by Carol Matas Study Guide Written by Ellen Gabor
1. disoriented - 3 2. rucksack - 4 3. emigrate - 5 4. retorted - 5 5. boycotted - 8 6. chancellor - 9 7. illustrate - 12 8. inferiority - 12 9. taunted - 16 10. visas - 19 11. flushed - 20 12. socialist - 25 13. console - 30 14. consulate - 33 15. deported - 34 16. defied - 35 17. trudge - 35 18. prudently - 41 19. habitable - 41 20. defiance - 43 21. resistance - 43 22. supplement - 43 23. frugal - 44 24. apprenticeship - 44 25. frail - 47 26. squalor - 51 27. beriberi - 51 28. scurvy - 51 29. indignant - 53 30. proficient - 54 31. prolongs - 56 32. camaraderie - 59 33. scavenge - 62 34. pilfering - 65 35. ecstatic - 66 36. eloquent - 70 37. jarring - 74 38. eradicating - 81 39. deluded - 82 40. bartered - 92 41. savagely - 92 42. sabotaged - 96 43. delirious - 100 44. ornate - 107 45. dismantle - 110 46. opulence - 112 47. ingenuity - 119 48. anguish - 123 49. gingerly - 127 50 bestial - 131
What do you and your classmates already know about the Holocaust? Write down the information.
What additional information do you want to learn?
Chapter 1 1. Who is telling the story? What is this point of view called? 2. What year is it when Daniel and his family are traveling on a train? 3. What year was Daniel born? 4. How do we learn about Daniel's life in 1933? 5. What have you learned about each of the following people? Uncle Peter Aunt Leah Friedrich David Uncle Walter Mr. Schneider Daniel's mother Daniel's father Mrs. Werner 6. Why is "Jew" written across Daniel's father's hardware store? 7. What is the "master race?" 8. What is Adolph Hitler's wish? 9. What is a boycott? 10. Why do some Germans admire Hitler?
Life in Frankfurt in the 1930s http://www.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/microsoft%20word%20-%205861.pdf Frankfurt is a main city in western Germany. In 1933, more than 26,000 Jews lived in Frankfurt, making the city the second largest Jewish community in Germany. As soon as the Nazis rose to national power in January 1933, the Jews of Frankfurt, like Jews all over Germany, were subjected to discrimination. The city's Jewish mayor was immediately kicked out of office and many Jewish workers were fired from their jobs. The Nazis in Frankfurt began their anti-jewish boycott earlier than the rest of the country, and continued boycotting Jewish enterprises after the official one-day boycott of April 1. The Jews of Frankfurt responded to their community's seriously deteriorating economic circumstances by establishing a widespread welfare system. By 1935, almost 20 percent of the Jews in Frankfurt were being assisted by the welfare network. The Jewish community also boosted morale by setting up its own cultural activities, including a symphony, theater groups, and sports programs. During the Kristallnacht pogrom of November 9--10, 1938, many of the city's synagogues were burnt down, Jewish stores were attacked and pillaged, and homes were ransacked. The Frankfurt yeshiva was also destroyed. Soon, thousands of Jews were arrested and over 2,000 were sent to Buchenwald. The grave violence led many Jews to flee the country, and by May 1939, only about 14,000 Jews were left in Frankfurt. Just a few months after World War II broke out in September 1939, the Gestapo began the Aryanization process of confiscating Jewish property. The Frankfurt municipality bought Jewish community property for much less than its true worth, and the Jewish cemeteries were vandalized. In March 1941 Jews were made to do forced labor, and in October, the first Jews were deported to Lodz. On November 11, 1,052 Jews were sent to Minsk, and another 902 were deported to Riga on November 22. During 1942, 2,952 Jews from Frankfurt were sent to Theresienstadt. More Jews were deported eastward in late 1942 and throughout 1943. The last transport of Jews from Frankfurt was transferred to Theresienstadt in January 1944. Altogether, only 600 Jews from Frankfurt survived the war.
Go to the following link to read about Kristallnacht. Write down 10 new facts that you learned. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/holocaust/peopleevents/pandeamex99.html Draw a picture of what that night might have looked like.
Chapter 2 Write down 11 actions taken against Daniel's family and other Jews in Germany.
Chapter 2 - Answer Key Write down 11 actions taken against Daniel's family and other Jews in Germany. They were no longer citizens. Teachers were fired from their jobs. Daniel was forced out of his public school. Jews could not marry Germans. They were no longer allowed to vote. They could not attend concerts. They were no longer allowed to eat in restaurants. Jew could not swim in public pools. Uncle Walter was fired from the Frankfurt Symphony. There were posters describing how terrible the Jews were. There were movies about how disgusting the Jews were.
