Context brings the brightest minds to your living room with perspective-shifting online lectures.

Jewish Resistance, Persistence, and Revenge During the Third Reich with Dr. Finn Ballard

Jewish Resistance, Persistence, and Revenge During the Third Reich with Dr. Finn Ballard


Love this expert? Subscribe to Finn Ballard's Club to have unlimited access. Already subscribed? Use your discount code to purchase new lectures and access recordings via your portal.

No events are scheduled at this time. Want to be notified when it’s back? Click the blue button to the right and we’ll notify you.

Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

Led by an expert on the Third Reich historical era, Dr. Finn Ballard, this interactive seminar will illuminate a chapter of history that often goes unread. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased understanding of the myriad efforts made by Jewish people to resist and outlive the Nazi regime.
During this 90-minute seminar, we will investigate the history of the formidable (though often unsung) heroes and heroines of Jewish resistance to National Socialism, both in Germany and abroad, from shtetls to capital cities and all the way to the death camps. 
Together we will examine how seemingly minor acts of resistance could bring about fatal consequences, as happened for the young members of the Baum Group –– Berliner Jews put to death for damaging one of the Nazis' numerous racist expositions. 
Throughout our time together, we will take a deep dive into the historical context of: 
  • the Warsaw Ghetto uprising - and others
  • the armed partisans of Eastern Europe
  • the production of underground newspapers and the international network of Jewish people determined to prevail
  • the resistance efforts which occurred, against all odds, in the camps of Treblinka, Sobibor, and Auschwitz
Finally, our expert will explain the stories of remarkable figures such as Abba Kovner, Hannah Szenes, and the members of the British Army's Jewish Brigade. And we will examine the post-War Nokmim (avengers) whose resistance efforts did not cease on VE Day.

Finn grew up in Northern Ireland before moving to England to study and later teach in the department of Film and Literature at the University of Warwick. He completed his doctoral study on German folklore and popular cinema in 2012, and has published extensively in the fields of Film Studies and Gender Studies. Since 2008, he has been living and guiding in Berlin. He now works as a historical advisor for television and film productions set in Berlin, particularly during the Weimar era or Third Reich. He is a journalist for the 'Siegessauele', Europe's foremost Queer magazine, and organises events at Berlin's English-language bookstore 'Another Country'.

Not suitable for children under age 13 (sensitive content).

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 30 reviews
93%
(28)
3%
(1)
0%
(0)
3%
(1)
0%
(0)
S
Stephen Aronson (Orléans, CA)
Excellent lecturer

He is an articulate and knowledgeable speaker who brings great enthusiasm to the subject. Learned a great deal about individuals involved in Resistance. Also he provided further reading materials

T
Tara Gurber (Chicago, US)
Excellent Presentation

Finn Ballard never disappoints. This presentation like all his others was outstanding. So interesting. I learned many things I did not know. Just fascinating.

J
Jill DeMarco (Seattle, US)
Informative, engaging lecture

I love all of Finn Ballards lectures that I've seen and look forward to each new one. He does such thorough research and provides such interesting information on wide swathes of history that I knew nothing about previously. He's a very engaging speaker and encourages participation by the audience. Just marvelous lectures! I could go on and on...

J
J.D. (Seattle, US)
Informative, engaging lecture

I love all of Finn Ballards lectures that I've seen and look forward to each new one. He does such thorough research and provides such interesting information on wide swathes of history that I knew nothing about previously. He's a very engaging speaker and encourages participation by the audience. Just marvelous lectures! I could go on and on...

C
C. L. (Atlanta, US)
Fascinating window into important topic

As usual, Finn addressed a complex, troubling topic with sensitivity and humanity. He combines scholarship with memorable illustrations and broad themes with individual details. This was a fascinating window into an important aspect of the era. His suggestions for further reading and viewing are always welcome, and I have followed up on some of them in his other seminars.

Customer Reviews

Based on 30 reviews
93%
(28)
3%
(1)
0%
(0)
3%
(1)
0%
(0)
S
Stephen Aronson (Orléans, CA)
Excellent lecturer

He is an articulate and knowledgeable speaker who brings great enthusiasm to the subject. Learned a great deal about individuals involved in Resistance. Also he provided further reading materials

T
Tara Gurber (Chicago, US)
Excellent Presentation

Finn Ballard never disappoints. This presentation like all his others was outstanding. So interesting. I learned many things I did not know. Just fascinating.

J
Jill DeMarco (Seattle, US)
Informative, engaging lecture

I love all of Finn Ballards lectures that I've seen and look forward to each new one. He does such thorough research and provides such interesting information on wide swathes of history that I knew nothing about previously. He's a very engaging speaker and encourages participation by the audience. Just marvelous lectures! I could go on and on...

J
J.D. (Seattle, US)
Informative, engaging lecture

I love all of Finn Ballards lectures that I've seen and look forward to each new one. He does such thorough research and provides such interesting information on wide swathes of history that I knew nothing about previously. He's a very engaging speaker and encourages participation by the audience. Just marvelous lectures! I could go on and on...

C
C. L. (Atlanta, US)
Fascinating window into important topic

As usual, Finn addressed a complex, troubling topic with sensitivity and humanity. He combines scholarship with memorable illustrations and broad themes with individual details. This was a fascinating window into an important aspect of the era. His suggestions for further reading and viewing are always welcome, and I have followed up on some of them in his other seminars.