The HolocaustThe Holocaust1933-19451933-1945

In Greek, In Greek, HolocaustHolocaust means means sacrifice by sacrifice by firefire or or burnt whole.burnt whole.

After World War II, the murder of six After World War II, the murder of six million Jews by the Nazis came to be million Jews by the Nazis came to be known as known as The HolocaustThe Holocaust. .

However, nearly 6 million However, nearly 6 million more non-Jews were more non-Jews were killed by the Nazis in killed by the Nazis in the same period.the same period.

GenocideGenocide Genos + cideGenos + cide (race) + (killing) = the murder of a race(race) + (killing) = the murder of a race The word was created after World War II to The word was created after World War II to

describe what had happened to the Jews.describe what had happened to the Jews. A particular race or ethnic group is blamed A particular race or ethnic group is blamed

for a problem (for a problem (scapegoatingscapegoating), and the ), and the solution is seen as exterminating them.solution is seen as exterminating them.

Ex. Rwanda, Armenia, Darfur (Sudan)Ex. Rwanda, Armenia, Darfur (Sudan)

Adolf Hitler, Adolf Hitler, Fuehrer of Fuehrer of Nazi Germany. Nazi Germany.

NazisNazis (Nationalist Socialist German Workers (Nationalist Socialist German Workers

Party)Party)

Adolf Hitler was elected the leader of Adolf Hitler was elected the leader of Germany in 1933, representing the Nazi Germany in 1933, representing the Nazi party.party.

He quickly proclaimed himself dictator.He quickly proclaimed himself dictator. Nazi beliefs: Germans (Aryans) were “racially Nazi beliefs: Germans (Aryans) were “racially

superior” and the “master race.”superior” and the “master race.” Nazis blamed Jews for the economic Nazis blamed Jews for the economic

depressions and the Germany’s defeat in depressions and the Germany’s defeat in WWI.WWI.

JudaismJudaism

A religion based on the Old Testament A religion based on the Old Testament whose followers worship a Judeo-Christian whose followers worship a Judeo-Christian god. Jewish people do not believe that Jesus god. Jewish people do not believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God. Their place of Christ was the son of God. Their place of worship is called a synagogue.worship is called a synagogue.

Being Jewish is not just about religion, but Being Jewish is not just about religion, but about culture. There are Jewish foods, about culture. There are Jewish foods, holidays, and even languages (Yiddish and holidays, and even languages (Yiddish and Hebrew).Hebrew).

VictimsVictims

Roma (Gypsies)Roma (Gypsies) PolishPolish HomosexualsHomosexuals Mentally/physically handicappedMentally/physically handicapped RussiansRussians Anyone who helped or sheltered Jewish people or Anyone who helped or sheltered Jewish people or

anyone on the list aboveanyone on the list above

According to Nazi rationale, everyone on the According to Nazi rationale, everyone on the list above would “weaken” the Aryan race.list above would “weaken” the Aryan race.

ExterminationExtermination The Nazis tried many methods to kill The Nazis tried many methods to kill

the Jews systematically and the Jews systematically and efficiently. efficiently.

It was too expensive and time It was too expensive and time consuming to shoot them one by consuming to shoot them one by one, so they tried mass killings, one, so they tried mass killings, forcing the prisoners to dig a huge forcing the prisoners to dig a huge grave before killing them. grave before killing them.

Methods:Methods: Limited Rights: Limited Rights:

Jews couldn’t Jews couldn’t participate in participate in government, go to school, government, go to school, marry anyone other than marry anyone other than Jews, or own property. Jews, or own property. Doctors and dentists Doctors and dentists weren’t allowed to weren’t allowed to practice.practice.

GhettosGhettos The Nazis' ghettos were a preliminary step in The Nazis' ghettos were a preliminary step in

the annihilation of the Jews, rather than a the annihilation of the Jews, rather than a method to just isolate them from the rest of method to just isolate them from the rest of society. society.

As the war against the Jews progressed, the As the war against the Jews progressed, the ghettos became transition areas, used as ghettos became transition areas, used as collection points for deportation to death camps collection points for deportation to death camps and concentration camps.and concentration camps.