Chapter 3 1. Why was Uncle Peter sent to Dachau? 2. Why does Daniel decide to learn everything he can about photography? 3. What is the purpose of the picture album? 4. Describe what "racial purity" means. 5. When does father realize that his family must leave the country? 6. To what does "Jew For Sale" refer? 7. Why did Oma Miriam make a Hitler Youth uniform for Daniel? 8. Concerning the uniform, do you think Miriam did the right thing or the wrong thing? Explain your opinion. 9. Why did Daniel put the uniform away? 10. What happened to Oma Miriam? 11. Discuss how Daniel's family has been impacted by the Nazis. Recall what has happened to many of his family members.
Chapter Four 1. Pretend you are Aunt Leah and Daniel had just brought in the parcel that the postman had delivered. Write a narrative about this incident. Be sure to speak in Aunt Leah's voice. 2. Why couldn't Daniel see his future anymore? 3. What caused Daniel to start feeling well again? 4. What law was passed in September? 5. Why do you think this step was taken? 6. What happened in October? 7. What happened at the market hall? 8. Why did Daniel cry? 9. In what ways is Daniel defiant? 10. What is a ghetto?
Chapter 5 Write Down Either the Cause or the Effect A hundred people are packed in a freight car. At first, Daniel and his family had food to eat. In Lodz, there was not enough food and no sanitation. Georg got frosbite that became infected Auntie Anna died.
Father was a World War I hero. Daniel and his family learned what was happening during the war. The family was able to buy vegetables and canned meat. The police came for Oma Rachel Some of the children had to be hidden. Aunt Leah refused to leave her children. Daniel sees the world as an evil place where bad things happen.
Chapter 5 - Answer Key Write Down Either the Cause or the Effect The Jews are being taken from Frankfurt to Lodz. A hundred people are packed in a freight car. Before they left, Mother insisted that they take food. At first, Daniel and his family had food to eat. In Lodz, there was not enough food and no sanitation. People died in the streets. Georg got frosbite that became infected He died in his sleep. She lost the will to live and got thinner and thinner. Auntie Anna died.
Father was a World War I hero. He and his family got their own apartment. They were exempt from the tranport. Daniel's father brought a radio in the ghetto. Daniel and his family learned what was happening during the war. Every family member had a job and earned money. The family was able to buy vegetables and canned meat. She had been sick and in the hospital. The police came for Oma Rachel The Germans were taking children away who were too weak. Some of the children had to be hidden. Aunt Leah refused to leave her children. Aunt Leah and her children were shot. Daniel sees the world as an evil place where bad things happen. Daniel's belief in God waivers.
The Lodz Ghetto http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/holocaust/lodz.html Read the introduction, Background, and Getting the Ghetto Started. Write down 3 new facts you have learned. Read about Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski. To what does "The Autonomy of the Ghetto" refer Read the remainder of the article and answer the following questions Describe Rumkowski's work plan. Describe the Jews' feelings toward Rumkowski. Describe the hunger in the ghetto. What happened on Dec. 10, 1941? Describe what happened at Chelmo and Auschwitz.
Chapter 6 Imagine that you are Daniel. Erika has just stormed into the house and introduced you to her friend, Rosa. After seeing her and then spending time with her in her house with her friends, you decide you must write her a letter. In this letter, Daniel conveys his feelings toward her, her books, and her friends. Let's see how romantic you can be!
Chapter 7 Write T for True and F for False 1. Erika is in the orchestra at the age of thirteen. 2. There was no enjoyment inside the ghetto. 3. Daniel and Rosa were together for only one year in the ghetto. 4. Rosa and Daniel talked about a lot of ways to survive. 5. The children did not want to go to Palestine. They wanted to return to Germany. 6. Two children were being cheated by their father. 7. The cheating father was called the "Avenger." 8. Rosa and Daniel "do the right thing." 9. Daniel's father kept the family well-fed. 10. Death became a familiar thing. 11. Daniel and his family were too scared to take any risks. 12. It's too cold and Mother dies from pneumonia. 13. Rosa has a sunny disposition. 14. Daniel gave a portion of his bread to Rosa. 15. From 1940 to 1943, half of the people living in the ghetto died.
Chapter 7 - Answer Key Write T for True and F for False 1. T Erika is in the orchestra at the age of thirteen. 2. F There was no enjoyment inside the ghetto. 3. F Daniel and Rosa were together for only one year in the ghetto. 4. T Rosa and Daniel talked about a lot of ways to survive. 5. F The children did not want to go to Palestine. They wanted to return to Germany. 6. T Two children were being cheated by their father. 7. F The cheating father was called the "Avenger." 8. T Rosa and Daniel "do the right thing." 9. F Daniel's father kept the family well-fed. 10.T Death became a familiar thing. 11. F Daniel and his family were too scared to take any risks. 12. F It's too cold and Mother dies from pneumonia. 13. T Rosa has a sunny disposition. 14. T Daniel gave a portion of his bread to Rosa. 15. T From 1940 to 1943, half of the people living in the ghetto died.
