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Ruth's Response
Facing History and Ourselves
Background: Ellen Switzen, a student in Nazi Germany, later recalled how a classmate named
Ruth responded to attempts at isolating the Jews.
Her most arysealing qualities were her total sincerity and her willingness to share
whatever she had with a classmate in need. In the school was cold... Ruth would always tend you
her sweater she insisted that the cold air made her feel more alive. Ir you forgot your hunch,
Ruth shared hers; she was not very hungry that day, Out of the same generosity that prompted
her to share her clothing and her food, she also shared her ideas. Ruth was a dedicated Nasi.
She always had a large number of pamphlets, booklets, newsletters and other materials in
her book bags, along with her school supplies. If one wanted to discuss clothes or one's problem
with a teacher or a parent with Ruth, she was always willing to do so. But somehow, the
discussion tended to turn political... "Here, take this booklet, it will explain what I'm talking
about," she would often say pressing in our hands yet another piece of literature, which often
seemed surprisingly relevant to the problem we have been discussing...
Some of us, especially those of us who were called "non-Aryan" (and therefore,
thoroughly evil) in Ruth's booklets, often asked her how she could possibly have friends who
were Jews or who had a Jewish background, when everything she read and distributed seemed to
breathe hate against us and our ancestors. "Of course, they don't mean you," she would explain
earnestly "You are a good German. It's those other Jews, pacifists, socialists and liberals who
betrayed Germany that Hitler wants to remove from influence."...
When Hitler actually came to power and the word went out that students of Jewish
background were to be isolated, that "Aryan" Germans were no longer to associate with
"non-Aryans" (ie, those who were either Jewish or who had one Jewish ancestor, even though
they themselves were Christians), Ruth actually came around and apologized to those of us to
whom she was no longer able to talk. "The whole thing may be a misunderstanding," she
explained, "Maybe it will all be straightened out later. But meanwhile, Hitler must know what he
is doing, and I'll follow orders," Not only did she no longer speak to the suddenty ostracized
group of classmates, she carefully noted down anybody who did, and reported them.what rules of conflict is this?
