The role of Chaim Rumkowski in the Lodz ghetto - Essay Example

?A. BIBLIOGRAPHY Adelson A. and Lapides R. The Lodz Ghetto . Washington: Penguin Books, 1991. Print. Corry J “Rumkowski and the Jews of lodz” http www.nytimes.com/1984/10/04/arts/rumkowski-and-the-jews-of-lodz.html. 1984. Web. 3th May, 2011 Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team, “Chaim Rumkowski” http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/ghettos/rumkowski.html, 2007. Web. 5th May, 2011 Rosenblum J and Kohn D. Defy the Darkness: A Tale of Courage in the Shadow of Mengele . London: Praeger Publishers, 2001. Print. Shuttleworth, M. “Research Hypothesis.” http://www.experiment-resources.com/research-hypothesis.html Experiment Resources: 2008.Web. 6th May, 2011 The Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team. “Chaim Mordechai Rumkowski,” http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/ghettos/rumkowski.html. 2006. Web. 6th May, 2011 The Jewish Virtual Library. “The Lodz Ghetto”, http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/lodz.html 1998. Web. 4th May, 2011 B. HISTORIOGRAPHY OF THE TOPIC Background to the Study The world has witnessed several civil and international revolutions, wars and uprising. If nothing at all, the world has been engaged in two World Wars already. Quite apart from World Wars, the world has recorded countless numbers of invasions of countries, territories, kingdoms and cities. Though not as common today as it used to be centuries ago, the phenomenon has not totally vanished. In times past and even today, we know that countries and kingdoms try to invade other countries and kingdoms in a bid to possess their land and possibly enslave its members. This has been in an attempt to ensure expansion to expand economic possession and in some cases, show superiority. If not at all, it is not for nothing that the United Nations itself recognises certain countries as Veto Nations, some of G (Great)-Countries, and others as members of the United Nations Security Council. Such accolades accorded to countries always make them feel the need to undertake military and economic moves that will win them global pride. Again, it is not for nothing that though many nations of the world have gained political independence and enjoy their sovereignty, they still pay a lot of respect to their colonial masters. So the underlining factor is that countries want and admire fame. Counties love that their names as heard as super powers, counties love that they are the once who make headline news in the media everyday. Just as countries do, political, military and royal personalities also take a lot of pride in being referred to as ‘super powers’. Mention can be made of names like Alaric the Visiqoth, Alexander the Great, Attila the Hun, Cyrus the Great, Hannibal, Julius Caesar, Marius, Scipio Africanus who were accorded accolades as warriors, conquerors and the like. In times past, these fighters sprang up to fame because they led their armies to undertake the invasion, capturing and conquering of other great nations, armies or people. Even though such acts of bravery may not be very much needed today as it existed in times past, the general perception is that the contributions made by those people were necessary for their nations; back in those days. Some commentators argue that we do not see military takeovers and invasion wars today just because the approach to becoming a champion and that the acts of bravery and warship displayed by those gallant men and women in times past were wrong. It is against this argument that studies on the acts and inactions of such brave men and women of the world has continued to be relevant in school curricula and lessons. There is no denying the fact the study of history and for that matter the study of military warfare and military takeovers in times past will not end anytime soon. One important character, who stands out tall in history as far as religious, ethnic and regional conquests are concerned is Chaim Rumkowski. Born in 1877 in Russia, the family Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski and Rumkowski himself moved to Poland where he took up a career as the director of an orphanage. This career was however not a very successful one. Later in his life, he took to business where he was known to be working in the textile industry. But these early aspects of Rumkowski’s life are not known in literature as much as his days as when ‘’on October 13, 1939, the Nazi occupation authorities appointed him Judenrat Chairman in Lodz’’ (Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team, 2007). As a matter of fact, the days of Rumkowski as a leader of his fellow Jews is much talked about in literature. Most often than not, researchers try to find out aspects of the life of Rumkowski that were positive and can thus be immolated in modern day leadership. Researchers also find out the wrongs in his leadership and how they could be built on in making better leaders today. On the whole, as to whether or not Rumkowski was a good leader is a kind of judgment that is passed based on the direction one