During World War I, German Jewish women played a vital role in the German resistance to Hitler. Most of them came from the political left. They joined with other women and non-Jews in campaigns for further rights. However, anti-Semites were still able to attack German Jews as a result. They were also more vulnerable in Eastern Europe. These women were especially at risk of deportation or expulsion from their countries.
A significant part of this resistance was the efforts of a group of women who became involved in social work. This became a way for German Jewish women to find commonality and forge solidarity. They shared plain war rolls and received help from non-Jews. They also received financial support from Zionist organizations outside of Germany. The group also worked to undermine the Nazi government. They encouraged Jewish workers to slow down production and defied curfews. They also painted anti-Hitler slogans on fences and walls in Berlin. They also printed leaflets to recruit people.
Another group was made up of young, unmarried Jews. They met in secret and worked to undermine the Nazi government. They were guided by an ideology and friendship. They received help from non-Jews and acted in an organized manner. They worked to save Jewish children from deportation. They also helped other Jews to leave the country. They used a group called the Chug Chaluzi.
There were a number of women who participated in the Chug Chaluzi. They included Edith Wolff, who worked on behalf of the children. She had to persuade Jizchak Schwersenz to join the group. She also helped her friends to leave the country. In August 1942, Jizchak went into hiding to protect her children. Her husband was ill with a heart complaint during the early years of the war.
Another important group of German Jewish women was the Jewish Friends of Berlin (JFB). The group's leader was Rahel Straus. Rahel was born into a middle class family in Karlsruhe. She worked in a medical practice during the First World War, and later married a lawyer. She was involved in the Jewish Friends of Berlin and later moved to Jerusalem. She also wrote memoirs for her children. She received death threats, twice. She was elected to the Reichstag in 1920. She was a member of the SPD and returned to the party in 1922.
Another important group of German Jewish women involved in the revolution was the Chug Chaluzi. They worked together to create shelters for Jews in hiding and to help other Jews to escape. They also gathered together to study Hebrew, English, and Jewish history. They also participated in political discussions and studied Jewish literature. Their meetings were held on Tuesdays and Fridays. They also analyzed the Hebrew Bible.
Another group was made up of middle-class Jewish women. They were attempting to integrate into German society. They were trying to secure suffrage and gain political power. They also worked on behalf of the JFB and were involved with war work. Their work was seen as a means to demonstrate their service to their nation.
Sunday, November 27, 2022