1. The Holocaust
State-sponsored, systematic persecution and annihilation of European Jewry by Nazi Germany and its collaborators between 1933 and 1945.
Source: ushmm.org

2. It is important to understand the meaning of the following terms:
Genocide
Anti-Semitism
Systematic
Kristallnact
Ghetto
Genocide: complete annihilation of a racial, political, or cultural group
Anti-Semitism: discrimination, prejudice, or hostility toward Jews
Systematic: Involving a plan or method. Example: “Final Solution” was Hitler’s plan to systematically exterminate all Jews living in regions of the Third Reich.
Kristallnact: “Night of the Broken Glass.” In retaliation for a Jewish refugee killing a German diplomat, Nazi officials order attacks on Jews in Germany. Occurs in several cities on one night. Synagogues and businesses destroyed, hundreds of Jews killed or injured. Thousands arrested.
Ghetto: A section of a city where all Jews were required to live.
Uniformed prisoners with triangular badges are assembled under Nazi guard at the Sachenhausen concentration camp. Sachsenhausen, Germany, 1938.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md.

3. Roots of the Holocaust
1920s Germany – surge of anti-Semitism during economic, political, and social turmoil.
Mein Kampf – Hitler’s writings refer to ridding Germany of Jews.
1933 – Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany. Nazi movement sponsors hate and anti-Semitism.

4. Steps of Jewish Persecution
Boycott Jewish-owned businesses (economic)
Bar Jews from jobs in civil service, banking, stock exchange, law, journalism, medicine (economic)
Nuremberg Laws
Denied German citizenship to Jews
Banned marriage between Jews and non-Jews
Segregated Jews in society

5. Propaganda
Hitler used speeches, radio broadcasts, flyers, newspapers, and school curriculum to spread his ideas about Jews.
Illustration from a children’s book in Captions read “How the Jew Cheats” and “The Jews are our misfortune.” Source: ushmm.org

6. Question: Why didn’t they just leave?
: 129,000 Jews fled Germany and Nazi-controlled Austria
Jews not welcome in some countries
Great Depression/World-wide Depression made immigrants unwelcome.
German nationalism!

7. World War II and the Holocaust

8. Roles of those involved
Victims
Bystanders
Liberators
Resistance
Nazi Party, German Government, SS Soldiers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, judges, regular soldiers, railroad workers, and many, many more.

9. Concentration Camps
Original purpose: make prisoners “useful members” of the Third Reich.
Original prisoners:
Labor leaders
Socialists
Communists
Anyone who spoke against Hitler

10. Concentration Camps, cont.
Additional “undesirable” groups targeted:
Gypsies, Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexuals, beggars, drunkards, conscientious objectors, mentally disabled.
Death by starvation and/or disease common
Medical experimentation
Gas chambers
Shooting squads

11. Death Camp Purpose was specifically murder
Bodies were desecrated after death:
Human fat turned into soap
Human hair woven into wigs
Cash, gold fillings, wedding rings, other valuables stripped from victims
Final step - crematorium

12. 6 million European Jews murdered
Approximately 2 million non-Jewish Poles murdered
Approximately 3 million other non-Jews murdered
Survivors liberated as Germany fell, Spring 1945

13. Based on a true story…
The following clip represents the perspectives of members of Easy Company/101st Airborne Unit as told in the book and miniseries Band of Brothers. Liberation