Rescue
For Everyone
“Rescue” in USHMM’s Holocaust Encyclopedia
“Despite the indifference of most Europeans and the collaboration of others in the murder of Jews during the Holocaust, individuals in every European country and from all religious backgrounds risked their lives to help Jews. Rescue efforts ranged from the isolated actions of individuals to organized networks both small and large.”
See also: Rescue in Denmark
“Rescuer Stories” by The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous
This resource provides stories of rescuers across Europe. More JFR resources can be found here.
For Educators
“UNIT VIII: Rescue and Righteous Among the Nations” by Echoes & Reflections
“This unit provides students with an opportunity to learn about the types of rescue that occurred in Nazi-occupied Europe and to consider the moral and ethical choices that non-Jews made in order to help Jews survive.”
This resource provides lesson plans, video testimony on rescue, student handouts, and more.
“Why Did Some Choose to Rescue?”
Activity by IWitness
Grades: 7 – 12
“This activity will focus on the choices individuals made in deciding to participate in rescue efforts with a special focus on the story of Anne Frank. After hearing from and learning about Miep Gies, one of the Frank family’s rescuers, students will hear testimony from other individuals who made choices to rescue. Students will then reflect upon a time when they made a conscious decision to help someone or when someone made a conscious decision to help them. Upon completing this activity, students will be able to recognize how and why individuals made choices to rescue and how they can apply these lessons to their lives.
This activity includes testimony from Miep Gies, Arie Van Mansum and Renee Scott and intersects with Echoes & Reflections Unit VIII: Rescue and Righteous Among the Nations.”
“The Kindertransport: History and Individual Experiences” Activity by iWitness
Grades 6 – 8
“In this activity, students will learn about the history of the Kindertransport, which rescued thousands of children from Nazi-occupied Europe. Students will watch clips of testimony from survivors who lived through this experience and will create a word cloud based on their story. By the end of this activity, students will share their work with their peers and reflect on the human impact of the Kindertransport.”
“Kindertransport: ‘From the mother who will never forget you'” Activity by iWitness
Grades 9 – 10
“In this activity, students will learn more about the Kindertransport from Nazi-occupied Europe to England, studying primary sources to understand the historical context surrounding the literary text. Students will read an excerpt from The Children of Willesden Lane, review a photo of children arriving on a Kindertransport and then watch testimony from child survivor, Vera Gissing, who shares her own experiences from her journey. By the end of this activity, students will develop a short poem about the journey taken by the passengers of the Kindertransport.”