Chapter 8 Complete these paragraphs with details from the chapter. Do not copy sentences directly from the book. There was corruption in the soup kitchen at Rosa's factory. Rosa fears for their future. They received good and bad news in June, 1944. Erika strongly voices her opinion about life.
Chapter 9 Imagine that you are Daniel. You have been taken from the Lodz Ghetto and have arrived at Auschwitz. You have gone through the ordeal of your first day and are now managing to write a quick summary of the day's events before falling asleep. The note will be kept in your boot. Include the details from the chapter.
Chapter 10 1. Find out more about "Canada." http://jewishcurrents.org/february-6th-the-inventory- 14754. Make a list of 5 items that were stored there. 2. Name four concentration camps. 3. What is a kapo? 4. What two activities were being completed which were at odds with each other?, 5. Describe the usual daily routine. 6. As Daniel marched to work, whom did he see? 7. Why were so many Jews allowed to live in Auschwitz? 8. Describe some of the punishments given out by the Germans. 9. From where did most of the work crew come? 10. Why did Father weep for both sadness and joy?
Chapters 11 & 12 1. Describe Erika's change of attitude from despair to hope. 2. Describe the "resistance," its purpose, its urgency, and Daniel's role in it. 3. Why is Adam set on revenge? 4. What caused Daniel to nearly end it all? 5. Why was it important that the victims know nothing? 6. Why was it important that Father keep up his bartering business? 7. How did Adam choose to die? 8. How was it possible that Daniel was able to recover from typhus? 9. Why did Father's feelings about God change? 10. Describe the march from Auschwitz to Buchenwald.
Chapters 13 & 14 Write T for True and F for False 1. Daniel's journey has lasted two years. 2. Since Buchenwald was not a "death camp," very few people died. 3. Even the inmates fought with each other. 4. Daniel learned that he and his father were to be part of the resistance. 5. Daniel and his father took part in building a new gas chamber. 6. Many of the Jews were able to sabotage the Nazis' plans. 7. There was hope that the Allies would liberate them. 8. People were killed for minor mistakes. 9. The Germans wanted the world to know and appreciate what they had done. 10. Daniel could not understand why the resistance was not doing more to help. 11. The Jews were afraid to read the Haggadah during Passover. 12. A rebellion was successful. 13. Daniel was willing to die for a cause. 14. Both Father and Daniel showed compassion even though they wanted revenge. 15. Father was killed during the rebellion.
Chapters 13 & 14 - Answer Key Write T for True and F for False 1. F Daniel's journey has lasted two years. 2. F Since Buchenwald was not a "death camp," very few people died. 3. T Even the inmates fought with each other. 4. T Daniel learned that he and his father were to be part of the resistance. 5. F Daniel and his father took part in building a new gas chamber. 6. T Many of the Jews were able to sabotage the Nazis' plans. 7. T There was hope that the Allies would liberate them. 8. T People were killed for minor mistakes. 9. F The Germans wanted the world to know and appreciate what they had done. 10. T Daniel could not understand why the resistance was not doing more to help. 11. F The Jews were afraid to read the Haggadah during Passover. 12. T A rebellion was successful. 13. T Daniel was willing to die for a cause. 14. T Both Father and Daniel showed compassion even though they wanted revenge. 15. F Father was killed during the rebellion.
Chapter 15 ANTI-SEMITISM DID NOT DIE WITH THE LIBERATION OF THE CAMPS. Describe the incident in this chapter that supports the above statement. Do you think Anti-Semitism is still an issue in the 21st century? Support your answer with some research.
Chapter 16 1. Why was it so important that surviving Jews travel to Palestine after the war? 2. Why did Father stay behind while Daniel went looking for Rosa? 3. Daniel will go to Palestine on one condition. What was it? 4. What did Daniel learn about Erika and Friedrich? 5. Why do Daniel and Rosa consider themselves fortunate? 6. Why is it important that people remember the Holocaust? 7. If you had been a survivor, what would you want to do as soon as you were able? 8. Anne Frank once said, "Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart." What do you think? 9. What genre is Daniel's Story? 10. Why is it categorized that way?
What Have You Learned? Go back to the pages where you wrote down things you wanted to know. Have you learned the answers? Write down all the information you have learned from reading this story.
Imagine that you are an American soldier and have helped to liberate a concentration camp. You have been given the assignment of reporting to the world what you have witnessed. You will give this report over the radio. Write the report which he will read over the airwaves.
