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Invasion of Poland/ Start of WWII
Germany invades Poland and World War II breaks out. -
Invasion of My Home
The Germans invaded Poland. They came into my home and took my wife and three children. I saw them being taken and dragged down the street as I came back from the market. I had to hide from the Germans and I saw many friends killed on the street. -
Period: to
World War II
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The Killing of Jews
In June of 1941 the Nazi SS-Einsatzgruppe begins mass murder. I hid behind trees when the Nazis took four Jews, and told them to kneel down. A young member of the Reich Labor service stood and observed the SS-Einsatzgruppe. They killed the four Jews using guns that they shot at their heads. The Nazis set the bodies on fire. -
The Fear Within Me
I was in London, and I saw a German airship in the sky. I ran in fear that they would capture me. I am so glad that I ran in the opposite direction because the Germans bombed London. The bomb did not affect me. When I looked back all I could feel is fear. -
Leaving Home
On September 1, 1941 all of the Jews were told to meet, so I went to the meeting. There were two tables set up. After waiting for ten minutes, an officer announced that the employed were to form a line on the left and the unemployed were to form a line on the right. Everyone was given a yellow star to wear. I remember the Germans telling us that we had to wear it at all times. I was scared of the Germans, so I followed their instructions. I saw many of the unemployed get forced onto a bus. Just -
Pearl Harbor
The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Japan's attack leads the U.S.A. into WWII. -
The Assasination
On June 10, 1942 after Heydrich's assassination, the Nazis liquidated Lidice because they were extremely unhappy about the assassination. I was there on business, and trying to get free fabric from an old friend. I heard the pungent sound of people’s screams on the street followed by gun shots. I looked out the window and saw furious Nazis raid the streets and murder many boys. The Nazis even invaded people’s homes to make a statement. Many people were crying and sad after the Nazis left. -
The Warsaw Ghetto
Waffen-SS attacked the Jewish resistance in the Warsaw ghetto. I had been put into it just months before. While the destruction I hid in my bunker. There was a small hole that I could look through. Many men, women, and children were taken into buses. I heard two German generals talk about how the people were being taken to the ovens. I hid in the bunker for days, and I heard the horrifying sounds of people dying. I sat in the bunker for days without any food. -
Bystander's Point of View
Reichsfuhrer Himmler gave a speech at Posen. I was not support to be there, but I had just escaped and was on the run. All of the Germans had a gathering. Himmler made a speech and I remember one part the most.
“One principle must be absolute for the SS man: we must be honest, decent, loyal and friendly to members of our blood and to no one else. What happens to the Russians, what happens to the Czechs, is a matter of utter indifference to me. Such good blood of our own kind as there may be amon -
D-Day
This was the battle for Normandy, France. This was one of the greatest battles that was to bring the war to an end. -
D-Day A Bystander's Point of View
Frank Dickenson- It was 6am on June 6th 1944 I looked out the window and saw hundreds and hundreds of airplanes. I was fifteen at this point and later on that night when I turned on the tele I saw that we received news that the allies were landing on the coast of France. This is when I knew that D-Day had arrived. -
The U.S. Marches On
On this day the United States went across the Western border of Germany, while the Soviet Union had gone across the eastern a month prior. -
Germany Surrenders
On this day Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Western Allies. -
Hiroshima and Nakasaki Bombed
The United States bombed Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Tens of thousands of people died from the explosion, but afterwards because of radiation many more died as well. -
The Soviet Union Declares War
On this day the Soviet Union declared war on Japan and invaded Manchuria. -
The Surrender Of Japan
The Japanese formerlly surrendered to the U.S. , Great Britain, ant the Soviet Union.