The Boy Who Fought Hitler

    Keep picturing Ben as he steps into his apartment. His four little brothers greet him at the door. His father looks up and smiles. His mother serves a delicious dinner in their cozy dining room.

    But this is where Ben’s story takes a sharp turn. As his family eats, an evil leader is rising to power in Germany—about 300 miles away. That leader’s name is Adolf Hitler.

    At the time, Germany was struggling. It had lost World War I in 1918. The German people felt embarrassed. They felt tired and angry too. Hitler and his political party—the Nazis—used these feelings to gain power. 

    Jewish people had lived in Germany and Europe for more than a thousand years. But their religion and traditions were different from that of most Europeans. As a result, some people were prejudiced against them. 

    Hitler stood in crowded auditoriums and gave speeches filled with hateful lies about Jews. He said they could not be trusted. He blamed them for all of Germany’s problems.

    Hitler’s words spread across Europe. Soon, many people turned against their Jewish neighbors. Synagogues were destroyed, and Jewish-owned businesses were burned to the ground.

    Picture Ben as he gets home. His four little brothers greet him at the door. His father looks up and smiles. His mother serves dinner.

    Ben is happy. But his life is about to change. As his family eats, an evil leader is rising to power in Germany—about 300 miles away. That leader’s name is Adolf Hitler.

    At the time, Germany was struggling. It had lost World War I in 1918. The German people felt embarrassed. They felt tired and angry too. Hitler and his political party, the Nazis, used these feelings to gain power.

    Jewish people had lived in Germany and Europe for more than a thousand years. But their religion and traditions were different from those of most Europeans. As a result, some people were prejudiced against them.

    Hitler gave speeches filled with hateful lies about Jews. He said they couldn’t be trusted. He blamed them for Germany’s problems.

    Hitler’s words spread across Europe. People turned against their Jewish neighbors. Synagogues were destroyed. Jewish-owned businesses were burned to the ground.

    Keep picturing Ben as he steps into his apartment. His four little brothers greet him at the door, and his father looks up and smiles. His mother serves a delicious dinner in the family’s cozy dining room.

    But this is where Ben’s story takes a sharp turn. As his family enjoys their meal, an evil leader named Adolf Hitler is rising to power in Germany—about 300 miles away.

    At the time, Germany was struggling. After losing World War I in 1918, the German people felt embarrassed, tired, and angry. Hitler and his political party—the Nazis—used these feelings to gain power.

    Jewish people had lived in Germany and Europe for more than a thousand years—but because their religion and traditions were different from those of most Europeans, some people were prejudiced against them.

    Hitler stood in crowded auditoriums and gave speeches filled with hateful lies about Jews. He said they couldn’t be trusted, and he blamed them for all of Germany’s problems.

    As Hitler’s words spread across Europe, people began to turn against their Jewish neighbors. Synagogues were destroyed, and Jewish-owned businesses were burned to the ground.

    In 1939, Hitler ordered German troops to invade Poland. This started World War II. Ben was 18 at the time. 

    Very quickly, life for Poland’s Jews changed. Many were fired from their jobs. They couldn’t enter public parks or libraries. They couldn’t go out after 5 p.m. Anyone who broke these laws could be shot.

    Ben’s parents wanted to leave Poland. But the Nazis quickly took over most of Europe. Escape became impossible. 

    Then, in 1940, all the Jewish people in Warsaw were forced to move into one tiny area of the city. This area became known as the ghetto. It was surrounded by a 10-foot wall topped with barbed wire.

    Roughly 400,000 Jewish people were packed into the ghetto. Ben’s family moved into one small room. The gates to the ghetto were closed and nobody was allowed to leave. Each person was given only a tiny amount of food. 

    Ben and his family were slowly starving. It seemed like they could do nothing—except wait for death.

    In 1939, Hitler ordered German troops to invade Poland. This started World War II. Ben was 18.

    Life for Poland’s Jews changed fast. Many lost their jobs. They couldn’t enter public parks. They couldn’t go out after 5 p.m. People who broke these laws could be shot.

    Ben’s parents wanted to leave Poland. But the Nazis quickly took over most of Europe. Escape became impossible.

    Then, in 1940, all the Jewish people in Warsaw were forced to move into one small part of the city. This area became known as the ghetto. It was surrounded by a 10-foot wall topped with barbed wire.

    About 400,000 people moved into the ghetto. Ben’s family got one small room. The gates to the ghetto were closed. No one was allowed to leave. There was not much to eat. 

    Ben and his family were slowly starving. It seemed like there was nothing they could do.

    In 1939, when Ben was 18, Hitler ordered German troops to invade Poland. This started World War II.

    For Poland’s Jews, life changed quickly and dramatically. Many were fired from their jobs. They couldn’t enter public parks or libraries, and they couldn’t go out after 5 p.m. Anyone who broke these laws could be shot.

