The Grey Zone by Tim Blake Nelson

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The Grey Zone by Tim Blake Nelson

• World War II
• Auschwitz Concentration Camp,
• Poland, 1944

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World War II

• Allied Powers England (UK), France, USSR, USA,
  China
• Axis Powers Germany, Italy, Japan
• Over 60 million dead 70 nations involved --
  highest death toll of any war on the planet.
• 12 million killed in Adolf Hitlers eugenic plan
  to create the master race. The Holocaust. 6
  million Jews, plus homosexuals, gypsies,
  disabled, Poles, Soviet POWs, political
  prisoners, communists

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WW II contd

• Immediate causes Japan invades China, 1937,
  Germany invades Poland, 1939.
• Underlying causes pressures from Treaty of
  Versailles and worldwide depression.
• US entered war following attack on Pearl Harbor
  then Philippines, Dec 7-8, 1941.
• Imperialism and nationalism Japan sought more
  land and natural resources in China and Pacific
  Islands Germany conquered Czech, Poland,
  Finland, Norway, Denmark, USSR, France, Holland,
  Belgium Italy took on Balkan nations, Greece,
  North Africa. Axis control was broadest 1942 --
  still pushing east.

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End of WW II

• Allies free North Africa 1943, then take South
  Italy.
• USSR gains ground on eastern front in 1944,
  including Romania (axis). Hungary (axis) hotly
  contested in fall, Germany holds it but its the
  last victory in the East bloody siege of
  Budapest. Poland expects USSR, arrive in winter.
• US regains islands in Pacific, advancing toward
  Japan 1944-45.
• D Day, June 6 1944, allies invade Normandy
• 1945 Allies advance on Berlin from east and
  west Soviets fight street by street in April,
  Hitler commits suicide April 30 Mussolini
  executed. VE Day May 8, 1945. August 2 allied
  atomic bombs VJ Day 14th

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Holocaust

• Some refer only to intentional genocide of Jews
  most look at all groups intentionally destroyed
  by Hitler and National Socialist Party
• Bureaucratic machinery, mass production,
  scientific experiment all put into service of
  final solution of Jewish question
• Kristallnacht 9 Nov 1938 beginning of
  sanctioned violence, 30K Jews sent to
  concentration camps
• 1940-41 Ghettos to which Jews are sent, in
  cities
• Spring 1942 death camps begin to operate. 6 big
  ones in occupied Poland. Auschwitz used gas
  Zyklon B (cyanide) crematoria.

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Map
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Real setting of Grey Zone

• Auschwitz-Birkenau was largest of Nazi camps.
  Auschwitz was labor camp and Birkenau the
  extermination camp. 26 May 1940, liberated by
  Soviets 27 Jan 1945.
• Birkenau 4 gas chambers and crematoria (play
  refers to 1 and 3)
• 1.6 million Jews killed 8K per day few months
  of 1944 - 438K Hungarian Jews (at time of play).
  Over 2 million total killed.
• Upon arrival on transports,people sent to death,
  to work, to medical experiments, or a few as
  sonderkommandos

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Real source for Grey Zone

• Nyiszlis Auschwitz A Doctors Eyewitness
  Account
• Autopsies and scientific research for Mengele.
  Mostly on twins, children, experiments ending in
  death
• Dr. Josef Mengele, Angel of Death, was a medical
  officer Dr. Miklos Nyiszli chosen to work for
  him
• Quote from book of finding a girl alive after
  gassing
• Muhsfeldt was commandant of 1 crematorium

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Real source (contd)

• Sonderkommando Jewish men chosen for health and
  strength prepared people for gas chambers, moved
  corpses to crematoria (SS actually gassed). Hired
  more for Hungarian massacre 1000 total
• Rewards include living, plus eating well, clothes
  and matresses, raiding corpses
• Grey zone created by ashes from crematoria
• October 7, 1944 3 Sonderkommando rebelled, blew
  up a crematorium 1 joined them and broke out.
  Men had learned they were about to be killed.
  Stockpiled makeshift weapons
• SS captured and killed nearly everyone

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History of the Play

• Nelsons play focuses on moral issues of
  collaborators. They are not given a choice-- do
  it or die.
• Girl focuses their ethical position-- they see
  her as a possible redemption.
• Rebellion shows different effects-- some dont
  want to live, some fight for life.
• Premiere 10 Jan 1996