is taking the argument from. Problem Statement This is research proposal for dissertation. To this end, the proposed research problem or question is the role of Chaim Rumkowski in the Lodz Ghetto. This topic has been chosen for a number of reasons. Basically, the researcher believes that the life of Chaim Rumkowski as a leader has a lot of lessons to offer leaders of today. Certainly as a human being, Rumkowski might have had his own weaknesses and strengths but in the view of the researcher, it is the combination of these forms of attributes that makes each person whole such that as much as we learn to repeat his strengths, we also learn to avoid his weaknesses and perhaps build on them. Apart from the personal life of Rumkowski as a leader, there are several other interesting stories surrounding Rumkowski and in his days with the Nazis. All these stories shall form complimentary parts of the research as it is almost impossible to discuss Rumkowski without discussing who go him into leadership and what goes him into leadership. For this reason, the researcher shall dedicate parts of the research into analysing and discussing the history of the Polish, before, during and after they were invaded by the Nazi Germans. Primarily, the researcher shall have two themes, which will be leadership and religious themes. These themes shall be built around the Nazis and their treatment of the people in the Lodz Ghetto as well as around Chaim Rumkowski to find out how he utilised power once it came into his hands. Hypothesis For research of this nature, it is always important to have a hypothesis around which the arguments and discussions of the researcher shall be based. Shuttleworth (2008) ‘‘A research hypothesis is the statement created by researchers when they speculate upon the outcome of a research or experiment.’’ This is to say that hypotheses are built when researchers are not certain about what the outcome or conclusion of their research is going to be like. For this reason, hypotheses are not final and cannot be judged as the researchers ultimate views on issues. It is not surprising therefore that Shuttleworth (2008) writes that “the research hypothesis is a paring down of the problem into something testable and falsifiable.” It is therefore not surprising to see a set of hypotheses for one research work, having conflicting statements. From the above explanations, the researcher has developed the following hypotheses for the research work: 1. Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski was a good leader. 2. Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski was a bad leader. 3. Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski’s leadership style and traits were influenced by the Nazis Lords. 4. Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski was a leader of his own type under no influences what so ever on what to do or what not to do. 5. The leadership style and traits of Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski were not understood by the people of his time and people who lived to hear his story. Background Literature on the Role of Chaim Rumkowski in the Lodz Ghetto This aspect of the proposal is has been dedicated into looking at background literature on the role if Chaim Rumkowski in the Lodz Ghetto. The section will be divided into five major parts to make the review clearer and simpler. The five parts are the life of Chaim Rumkowski before the formation of the Lodz Ghetto and how it influenced his leadership, challenges faced by Chaim Rumkowski’s in the delivery of his work, positive attributes recorded in Chaim Rumkowski’s leadership in the Lodz Ghetto, negative attributes pointed against Chaim Rumkowski in the Lodz Ghetto and finally the liberation of the Jews from the Ghetto. Basically, these four sections have been built based on the research questions and specific objectives of the research work. • Life of Chaim Rumkowski before the formation of the Lodz Ghetto and how it influenced his leadership The Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team (2006) reports that before Chaim Rumkowski was appointed leader of the Jews in the Ghetto, “his family relocated to Poland where he maintained an unsuccessful career as the director of an orphanage.” This was all, he actually worked as a director in a textile manufacturing company. This is to say that Chaim Rumkowski was a noticeable person and somehow influential even before he was appointed a leader. As a director of an orphanage, though the orphanage was not a very successful one, it can be said that Chaim Rumkowski had some leadership skills and qualities. This is especially true as he handled a more mature textiles company. Though not very clear in available literature, it can be said that Chaim Rumkowski’s appointers saw some leadership skills in him before choosing him. Chaim Rumkowski’s previous knowledge in handling an orphanage also put him in a better condition to understand the plight of people in suffering such as those at the Ghetto. It not surprising there that he was given the “responsibility for providing heat, work, food, housing, and