Holocaust

Organized by Adolf Hitler—he was trying to create a master race. He called the decision to kill non-Aryans the Final Solution to the “Jewish problem.” Anti-Semitism: hatred or prejudice against Jews

Over 10 million victims --6 million Jews --Also, disabled, mentally ill, Catholics, certain ethnic groups (Gypsies, Slavs, and others), homosexuals

Genocide—trying to eliminate an entire group of people (a race, ethnic group, religious group, etc.) --Other examples of genocide: Armenia (during WWI); Ukraine (1932-33); Cambodia (1975); Bosnia (1992-94); Rwanda (1994)

Concentration Camps --Death Camp --Labor Camp

Occurred mostly in Germany, Poland, E Occurred mostly in Germany, Poland, E. Europe, but also other occupied territories

How/Why did Holocaust occur? People didn’t realize how bad it was until it was too late. Racism/Anti-Semitism Hitler had popular support --Good speaker --Told people what they wanted to hear, made Jews scapegoats for loss of WWI, economic problems Propaganda Fear Hitler had already taken over areas where there might have been meaningful opposition.