The Upstander Stories series introduces young readers (ages 8-12) to inspiring tales of courage and sacrifice from the Holocaust, highlighting the brave upstanders of the Holocaust who made a difference during this dark time.
An Upstander is the opposite of a Bystander. While Bystanders witness bad things happening to others and choose to do nothing, Upstanders, including the heroic individuals recognized as Upstanders of the Holocaust, see these same injustices and take action to help. This concept is explored in various resources, such as the Upstanders book, which highlights the bravery of those who stood up during the Holocaust.
"The Story of Otto"— a most unlikely tale— tells the shocking story of a member of the Nazi party who, while in uniform, chose to use the power it afforded him to help the endangered Jews of Bialystok, Poland. His desire to assist the Jews was fraught with risk, yet he bravely became one of the upstanders in the Holocaust, taking part in
"The Story of Otto"— a most unlikely tale— tells the shocking story of a member of the Nazi party who, while in uniform, chose to use the power it afforded him to help the endangered Jews of Bialystok, Poland. His desire to assist the Jews was fraught with risk, yet he bravely became one of the upstanders in the Holocaust, taking part in efforts to aid the Jewish resistance fighters in acquiring the materials necessary to stage an uprising against the Nazis in the Bialystok ghetto. This narrative is a powerful addition to any upstanders book, highlighting the courage of those who stood against tyranny during this dark chapter of history.
In The Story of Anna and Dr. Helmy, discover how an Egyptian doctor became one of the remarkable holocaust upstanders by saving a young Jewish girl from deportation to a concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Berlin during World War II. Dr. Mohammed Helmy risked his life every day for over two years to hide Anna Boros—then only a teenaged gi
In The Story of Anna and Dr. Helmy, discover how an Egyptian doctor became one of the remarkable holocaust upstanders by saving a young Jewish girl from deportation to a concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Berlin during World War II. Dr. Mohammed Helmy risked his life every day for over two years to hide Anna Boros—then only a teenaged girl. His courageous actions not only exemplify the role of upstanders in the holocaust but also include efforts to save Anna's mother, stepfather, and grandparents, making this an inspiring upstanders book that highlights the bravery of those who stood against oppression.
In The Story of Golda, readers will discover a courageous young Catholic man named Stachek, who worked for and befriended a Jewish businessman in Stryi, Poland. During World War II, Stachek became one of the remarkable holocaust upstanders, risking his life to save his boss's family—including their 9-month-old baby named Golda—and nearly
In The Story of Golda, readers will discover a courageous young Catholic man named Stachek, who worked for and befriended a Jewish businessman in Stryi, Poland. During World War II, Stachek became one of the remarkable holocaust upstanders, risking his life to save his boss's family—including their 9-month-old baby named Golda—and nearly 30 other Jews from the Nazis. Throughout this harrowing journey, Stachek enlisted the help of others in the community, highlighting the importance of upstanders in the Holocaust who bravely assisted in saving lives.
Deborah R.
Otto Busse was a Nazi, but he used the power of his uniform to help the Jews of Bialystok Poland resist the Nazis. He joined the Jewish resistance and helped them obtain munitions, food, medicine and batteries to stage an uprising in the ghetto. Here is the full story.
100% of the proceeds from the sale of Upstander Stories books will be donated to the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust and Humanity Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, supporting the important work of educating others about the Holocaust upstanders and the inspiring upstanders in the Holocaust.
The Holocaust, which occurred over 80 years ago, was a dark period when communities treated Jews with extreme cruelty solely because of their identity. The Jews were not engaged in theft or violence; they were simply living their lives. However, Adolf Hitler, the powerful German chancellor of the 1930s, instigated hatred against the Jews and other marginalized groups, including homosexuals, Jehovah's witnesses, and Roma (gypsies), convincing millions to join him in this unjust persecution.
Although this wave of "Jew hatred" began in Germany, it quickly spread throughout Eastern Europe, affecting nations like Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, the Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia. As the situation worsened, Jews in Eastern Europe found themselves increasingly unsafe in their own homes. Hitler's soldiers, known as Nazis, targeted Jewish businesses and synagogues, destroyed their property, and forcefully relocated Jews into overcrowded ghettos, where many families were crammed into small apartments with scarce food, water, and medical care. Life in these ghettos was horrific, leading to illness and death for many.
In response to the escalating violence, some Jews attempted to flee to safer countries. While a few succeeded, many were not so fortunate. The establishment of ghettos facilitated the Nazis' deportation of millions of Jews to concentration and labor camps, where they endured unimaginable suffering and death.
Yet, amid this tragedy, there were non-Jewish individuals who stood against the persecution of Jews. These brave people believed that the mistreatment of Jews was wrong. They empathized, thinking, "What if this were happening to my family?" Many took enormous risks to help their Jewish friends hide from the cruelty around them.
Helping the Jews was not without danger; anyone caught aiding them faced the same brutal treatment. Despite this risk, these courageous individuals chose to act, earning the title of Upstanders. They are the true heroes of the Holocaust—individuals who saw the injustices and decided to intervene safely.
Conversely, some individuals, while disapproving of the treatment of Jews, chose to remain bystanders. A bystander is someone who witnesses bad behavior or injustices yet takes no action. This silence contributes to the ongoing suffering of others, which is disheartening.
In contrast, Upstanders are those who recognize wrongdoing and take steps to help. For instance, if you witness bullying, speaking up and supporting the victim makes you an Upstander. This quality is essential, especially as we reflect on the Holocaust and the need to ensure such atrocities never happen again.
Becoming an Upstander can start today, as anyone has the potential to act with courage and kindness. Many individuals have been Upstanders during the Holocaust, even if they didn’t realize their actions made a significant difference. If you have stood up for others in difficult situations, thank you for being an Upstander.
Additionally, you can inspire others by discussing the importance of being an Upstander. Sharing your thoughts encourages more people to take action, which is the best legacy we can create.
During her sophomore year in high school, Lilly participated in a class project to illustrate a book about two members of her community who survived the Holocaust. Inspired by the experience, she later asked her Bubbie (a writer) if she could write an upstanders book about how her Papa Fred's (grandfather) biological mother, Anna, was saved by an Egyptian doctor in Nazi-occupied Berlin, while she created the illustrations. This collaboration led to the birth of 'Upstander Stories.' Lilly and Bubbie hope that young readers, along with educators around the world, will find this book about upstanders in the Holocaust—and those that follow—both inspiring and uplifting. Their goal is to help make the world a better place for all by highlighting the upstanders of the Holocaust.