health and welfare services to the ghetto population” (The Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team, 2006). It will also not be far from right to say that Chaim Rumkowski had had the experience of handling and leading many people and therefore was in a good position to handle the 230,000 people left under his leadership at the ghetto. • Challenges faced by Chaim Rumkowski’s in the delivery of his work Though Chaim Rumkowski was coming from a background with leadership experience and knowledge, the condition he found himself in as the leader of the Judenrat Chairman in Lodz was an extremely difficult one. This appointment came in On October 13, 1939 and The Jewish Virtual Library (1998) states that “with 230,000 people confined to a very small area that had no farmland, food quickly became a problem.” What even worsened the responsibility put at the hands of Chaim Rumkowski was the fact that “the Nazis insisted on having the ghetto pay for its own upkeep” (The Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team, 2006). The simple implication here was that Chaim Rumkowski had to find a means to get his people raising money for themselves. But perhaps the most challenging situation Chaim Rumkowski had to face was for him to convince his people that he was not an advocate of the wicked acts that was being handed to them by the Nazis. This is because Chaim Rumkowski was mandated to report directly to Hans Biebow who was the Nazi ghetto administration. Right in the eyes of Chaim Rumkowski, he saw his own people being murdered and humiliated by the Germans and for him not to be a German but a Polish and a Jew like the others, convincing his people of his neutrality in all the actions was a great challenge for him. What was even worse was that Chaim Rumkowski was only acting under instructions and had superiors above him and so he could hardly make any impact of determining what the Germans did. • Positive attributes recorded in Chaim Rumkowski’s leadership in the Lodz Ghetto Most certainly Chaim Rumkowski was not a ‘monster so to say. He had positive attributes! Most commentators believe that the best moments of Chaim Rumkowski’s leadership was seen at the early stages of his chairmanship over the people. For instance we see Chaim Rumkowski undertake the following commendable projects, policies and initiatives, which are worth emulating by leaders of today: 1. Chaim Rumkowski took steps in getting his people employed so that they could raise money to meet their needs and the demands of their German masters. To this effect, Corry (1984) notes that “Rumkowski proposed to the 200,000 Jews there that they present themselves to the Germans as a labor force.” As unemployment continues to militate against most nations of the world, leaders must be visionary to find every positive means possible to get employment for their citizens and subordinates. The Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team (2006) testifies of Rumkowski saying he “began setting up factories and all those able and willing to work were found jobs.” In an announcement names No. 166, Rumkowski declared: “"I am hereby announcing that healthy, strong men, age 18 to 40 can get work outside of the ghetto. They will receive salary, accommodation and full board for their work.” 2. Chaim Rumkowski was concerned about the security of his people and the rate at which they were being killed. To this effect, he advised them to work and be of help to their German masters. The idea was that once the Germans found the services of the Jews useful, they would spare their lives and “presumably win protection by making themselves indispensable” Corry (1984). Leaders of today can take great lesson from this action taken by Chaim Rumkowski. Clearly, he was making his people swallow bitter medicine with the believe that it would certainly save them from a deadly disease. At times, leaders need to have the boldness to take certain decisions that have long term benefits; no matter the political castigations their opponents may raise against them. Though it is true that for the Jews to have served as slaves was difficult, it was far better than for them to be lost their lives. 3. What is more, Chaim Rumkowski was orderly and systematic. To this effect, he is referred o be bureaucratic. Chaim Rumkowski brought orderliness and structure to the otherwise bogus and dejected camp. Corry (1984) writes that “he organized what was virtually a community government - police, courts, hospitals, a postal service and schools, even cultural activities.” Clearly, these were institutions and structures that ensured that there was general comfort, law and order at the ghetto. To leaders of today, this is a great lesson for them to make institutions work in their various communities and countries. This is because when institutions are not working properly, there is the likelihood that there will be break down of law and order, causing people to take the law in their own hands. 