Jews could not leave the ghettos and they were Jews could not leave the ghettos and they were forced to wear badges with the Star of David.forced to wear badges with the Star of David.

Jews were often sent to ghettos Jews were often sent to ghettos before transport to the camps.before transport to the camps.

Deportation and Deportation and ImprisonmentImprisonment

Jews were forced to leave their homes or Jews were forced to leave their homes or the ghettos and the ghettos and travel to travel to concentration concentration camps on cattle camps on cattle cars. cars.

Children Being Sent to Children Being Sent to Their Death. Their Death.

Children from an Children from an orphanage in orphanage in Marysin, Poland wait Marysin, Poland wait in line to board a in line to board a truck which will take truck which will take them to the Chelmno them to the Chelmno concentration camp concentration camp where they will be where they will be killed.killed.

Homeless Children Homeless Children in the Ghettoin the Ghetto

In the Warsaw Ghetto In the Warsaw Ghetto

A young man in the A young man in the Warsaw ghetto eats Warsaw ghetto eats some food. Ration some food. Ration cards allowed ghetto cards allowed ghetto residents only 300 residents only 300 calories of food daily, calories of food daily, a small fraction a small fraction needed for needed for sustaining health.sustaining health.

Concentration Camps

Prisoners in Buchenwald

MurderMurder Jews and other victims were killed.Jews and other victims were killed. The Nazis found shooting and burying the The Nazis found shooting and burying the

dead to be too “costly and inefficient.”dead to be too “costly and inefficient.” The Final Solution: a Nazi plan to use The Final Solution: a Nazi plan to use

crematories and gas chambers to kill the crematories and gas chambers to kill the Jews en masse.Jews en masse.

Six death camps were built and kept going Six death camps were built and kept going around the clock, killing thousands each day.around the clock, killing thousands each day.

An execution in front of a An execution in front of a mass grave.mass grave.

German soldiers of the German soldiers of the Waffen-SS and the Waffen-SS and the

Reich Labor Service look Reich Labor Service look on as a member of on as a member of EinsatzgruppeEinsatzgruppe D D

prepares to shoot a prepares to shoot a Ukrainian Jew kneeling Ukrainian Jew kneeling on the edge of a mass on the edge of a mass

grave filled with the grave filled with the bodies of previous bodies of previous

victims.victims.

Awaiting ExecutionAwaiting Execution

Jewish women and Jewish women and children who have children who have already surrendered already surrendered their belongings form a their belongings form a small group as others in small group as others in the background are the background are ordered to discard their ordered to discard their outer clothing and their outer clothing and their possessions prior to possessions prior to execution. Photograph execution. Photograph was taken October 16, was taken October 16, 1941 in Lubny, the 1941 in Lubny, the Ukraine.Ukraine.

Timeline:Timeline: 1933-1939: Jews’ rights were limited and 1933-1939: Jews’ rights were limited and

property seized.property seized.

1938: Kristallnacht (30,000 Jews were arrested 1938: Kristallnacht (30,000 Jews were arrested in a 2-day period and homes/businesses were in a 2-day period and homes/businesses were attacked.)attacked.)

1939: Hitler began attacking all Jews in 1939: Hitler began attacking all Jews in Europe, not just in Germany.Europe, not just in Germany.

1940: Germany conquered Denmark, Norway, 1940: Germany conquered Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Yugoslavia and Greece.Yugoslavia and Greece.

1941-1945: Most of the killing took place. By 1941-1945: Most of the killing took place. By 1945 2 out of 3 European Jews had been killed.1945 2 out of 3 European Jews had been killed.

May 1945: Nazi Germany collapsed. Hitler May 1945: Nazi Germany collapsed. Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945.committed suicide on April 30, 1945.

Setting:Setting:

Most death camps were in Germany and Most death camps were in Germany and Poland.Poland.

Many Jews left Europe while they could Many Jews left Europe while they could and went to Palestine in the Middle East.and went to Palestine in the Middle East.

Eventually these Jews founded a Jewish Eventually these Jews founded a Jewish state known today as Israel.state known today as Israel.