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Jewish Resistance, Persistence, and Revenge During the Third Reich with Dr. Finn Ballard
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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.
In all of the seminars I’ve taken from Dr Ballard I have been so impressed with his breathe of knowledge, his sensitivity regarding this difficult topic and his thoroughness
what a brave and dangerous thing to resist a tyrant! Finn lays out a terrifying story of what people did to resist and he always makes his syminars wonderfully interesting
How often do you get to attend a series of lectures on anything having to do with Adolph Hitler and the Holocaust with an Irish, non-Jewish Professor who has been studying and living in Berlin for many years. Dr. Ballard presents his material with great sensitivity and respect for his audience. He is very we'll prepared and informative, wasting not a word. I look forward to attending more of his lectures.
As always, Finn's presentation was most educational - so blessed he shares his incredible knowledge with us.
As with all of Dr. Ballard's Context conversations, this one on Jewish Resistance was extremely well researched and thoughtfully presented. He gave our group background material that I had not considered before and covered all of Europe's Jewish populations.