4. To a large extent, Rumkowski was democratic and allowed for all-inclusive governance. This is seen in his announcement number 166 delivered on Nov 19, 1940 when he informed the people that he would set up a medical team among them to verify for the qualification of people to be selected to work for the Germans. In the announcement he said: “If a worker wants to have money transferred here for his relatives, he must always specify the person to whom the money should be paid out. According to the negotiations with the German authorities, healthy strong men will be registered, and then examined by a medical commission I will appoint.” The Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team (2006) This offers a useful lesson to autocratic leaders who at times fell that they are the only wise people in their territory. In leadership, mentor-ship and nurturing is always important. So no matter how bright a leader may be, he should understand the need to include as many people in his governance as possible. • Negative attributes pointed against Chaim Rumkowski in the Lodz Ghetto As human as he was, Chaim Rumkowski was not perfect. He had his own flaws. Works of literature have recorded a number of actions and general leadership trends taken by Chaim Rumkowski that were not appropriate and that could have been done in better ways. Example of these have been enumerated below: 1. Corry (1984) observes that “Rumkowski, a Jew, cooperated with the Nazis and took the authority onto himself.” This may sound ironical to the point discussed above saying Rumkowski Chaim practiced an all-inclusive government. However, it is important to substantiate that even though Chaim would include others, he made himself the center of government, whereby he was seen as the ultimate head. Out of this nature, “Rumkowski presided over the ghetto with what seemed to be growing self-aggrandizement” (Corry, 1984). This trait continued and grew as worse as Rumkowski keeping his own portrait on the currency of the ghetto and on post stamp. Soon, the people he was suppose to lead by serving started seeing him as a lord. From an account by E. Ringelblum, reports that "Rumkowski from Lodz came today, September 6. They call him 'King Chaim', a seventy-year-old man, overambitious and a bit odd. He told fantastic things about the ghetto.” The speech above confirms how Rumkowski lorded himself over his own people. Out of this, leaders of the world should know that to be a leader means to be a chief servant and not a lord. If leaders would learn to serve their servants, their servants would also learn to serve them. 2. Chaim Rumkowski could not hold on to his virtues to the end. This is because when Rumkowski was first appointed a leader, he sought for the security and protection of his people. However, he later turned back on them to take their own lives. This is evident in the famous plea for children of mothers where when the mothers refused to give him the children on the first plea, he came back subsequently in a brutal round-up, where 20,000 souls were collected and sent to be murdered in extermination camps.” In the popular speech, ‘give me your children, Rumkowski is quoted as saying: “I was unworthy of having a child of my own, so I gave the best years of my life to children. I've lived and breathed with children, I never imagined I would be forced to deliver this sacrifice to the altar with my own hands. In my old age, I must stretch out my hands and beg: Brothers and sisters! Hand them over to me! Fathers and mothers: Give me your children!” 3. Chaim Rumkowski, though was serving under a superior authority can be said to be a weak and fearful leader. This is because most of the actions he took that were judged as wrong were actually orders that were coming from the Germans against his fellow Jews. Though he was not to display his strength and bravery by fighting the Germans, he could have conquered their demands and actions by dialogging with them. This is because The Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team (2006) notes that earlier pleas of Chaim Rumkowski to the Germans had gone through. The Team states that “On April 5, 1940, Rumkowski petitioned the Nazi authorities requesting permission for his work plan. He wanted the Nazis to deliver raw materials, have the Jews make the final products, then have the Nazis pay the workers in money and in food. On April 30, 1940 Rumkowski's proposal was accepted.” So if his petitions worked earlier, nothing stopped him from trying again. In the following speech by Chaim Rumkowski, it is seen that he was not on top of issues: “"A grievous blow has struck the ghetto. They are asking us to give up the best we possess -the children and the elderly” (The Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team, 2006) – this speech shows the use of the word ‘they’ referring to the Germans, asking the Jews and Rumkowski himself to do something he knew was not right but grievous. “These are empty phrases!!! I don't have the strength to argue with you! If the authorities were to arrive, none of you would be shouting!” (The Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team, 2006) – This speech also shows how much Rumkowski put his trust in the German authorities. • The