Genocide-Term created by combining geno-, from the Greek word for race or tribe, with -cide, from the Latin word for killing.

Holocaust (mass killings of Jews by Nazi’s during WWII)…but this was not first example of what could be considered genocide.

Spanish Inquisition in 1492--Jews expelled from

Spain.

sanbenitos- marked robes and hoods for

non-believers.

2) Armenia-1915-1918

Land and cultural disputes with Turkey

“Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”

Adolf Hitler

Estimated one million Armenians killed.

Treaty of Versailles ends

war.

Restrictions placed on losing nations

to limit their power.

1920’s – Good economic times for most of Europe (and United States).

Many spend beyond their means—increased personal and national debt.

1929—U.S. Stock Market Crash leads to loss of savings and widespread unemployment. Economic Depression in Europe too.

Germany-unemployment rate rose to 23%; people desperate for change.

1919-1933-After serving in WWI, Hitler becomes involved in German politics.

1923-Arrested during anti-government protest and writes Mein Kamp (My Struggle) while in prison, 1924-25.

Hitler blames Jews for all the economic problems.

Jew as scapegoat: person or group singled out unfairly to blame for a problem.

After prison, Hitler becomes more involved in National Socialist Party (Nazi) and makes name for himself as a charismatic speaking.

Hitler chooses “SVASTIKA”-symbol for Nazi party.

Represents powerful hammer of the god Thor in a circular, swinging motion. (symbol of both creation and destruction).

January 30, 1933-Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany.

European leaders do little to stop Hitler from strengthening powers and defying Treaty of Versailles .

1) Destroy his opponents in Germany. 2) Make Germany the strongest country in Europe by expanding its borders.3) “Purify" Germany—and then Europe—of "racial enemies" and establish Aryans as the "master race."

March, 1933- Nazis open four concentration camps in Germany: Dachau, Buchenwald, Sachsenhausen and Ravensbruck.

Camps built near quarries so prisoners could mine materials for the Reich building plan. (Within 10 years, there were over 1,000 camps.)

April, 1933-Nazis sponsor boycott

of Jewish businesses.

Hitler opens propaganda department to persuade people to follow his views.

November 9-10, 1938-Kristellnacht “Night of broken glass” Jewish businesses throughout Germany and Austria destroyed. Thousands of Jews beaten, rounded up and sent to concentration camps.

More and more restrictions placed on Jews: curfews, business restrictions , banned from parks,

schools, etc. 1939-Yellow Star of David badge first required to be warn

by Jewish males and females age six and older. Many sent to concentration camps (other “non-desirables” also targeted-- Gypsies, Catholics, Communists,

physically and mentally disabled, homosexuals, etc.).

Some of the badges various groups were required to wear in Nazi concentration

camps.

1936 Hitler violates Treaty of Versailles by sending troops into Rhineland, a “demilitarized” zone West of Germany, along Rhine River.

March, 1938-Rolls in and annexes (adds ) Austria with no resistance.

March, 1939-Invades Czechoslovakia.

September 1, 1939- Hitler invades Poland. September 3, 1939-France and Britain

declare war on Germany. Allied and Axis powers at war. U.S. officially remains neutral at first. Many in U.S. sympathize with Hitler and

anti-Jewish views. Most know little about concentration camps. United States doesn’t declare war until after Pearl Harbor is attacked on December 7,

1941.

It was not long before people of Jewish ancestry were forced to leave their homes

and settle in ghettos.

Lublin Ghetto (Poland).

Children were forced to work long hours in

the ghettos.

Violence against those living in the

ghettos was commonplace.

1941-“Final Solution to the Jewish Question in Europe” officially proposed.

The plan—systematic extermination of Jews. (Already more than a million Jews had been killed, but the plan now made genocide an established policy).

More camps built to carry out this plan.

Death Camps- built with gas chambers designed as showers.

Zyclon B -cyanide based pesticide is used.

One of the most famous of these Extermination Camps was Auschwitz, in Poland. The front wall of

the camp still stands today.

The Nazi leaders called for detailed documentation and captured much of their atrocities on film.

This evidence was used to help convict Nazis of war crimes at the Nuremberg Trials following the end of WWII.

Jewish population in Europe after war was 1/3 of what it had been.

Total population- 3,463,500

Six million

Most were Jewish; some were Gypsies; some were black; some were homosexual; all were human beings.

But remember, the German soldiers, Hitler’s advisers and even Hitler himself were also human beings.

What does this mean for us today?

"Only guard yourself and guard your soul carefully, lest you forget the

things your eyes saw, and lest these things depart your heart all the days of

your life. And you shall make them known to your children and to your

children's children."