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Comprehension Questions: “Parallel Journeys” Introduction – Chapter #6

Questions / Detail Notes INCLUDE PAGE #
1.  What does the quote,
“Truth can be stranger than fiction” mean? Do you agree with the statement?
2.  What was the Holocaust?
3.  What is genocide?
4.  Why were some people attracted to Adolf Hitler’s beliefs? Be specific in your explanation.
5.  How was Germany punished for its role in World War I (WWI)? How did this affect the self-image of the German people?
6.  What did NAZI stand for?
7.  Whose ideas formed the Nazi party?
8.  What did Nazis propose?
9.  What rights did the German people lose when the Nazis came to power? How did the Nazis convince the public that these rights were okay to give up? How would you feel about giving up these rights?
10. Who is Helen?
11. Explain the Nuremburg Racial Laws. How did the Jews respond to them?
12. What two countries continued to accept Jews even when others would not? Why do you think they continued to accept them?
13. “Peace is our dearest treasure.” – Adolf Hitler Explain the irony of this quote.
14.  “Our banner means more to us than death.” Last line from the oath to der Furer” Explain what you think this quote means. How does it foreshadow Germany’s future?
15.  Define
a.) jungvolk
b.) mutprobe
c.) jungmadel
16.  Why did Hitler not consider school to be important? What was more important?
17.  Describe the process a boy and a girl would go through in the jungvolk.
18.  How did the jungvolk make children feel more independent, and a crucial part of Germany? How would you feel if you were given authority during wartime?
19.  According to the Nazis, what was the most important role of girls?
20.  Why do you think German Aryans did not question or pay attention to Hitler’s hatred of the Jewish people?
21.  Define Kristallnacht. Why is it an important term?
22.  How did most Germans react to Kristallnacht? What was Hitler’s response?
23.  Why were many Jews reluctant to leave Germany? Why were many countries reluctant to accept Jews who were fleeing Germany?
24.  How was Fred Siegfried able to gain entry into the United States?
25.  How did the German Army justify the invasion of Poland?
26.  Why were they able to invade so quickly and effectively?
27.  The period after the invasion of Poland to the spring of 1940 was called the “sitting war” (sitzkrieg). Why do you think it was called this? Why do you think this might make neighboring countries even more nervous than an actual invasion?
28.  Why was the invasion of Britain canceled? What should the Nazis have learned if anything from their mistaken attacks on London? Explain.
29.  What kinds of changes did the Jews make after the Nazis invaded?
30.  What person is Parallel Journeys written in? Explain.