1. Genocide & Lessons Learned:
The Holocaust and Rwanda

2. Concentration Camp for Bosnian Muslims and Croats
Genocide
the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group
Examples: Holocaust, Rwanda, Armenians, Bosnia, Sudan
Concentration Camp for Bosnian Muslims and Croats

3. Points for discussion
Unfair to truly compare genocides- experiences are different
Purpose of this presentation-
look at common threads among genocidal actions to prevent in the future
see what, if anything the world has learned from the Holocaust
learn about the atrocities that occurred in Rwanda

4. Comparing Rwanda and the Jewish Holocaust- YEARS
Nov May 1945
April-July 1994

5. Analyzing the years…
What difference do you see in the time that these genocides occurred?
What similarities did you see in the photos?
What differences did you see in the photos?

6. Comparing Rwanda and the Jewish Holocaust- POPULATION
Jews- men, women, children, practicing and non-practicing Jews (2% of European pop.)
Tutsis- Rwandan tribe, men, women, children (9% of pop.)

7. Victim groups… What similarities did you see in the photos?
What do the two victim groups have in common?
Any differences between the two victim groups?

8. Comparing Rwanda and the Jewish Holocaust- HATRED
Antisemitism- existed for 2,000 years. Jews were established professionals in Germany. Seen as religious and ethnic group (racial group by Nazis).
Rwanda- Ethnic conflict not new. For centuries, Tutsis had mainly been the privileged and ruling class (imposed by imperialism) while Hutus were usually the working class.

9. Persecution…
What about these victim groups caused anger within their perpetrators?
How did the hatred of Jews and Tutsis differ?

10. Comparing Rwanda and the Jewish Holocaust- METHODS USED
Hutu villagers- neighbors, friends
Firearms, machetes, and a variety of garden implements
Nazi soldiers, officers, civilians
Shooting squads, gassing/crematoria

11. Methods…
In both cases, the ruling group/extremists needed the help of who to carry out their genocide?
What differences existed in the manner these genocides were carried out?

12. Comparing Rwanda and the Jewish Holocaust- NUMBERS PERISHED
Approximately 6 million Jews, 11 million total
Approximately 800,000 Tutsis in 100 days

13. Numbers…
Remember, behind each number you read is a real person with a real family and real hopes and dreams
Mass graves used in both instances
How were the Nazis and Hutu extremists able to carry out these genocides so quickly?

14. Deportation Camps- Refugees
                                                                           

15. Afterwards…
What awaited survivors after liberation or after they fled the country?
What condition were the camps in?
What options did survivors have for resettlement?

16. Comparing Rwanda and the Jewish Holocaust- U.S. APOLOGIES
President Bush: “It's time for the U.S. to apologize and recognize all former eugenics victims to bring a sense of closure to this issue”.
President Clinton: "We come here today partly in recognition of the fact that we in the United States and the world community did not do as much as we could have and should have done to try to limit what occurred" in Rwanda.

17. Apologies…
Are these apologies enough for the American failure to act on behalf of these victims?
Is there anything that the U.S. could say or do to make it right?