.  You can’t visit the beauty shop or the barber.  You cannot have any pets.  Explain your feelings about the people that are doing these things to you.  How do you feel as you hand over your new clothes and your old favorites to a police officer?  How do you feel as your pets are taken away from you?  What will you do?