VOCABULARY

Allied forces: The Allied forces consisted primarily of the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union during World War II.

Axis: Germany, Italy, and Japan--among others--made up the Axis powers during World War II.

Copenhagen: The capital of Denmark

curfew: An order given by the government requiring businesses to close and people to go into their homes at a stated hour. During the first few years of World War II, Jews and Jewish business owners often endured early-evening curfews. If discovered outside after the stated hour, Jews were punished by Nazis.

Dane: A person from the country of Denmark.

Danish: Of, or relating to Denmark, the Danes, or the Danish language, for example, the Danish resistance.

Denmark: A small kingdom located in Northern Europe. Denmark is located on a peninsula that juts out into the North Sea. Germany borders Denmark. In 1940, Nazi Germany invaded Denmark. Germany occupied Denmark until 1945.

Gentiles: A term for a person who is not Jewish.

Jews: People who follow the Judaic, or Jewish religion.

Judaism: The term for the Jewish religion. Judaism is an ancient religion based on the belief that there is only one God. Jews also believe that they are the chosen people of God.

legend: A story passed from person to person that may or may not be true. The legend of the Yellow Star has been told by many people for more than fifty years. There is no proof that King Christian of Denmark ever wore the yellow-star badge in support of Danish Jews.

Nazi: A member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party. Adolph Hitler helped found the Nazi party in Germany in 1919; he led the party during the 1930s and through World War II. Nazis did not like Jewish people or anyone different from themselves. They did not like Gypsies, communists, and people who didn’t believe what they believed. Under Hitler's leadership, the Nazis hurt or killed millions of people between 1933 and 1945.

World War II: The war fought between 1939 and 1945 between the Axis and Allied countries.

Yellow Star: This six-pointed star has been a symbol for Jews and Judaism for hundreds of years. During World War II, Nazis forced Jews in almost every European country to sew a yellow-star badge onto their clothing. The yellow star allowed the Nazis to easily identify Jews. Also known as the Star of David and Magen David.

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