The Second World War was a big fight between many countries from 1939 to 1945. This war affected deaf people in Europe and other parts of the world in different ways.
Deaf People Under Nazi Rule
In Nazi Germany, deaf people were treated very unfairly and cruelly. The Nazi government saw being deaf as a problem that should be removed from the community. Because of this:
- Around 17,000 deaf people in Germany were forced to undergo sterilisation so they could not have children.
- During the Nazi era, some deaf people were harmed by a program that aimed to eliminate individuals with disabilities.
- Of the 600 deaf Jews living in Berlin before the war, only 34 survived the Holocaust.
Some deaf people in Germany first supported the Nazi party. They even started a group called the Reich Union of the Deaf. But later, the Nazi leaders shut down this group.
Helping with the War Effort
Even though they faced unfair treatment, many deaf individuals played important roles in helping with the war effort.
- In the UK, deaf workers were employed in munitions factories, producing shells, fuses, tools, and wheels.
- Some people who are deaf have been able to join the military. For example, Harry Ward was in the Royal Munster Fusiliers, and Gomer Jones was famous for being the top shooter in his group.
- During the war in the United States, there were many jobs available in factories. This gave deaf people a chance to work. They helped make things like gas masks, missiles, and tires for the military.
Challenges Deaf People Faced
Being deaf during the war was very hard:
- Communication problems: Sometimes, deaf people couldn’t understand what was happening. In Britain, some deaf people were sadly shot because they couldn’t hear soldiers telling them to stop.
- Moving to other countries: It was hard for deaf people to move to safer countries. For example, America didn’t want to let deaf people in because they thought deaf people would need too much help.
- Community events stopped: The war made it hard for deaf people to meet each other. A big sports event for deaf people in Sweden had to stop early because of the war.
After the War
The war changed things for deaf people:
- Countries started special places to help soldiers who lost their hearing in the war.
- People began to understand that deaf people needed more help and should be included more in society.
- People started to write down the stories of deaf people who survived the war, especially those who escaped the Nazis .
The Second World War was a very hard time for deaf people. But it also showed how strong deaf people can be. After the war, more people started to think about how to make life better for deaf people.