Introduction
Klemperer Victor drafted his diary “I Will Bear Witness”, to show the way in which Nazi regime condemned Jewish and other groups. It was unusual experience to the Jewish community during the twelve years rule by Hitler Adolf. The diary of Victor Klemperer showed holocaust experience when the Jews community were condemned and dehumanized in Germany.
Actually, the diary explained the horrible situation which Klemperer Victor had undergone during condemnation of his Jews community. In 1933, Klemperer Victor began to write his diary and proceeded to draft it till the end of Second World War in 1945[1].
Indeed, Klemperer managed to survive simply because he was a husband to a baptized Aryan. Nevertheless, Klemperer was compelled to put on the star and was horribly mistreated by Germans. Though, Eva (Klemperer‘s wife) never put on the star, she suffered a lot of difficulties just like her husband. In addition, each day Klemperer and his family struggled to look for daily meal in order to survive. Surely, Klemperer’s family lived under great fear since they would t be captured and persecuted by the Nazi regime.
Indeed, Klemperer kept his document under severe risk since if the diary were to be discovered by the Nazi party, and then definitely Klemperer would be deported and murdered. Moreover, Klemperer aimed at two priorities.
First, he intended to record all injustices he and his family had undergone. Secondly, he wanted to deviate from monotony of normal life in his society. The diary explained that Klemperer manage to survive through determination to life, to act within his capability, in fact not to withdraw or to give up from what he wanted1
Klemperer, who was a professor, felt the importance of involvement in many occupations as a way to remain sane. In fact, he engaged in many activities such as involving in studies and providing for his family. However, Klemperer’s commitment was interfered with when he was compelled to shovel snow together with other Jews people. Indeed, the task was really horrible for him because of his advanced age. Klemperer performed the task for some time after which was freed, and thus led his usual life.
Furthermore, Klemperer’s family encountered health complications, and the matter was made worst when they could not seek medical attention since people’s movement was restricted in Germany. Indeed, the Nazi regime suppressed their movement and freedom. For example, when moving from one house to another, the Jews people were only allowed to take things that could be accommodated in a suitcase and anything that could be carried on their back1.
In 1943, Klemperer was compelled to do labor task that discouraged him greatly. However, the task was not cumbersome, but was boring and monotonous. Indeed, he suffered the punishment that he was given in a factory firm. Actually, Klemperer performed labor task for more than one year. In 1945, Jews people, who practiced mixed marriages, were forced to do labor task and later were deported out of the nation.
Moreover, unknown armed groups succeeded to bomb Dresden. Fortunately, Klemperer’s family survived. In fact, they managed to locate to another house in order to hide from the Nazi party. Among the Jews community who lived at Dresden, only Klemperer and a few people managed to survive the bombing incident. Indeed, Klemperer was one of the holocaust survivors during persecution of Jews people in Germany1.
Actually, Klemperer’s diary shows how people should appreciate determination put forth by Klemperer in order to survive in a life challenging situation. Indeed, it is a positive experience that could be learned when Klemperer never give up despite the war-situation became worst.
For example, Klemperer’s family managed to persevere when basic commodities could not be found in their surrounding. In fact, it was time when the Nazi party rationed commodities to Jewish community and other opposition groups. In addition, non- Jewish communities also suffered because impacts of the war affected them too. For example, food rationing led to escalation of commodities prices.
In his diary, Klemperer accepted to lead a positive life toward whatever agony that he and Jewish people had undergone. Klemperer was responsible person who looked for several survival ways. Moreover, non-Jewish persons who lived at Dresden were empathetic to Jewish community. However, such non-Jewish people (Germans) did not offer direct support to Jews people because they feared Nazi party to condemn them.
Indeed, the fact was that, not all Germans were bad people, and such attitude really encouraged Klemperer to search for good. Actually, Klemperer realized that if people, regardless of their background, could lead a compassionate and rational life, then they would be humane, indeed, to support life. Such situation indicated that several Germans were wiling to abandon Nazi’s attitude of conflict, and surely intended to end violence in Germany.
Conclusion
Klemperer’s diary is actually important in order to understand the holocaust experience in Germany, and how such violence should be avoided not to happen again. In fact, the diary explained what really occurred and thus could not be replicated. Therefore, as a survivor of the holocaust experience, Klemperer acted wisely to account for what he actually experienced in life. Indeed, Klemperer was wise enough to keep the document under great risk, knowing how it would be important in the community later.
Bibliography
Rosen, Philip., & Apfelbaum, Nina. Bearing Witness: A Resource Guide to Literature, Poetry, Art, Music, and Video by Holocaust Victims and Survivors (Westport: Greenwood Press, 2002), 5-10.
Footnotes
- Rosen, Philip., & Apfelbaum, Nina. Bearing Witness: A Resource Guide to Literature, Poetry, Art, Music, and Video by Holocaust Victims and Survivors (Westport: Greenwood Press, 2002), 5.