Three Websites where I found the answers:
1. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
This website is credible because it is a ".org" that provides contact information as well as links that do work.
2. History
This well respected website is a ".com", but it has links that work correctly as well as an update on the bottom of the webpage.
3.Jewish Federation
Summary:Some non-Jews, motivated by moral concern and good will, risked their lives in order to save the lives of Jewish children. They later became known as "righteous Gentiles.”
What did I find out?
Website #1 There were many people who got together to help rescue children. "In France, three Jewish organizations made organized attempts to rescue children." (website #1). There were movements that helped transfer Jewish children from Germany to out of the country. Between 1933-1945 the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem managed to bring more than 14,000 unaccompanied children to Palestine and Britain. There were organizations in France that helped release children from internment camps and then smuggled them to safety in Switzerland or Spain. "Thanks to these efforts, as many as 12,000–15,000 Jewish children were saved from deportation and almost certain death." (website #1). Without these people, things would have been a lot different for the children, they most likely would have not made it.
Website #2 The story of Anne Frank is well-known. The people that helped her family were a small group of her father's employees and his secretary. They risked their lives to tell the Frank family about the outside world. They would smuggle food, supplies and news to them even though they knew they would get in serious trouble if caught. "The group lived in constant fear of being discovered and could never go outside." (website #2). Although they lived in constant fear, they were able to stay alive for a longer period of time than they would have if they had been asked to evacuate from their house. They lived in a secret apartment that had an entrance hidden behind a movable suitcase. After they were found Gies hid the "materials" from the Secret Annex and hid them in her desk. When Otto Frank returned, he collected them from her.
Website #3 This website tells us about the differences in trying to hide a child versus an adult, as well as the struggles of finding the family members after the war. A child is much less difficult then hiding an adult. Children were not required to carry identification, adults were. And it was a lot easier for them to blend in into non-Jewish groups that had been orphans of war. Some places that children were hidden were converts, boarding schools, and orphanages. Although it was easier to hide children, it was a scary experience for children. Children were to travel to unknown places and leaves their families and homes behind. Non-Jews risked their lives in order to save Jewish children from death. These people later became known as "righteous Gentiles".
Website #2 The story of Anne Frank is well-known. The people that helped her family were a small group of her father's employees and his secretary. They risked their lives to tell the Frank family about the outside world. They would smuggle food, supplies and news to them even though they knew they would get in serious trouble if caught. "The group lived in constant fear of being discovered and could never go outside." (website #2). Although they lived in constant fear, they were able to stay alive for a longer period of time than they would have if they had been asked to evacuate from their house. They lived in a secret apartment that had an entrance hidden behind a movable suitcase. After they were found Gies hid the "materials" from the Secret Annex and hid them in her desk. When Otto Frank returned, he collected them from her.
Website #3 This website tells us about the differences in trying to hide a child versus an adult, as well as the struggles of finding the family members after the war. A child is much less difficult then hiding an adult. Children were not required to carry identification, adults were. And it was a lot easier for them to blend in into non-Jewish groups that had been orphans of war. Some places that children were hidden were converts, boarding schools, and orphanages. Although it was easier to hide children, it was a scary experience for children. Children were to travel to unknown places and leaves their families and homes behind. Non-Jews risked their lives in order to save Jewish children from death. These people later became known as "righteous Gentiles".
Conclusion:
Were there any people that helped the Jews? -Yes
- Many children were able to survive due to organizations that helped rescue them.
- There were people who were able to hide in secret places.
- Hiding children was easier than hiding adults.