Number the Stars & the Holocaust

August 28, 1943 - A ban on people assembling in public, outlawing strikes, and a curfew was established in Denmark, under German rule, with the death penalty introduced for cases of sabotage.

August 29 - When the Danish government refused to comply, the Germans officially dissolved it and instituted martial law.

When World War 2 began in 1939, Denmark declared itself neutral, but they were occupied by the Germans in 1940, during Operation Weserübung.  The Germans allowed the king and government to stay in place formally, but without any real power.  This was the state of Denmark until 1943, when the Germans fully took over the country until it was liberated at the end of the war.

Denmark was the only occupied country that actively resisted the Nazi regime and its deportation of Jewish citizens.  In September 1943, a German diplomat secretly informed Danish Resistance members that the Nazis were planning a mass deportation of Jews.  This afforded them much-needed time to rescue and move as many Jewish citizens as possible ahead of time...

Our spine read for this unit is:

• Number the Stars (Lois Lowry)
• As the German troops begin their campaign to "relocate" all the Jews of Denmark, Annemarie Johansen’s family takes in Annemarie’s best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her as part of the family.Through the eyes of ten-year-old Annemarie, we watch as the Danish Resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark, nearly seven thousand people, across the sea to Sweden. The heroism of an entire nation reminds us that there was pride and human decency in the world even during a time of terror and war.

Check out the Jewish Studies bundle here!

Get the unit, along with the entire World History Bundle!

Includes ten unit studies (plus a bonus!) covering World History. Each unit addresses a new topic, spanning from Ancient Hawaii to modern-day. There is also a study of archaeological concepts. Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.

• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.

These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

Product samples:   Motel of the Mysteries & Encounter

Includes:

• Motel of the Mysteries
• Island Boy
• Encounter
• The Odyssey
• A Loyal Foe
• Indigo Girl
• Gold Rush Girl
• Around the World in 80 Days
• Number the Stars
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• House of the Seven Gables (bonus)

Get the entire World War 2 Bundle!

Includes:

• 
  The Book Thief
• We Were There at the Battle of Britain
• Number the Stars
• The Winged Watchmen
• We Were There at Pearl Harbor
• We Were There at the Battle of Bataan
• Island War
• Red Stars
• The Night Witches
• Mare’s War
• We Were There at the Normandy Invasion
• Code Talkers
• We Were There at the Battle of the Bulge
• The Light Between Us
• We Were There at the Open of the Atomic Era
• A Merry 1940s Christmas

Product samples:

• We Were There at the Opening of the Atomic Era
• Have Yourself a Vintage Little Christmas