Liberation and the end of Chaim Rumkowski The Jews were liberated at last but it is sad to note that the liberation came at a time when “on January 19, 1945, of the 230,000 Lodz Jews plus the 25,000 people transported in, only 877 remained” (The Jewish Virtual Library, 1998). The question of controversy has therefore always been; “could anybody under such tight hands had done anything different from what Chaim Rumkowski did in the ghetto?” But with the diversity of opinions still going on among debaters, the remains that Chaim Rumkowski could not save his people: no matter how hard he tried. Sadly enough to, Chaim Rumkowski could not save himself also. According to “The Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team (2006), “one widely accepted account is that Rumkowski was beaten to death by one of the Sonderkommando’s in Birkenau, made up of Jews from the Lodz ghetto. His body was believed to have been thrown into an open pit and burned.” C. THEMES AND QUESTIONS TO BE RESEARCHED Research Questions The following are proposed research questions to guide the researcher in the conduct of his research. The research questions shall be useful in determining the areas and aspects that will be covered in the review of related literature. It will also play vital role in determining the kind of data that will be collected for the actual research work. As all these are done, the research questions would eventually lead to the achievement of the research objectives that will be set by the researcher. To this effect, the researcher sets the following as his research questions: 1. What was the leadership style and traits possessed by Chaim Rumkowski 2. How did Chaim Rumkowski’s personal life and personality affect his leadership? 3. To what extent was Chaim Rumkowski a Saviour to his people? 4. To what extent did Chaim Rumkowski fail his people? 5. Which aspects of Chaim Rumkowski’s leadership are worth emulating? 6. Which aspects of Chaim Rumkowski’s leadership could have been made better? 7. Could the plights of the Polish Jews be blame more on the Nazis than on Chaim Rumkowski? Main Objectives The main objective of the research work shall be to identify the role of Chaim Rumkowski in the Lodz Ghetto. Specific Themes 1. To identify the leadership style and traits possessed by Chaim Rumkowski 2. To find out how the personal life and personality of Chaim Rumkowski affected his leadership 3. To know the extent to which Chaim Rumkowski could be described as a Saviour for his people 4. To know the extend to which Chaim Rumkowski could be said to have failed his people 5. To bring to light aspects of Chaim Rumkowski’s leadership that are worth emulating 6. To bring to bare aspects of Chaim Rumkowski’s leadership that could have been made better 7. To find how Chaim Rumkowski’s own people saw him. 8. To examine whether or not the plights of the Polish Jews could be blamed more on the Nazis than on Chaim Rumkowski 1.6 Justification This aspect of the research proposal explains why it is prudent for this project topic and for that matter, the research problem to be accepted. It also describes the basic importance that the user of this research work will derive after the entire research work is complete. Based on this, the researcher believes that undertaking this research on the role of Chaim Rumkowski in the Lodz Ghetto will help deepen his personal understanding and that of users of this research work on the historical perspective of the leadership of Chaim Rumkowski among his people. Such a historical understanding will help in relating what used to happen in times past to what goes on today to draw a correlation if there are any similarity gaps or leadership today has totally taken a new trend. Secondly, it will help the researcher and users of the research work to have an empirical understanding of how religious discrimination has existed in various parts of the world since time immemorial. Such religious discrimination shall be related to the general issue of discrimination that goes on in different aspects of our lives including racial discrimination, age discrimination, discrimination on the grounds of sex as well as political discrimination. Finally, it is important that the leadership qualities, style and traits of Chaim Rumkowski are carefully analysed in order to understand the general concept of good and bad leadership. This is particularly important because it is increasly beoming common knowledge that the future of a prosperous and happy world lies in the kind of leaders and the kind of leadership that will be produced. Methodology Since this topic is of highly literary nature, the data collection shall be centered on secondary data collection whereby literature readily available in books, websites, diaries, documentaries and archives shall be used. However, where necessary; primary data shall be used. With these sources, the researcher shall look at the various historiographical debates relevant to the research problem. These historical debates will bring to bare, how different perceive, assess, analyse and judge the leadership of Chaim Rumkowski. Read More