A lesson in percentages
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) attracted volunteers from about 55 countries who knew the dangers they were facing in that bloody conflict. Nevertheless, they came in substantial numbers to join the ranks of the Popular Front. The following passages have been plucked from an article A Prologue to WWII in the Jerusalem Post by Ervin Birnbaum:
DESPITE THE conspicuous presence of Jews in International Brigades, Jewish participation in the fighting has generally not been acknowledged.
In-depth research, especially in the last 10 years, has proven that the extent of Jewish presence in that crucial war was truly impressive. Though Jews were only 10% of the Polish population, 45% of the Polish volunteers - 2,250 out of 5,000 - were Jewish. Jews, 4% of the US population, formed 38% of its volunteers. In France, 0.5% of the population and 15% of the volunteers were Jews. Britain, with a Jewish population of 0.5%, had 11% to 22% Jewish volunteers. Palestine had a Jewish contingent of 500, 498 Jews and two Arabs.
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This percentages are interestinh. I know something about Spannish civil War, but never knew that so many Jews were involved in that conflict.
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:27 amJews are everywhere on the planet and they were involved in many conflicts.
September 15th, 2008 at 6:00 amYou are right. Since the time of the last exile, Jews all over the world made it a principle to place their loyalties with the country of their residence. By necessity, they were drafted into the armies during times of conflict.
They often went beyond the call of duty, as it happened during the Spanish war.
September 15th, 2008 at 8:39 amJews are very clever. After WWII they wanted compensations from Polish gouverment for properties left in Poland. But is it poland vine, that jews escaped from Poland?
July 15th, 2010 at 6:26 amIt's my undertsanding that not all Jews managed or even were willing to escape from Poland. Some were gased, you know.
I have recently read "Neighbors" by Jan T. Gross. This is about how, on a single day in 1941, half of the Polish town of Jedwabne murdered the other half - 1600 men in all, leaving out al but 7 the town's Jews. The one Polish family that had hidden these 7, has been ostracized after the war and had to leave Poland.
July 15th, 2010 at 8:21 am