    Ben’s parents wanted to leave Poland—but the Nazis quickly took over most of Europe, and escape became impossible.

    Then, in 1940, all the Jewish people in Warsaw were forced to move into one tiny area of the city. This area, which became known as the ghetto, was surrounded by a 10-foot wall topped with barbed wire.

    Approximately 400,000 Jewish people were packed into Warsaw’s ghetto. Ben’s whole family moved into one small room. The gates to the ghetto were closed, and nobody was allowed to leave. Each person there was given only a tiny amount of food.

    Ben and his family were slowly starving. It seemed like they could do nothing—except wait for death.

    But Ben would soon learn that he could do something after all—if he dared. Tens of thousands of people were fighting back against the Nazis. They were called partisans. They worked from bases hidden deep in the thick forests of Eastern Europe.

    Some partisans were experienced fighters. Others were teenagers. They blew up factories, sabotaged railroads, and stole weapons. This affected the flow of supplies to German troops. The partisans also protected Jewish families that had escaped the ghettos. 

    One day, Ben heard about a partisan group in a forest 100 miles away. It gave him hope. With his family’s blessing, Ben snuck out and joined up.

    But there was something Ben could do. Tens of thousands of people were fighting back against the Nazis. They were called partisans. They worked from bases hidden in the forests of Eastern Europe.

    Some partisans were experienced fighters. Others were teens. They blew up factories, sabotaged railroads, and stole weapons. This affected the flow of supplies to German troops. The partisans also protected Jewish families that had escaped the ghettos.

    Ben heard about a partisan group 100 miles away. It gave him hope. With his family’s blessing, he snuck out and joined up.

    But Ben would soon learn that he could do something after all—if he dared. Tens of thousands of people were fighting back against the Nazis. These fighters, known as partisans, operated from bases hidden deep in the thick forests of Eastern Europe.

    Some partisans were experienced fighters. Others were teenagers. They blew up factories, sabotaged railroads, and stole weapons. This affected the flow of supplies to German troops. The partisans also protected Jewish families that had escaped the ghettos.

    When Ben heard about a partisan group in a forest 100 miles away, it gave him hope. With his family’s blessing, Ben snuck out and joined up.

    A few months after joining the partisans, Ben heard that his family was in trouble. He rushed back to Warsaw and was shocked by what he found. His family was sharing their single room with three other families. 

    Each week, the police rounded up more people and sent them away. None returned. There were terrible rumors. People said the Nazis were murdering Jewish people in prisons called concentration camps. 

    Ben stayed in the Warsaw ghetto for two days—sneaking in and out to steal food for his family. Then he left to join the partisans again. For the rest of his life, Ben would cry when remembering the moment he said goodbye. He would never see his family again.

    A few months after joining the partisans, Ben heard that his family was in trouble. He rushed back to Warsaw. He was shocked by what he found. His family was sharing their single room with three other families.

    Each week, the police rounded up more people and sent them away. None returned. There were scary rumors. People said the Nazis were killing Jewish people in prisons called concentration camps.

    Ben spent two days in the ghetto. He got food for his family. Then he went back to the partisans. Later, he was sad when he thought of that day. He never saw his family again.

    A few months after joining the partisans, Ben heard that his family was in trouble. He rushed back to Warsaw and was shocked to find his family sharing their single room with three other families.

    Each week, the police rounded up more people and sent them away. None returned. There were frightening rumors that the Nazis were murdering Jewish people in prisons called concentration camps.

    Ben remained in the Warsaw ghetto for two days, sneaking in and out to steal food for his family, before he left to join the partisans again. For the rest of his life, Ben would cry when remembering the moment he said goodbye. He would never see his family again.

    For the next two years, Ben fought as part of  a group of about 1,600 partisans. Often, he discovered Jewish people hiding in the forests. “Old, young, children,” Ben said. “We took them with us, and they survived the war.” 

    But others—including Ben’s family—weren’t as lucky. By 1945, 6 million Jewish men, women, and children would be dead. Nazi troops and their helpers shot them, starved them, and worked them to death in concentration camps.

    This became known as the Holocaust. 

    For the next two years, Ben was part of a group of about 1,600 partisans. He often found Jewish people hiding in the forests. “Old, young, children,” Ben said. “We took them with us, and they survived the war.”

    Others weren’t as lucky. By 1945, 6 million Jewish people would be dead. Nazi troops shot them, starved them, and worked them to death in concentration camps.

    This became known as the Holocaust. 

    For the next two years, Ben fought as part of a group of about 1,600 partisans. Often, he discovered Jewish people hiding in the forests. “Old, young, children,” Ben recalled later. “We took them with us, and they survived the war.”

    But many others—including Ben’s family—weren’t as lucky. By 1945, 6 million Jewish men, women, and children would be dead. Nazi troops and their helpers shot them, starved them, and worked them to death in concentration camps.

    This became known as the Holocaust.