What will be the future of the remaining characters? Tell about Friedrich, Father, Daniel, and Rosa.
You will make a photo album of your life. Find pictures of you or of your relatives that show happy times in your life. Paste each picture on a piece of paper. Under each picture, tell a story about it. OR If you cannot find any photos, describe some pictures you have in your mind of happy times you have had.
Answer Key Chapter 1 1. Daniel - first person narrative 2. 1941 3. 1927 4. through the description of pictures 5. Uncle Peter - Daniel's favorite uncle, family photographer, married to Auntie Leah, had 4 children, happy, smiling Aunt Leah - married to Uncle Peter, had 4 children, Daniel's mother's sister Friedrich - Uncle Peter and Auntie Leah's son, a year younger than Daniel, strict David - Mother's younger brother, an engineer, a bachelor Uncle Walter - Father's brother, believed all Jews should move to Palestine Mr. Schneider - Daniel's teacher, mean, stupid Daniel's mother - urged Daniel to behave, more lenient than Auntie Leah, loving, worked in the back of the shop doing accounting Daniel's father - does not feel the need to move to Palestine, owns a hardware store, gave good advice Mrs. Werner - 90 years old, Father's customer, courageous, wasn't Jewish 6. so the Germans could boycott the stores 7. a pure German, 8. to clear Europe of all those who are not pure German 9. to block people from shopping in that store. 10. People think Hitler will make Germany strong again after WW I. Chapter 3 1. Years before he had parked illegally and pleaded guilty. Now he was arrested for something that had happened six years earlier. 2. To honor his Uncle Peter who had been the unofficial family photographer. 3. to remember good and bad memories of his life. The picture album is the way the reader finds out about events from the past. 4. In order to achieve a pure-white German race, they had to be able to identify those who were not pure. 5. Father had been arrested but had bribed his way out. 6. It was a way of getting rid of Jews but nobody wanted them. Each country had a quota. 7. so he could fit into society without being singled out or afraid. 8. opinion 9. He realized he couldn't pretend to be someone he wasn't. He wanted to be true to himself. 10. She killed herself. 11. recalling details Chapter 4 1. writing a narrative 2. Everything he had hoped to do were banned to Jews. There was no one left for him. 3. It was summer, he had friends, Erika felt better and brought friends over. time was passing. 4. Jews were forced to wear yellow stars. 5. drawing conclusions 6. Jews were to be deported. 7. Thousands were crowded into the Market Hall. They were searched and were afraid to be beaten. 8. He couldn't protect his mother, sister, and aunt. 9. He kept taking pictures and didn't follow the rules. 10. It is where persecuted people are herded together and kept from the outside world. Research New Facts The ghetto would be selfsufficient. The Jews would work to support themselves. The amount of food given to each prisoner depended on the work he did. Rumkowski was in charge of the good. They were suspicious of him because people were starving and getting sick. The food was rationed and scarce. Hunger was the biggest problem. It was another way that Jews would die. People were being deported to Chelmno. They were death camps where Jews and other despised groups were killed on a large scale.
Chapter 10 1. research 2. Buchenwald, Chelmno, Auschwitz, Dachau 3. A prisoner or criminal who was put in charge in Auschwitz. 4. building more barracks and dismantling machinery 5. recalling details 6. Erika 7. to do all the work 8. remembering facts 9. Hungary 10. He was sad about Mother but happy about Erika. Chapters 11 & 12 1. When she thought she was the only family member left, she was filled with despair. Once she saw Father and Daniel, she had some hope. 2. It is a group of Jews who planned secret strategies against the Nazis. Daniel was asked to take pictures of the camp as evidence of the mass killings in Auschwitz. The pictures would be smuggled to the outside world. It was urgent because the Nazis were speeding up the destruction of the Jews and others groups. 3. His little sister was murdered. 4. He saw the fire pit filled with corpses. 5. They had to be kept in the dark or they might revolt. 6. He could get food in exchange. 7. By trying to kill as many Answer Key Nazis as possible before he was gunned down. He wanted to die fighting. 8. Daniel was allowed to recuperate in the barracks and was taken off the work detail. 9. He believed in God because he felt that Daniel's mother (her spirit) nurtured Daniel back to health. 10. People who were too weak to walk, died on the way. They supported one another. They slept outside in freezing weather. Chapter 16 1. to establish a place that will be a home for Jews where they can be safe 2. He wanted Peter to have a proper burial and also to find any records of his family. 3. that Rosa will go with him 4. Erika died and Friedrich survived. 5. They are both alive, and so many of Daniel's family are alive. 6. so it is not repeated 7. personal 8. opinion 9. historical fiction 10. The characters are fictional but it is based on events that actually happened.