WWII: A German Family's Desperate Moment

Questions and Answers

Moving to a new house

Killing the entire family (correct)

Leaving Germany

Starting a new business

Economic crisis

Punishment from the Nazi government

Revenge from the Allies (correct)

Invasion from neighboring countries

Fishing

Singing old children's songs (correct)

Hunting

Camping

His father's bloody uniform Signup and view all the answers

Because he was afraid his mother might poison him Signup and view all the answers

To make Germany into a mighty power Signup and view all the answers

They committed suicide collectively Signup and view all the answers

An International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

In 1945, 11-year-old Helmuth overheard his parents discussing suicide due to fear of revenge by the Allies.
His father, a prominent physician and Nazi supporter, feared revenge for what the Nazis had done to the crippled and Jews.
The father took Helmuth on a final outing to the woods, where they sang old children's songs together.
The father later shot himself in his office, and Helmuth witnessed the burning of his bloody uniform in the family fireplace.
The traumatic event led Helmuth to refuse eating at home for 9 years, fearing his mother might poison him.

Nazism was a system of ideas about the world and politics, not just isolated acts.
Adolf Hitler's ambition was to make Germany a mighty power and conquer all of Europe.
Hitler's determination led to the killing of Jews and other atrocities.
In April 1945, Hitler, his propaganda minister Goebbels, and their families committed suicide in Hitler's Berlin bunker.
In May 1945, Germany surrendered to the Allies.
The International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg was established to prosecute Nazi war criminals for crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
The tribunal prosecuted Nazi officials for their conduct during the war, particularly their actions towards the crippled and Jews.