The Holocaust Preview Main Idea / Reading Focus Nazi Anti-Semitism The “Final Solution” Faces of History: Anne Frank The World Reacts

The Holocaust Main Idea Reading Focus During World War II, Germany’s Nazi government deliberately murdered some 6 million Jews and 5 million others in Europe. These actions became known as the Holocaust. Reading Focus What was the history of Nazi anti-Semitism during the 1930s? What was the Nazi government’s “Final Solution”? How did the world react to Hitler’s efforts to destroy European Jews?

Nazi Anti-Semitism At the time of Hitler’s rise to power, 9 million Jews lived in Europe. Hitler blamed Jews for Germany’s problems Promoted belief of racial superiority of German people No factual basis for anti-Semitism No factual basis for claims about “master race” Many Germans found Hitler’s twisted vision appealing Germans had suffered through World War I Humiliation of Treaty of Versailles Economic crises of 1920s and 1930s Jews a convenient scapegoat, blamed for wrongs in Germany

Long History of Anti-Semitism In Europe Hostility based on religion Under Hitler Hatred based on race Nuremberg Laws Separate legal status for German Jews Deportation Thousands of Jews deported

Limited emigration options Nazi laws left Jews without money, without property Countries unwilling to take in poor immigrants Aftermath of Great Depression Nations recovering economically; jobs scarce Strict limits set on number of Germans allowed in 250,000 Jews trapped at start of war Germany outlawed emigration late in 1941

Describe Nazi anti-Semitism in the 1930s. Summarize Describe Nazi anti-Semitism in the 1930s. Answer(s): Jews had separate legal status, no citizenship and no right to hold government jobs, limited right to work and own property; thousands of Jews deported

The “Final Solution” Conquered areas of Europe Millions of Jews came under Hitler’s power Nazi leaders adopted “Final Solution”—the deliberate mass execution of Jews Killing begins Brutal treatment of Jewish civilians Forced to live in ghettos within a city 400,000 Jews confined to Warsaw ghetto Concentration camps Slave labor camps set up to hold these “enemies of the state” Cruel medical experiments Large-scale executions with civilians gunned down

After 1941 After Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union, Hitler called for the destruction of all European Jews. Mobile killing units Carried out large-scale executions Babi Yar: a ravine in the Ukrainian capital Kiev and a site of a series of massacres carried out by the Nazis during their campaign against the Soviet Union. 35,000 Jews murdered Einsatzgruppen Germans did not want world to know Special death camps established Gas chambers and furnaces used Too much evidence 6 million Jews died in genocidal campaign called Holocaust Nazis killed 5 million others they considered “inferior” as well Victims

Find the Main Idea What was the Final Solution, and how did the Nazis attempt to carry out this plan? Answer(s): Nazi leaders adopted a plan they called the "Final Solution"—the deliberate, mass execution of Jewish prisoners.

The World Reacts Other countries were aware of Hitler’s anti-Semitism in the 1930s. After the outbreak of war, the extent of Hitler’s brutality was shielded from the outside world. By 1942, people heard disturbing reports of widespread killings Reports confirmed; no concrete action was taken War Refugee Board established in 1944, aided 200,000 Jews Reports of killings Allies primarily concerned with larger war effort Camps and railroad lines not bombed Apathy and anti-Semitism also contributed Government inaction As the Allies pushed Germans back, the concentration camps were discovered, in spite of German attempts to cover up evidence.

Auschwitz Actions revealed Buchenwald and other camps Scenes of horror January 1945, Soviet troops found starving survivors at Auschwitz Evidence showed number of prisoners once held there Buchenwald and other camps April 1945, Americans reached Buchenwald to find thousands of corpses; remaining inmates near death British reached Bergen-Belsen camp, finding 35,000 bodies Scenes of horror Hardened combat veterans unable to describe the death and destruction Clear picture of Hitler’s control Nazi hopes of world domination would not last

How did the world react to Nazi killing of Jews and other prisoners? Summarize How did the world react to Nazi killing of Jews and other prisoners? Answer(s): At first they didn't believe them, but as the reports were confirmed, they met to discuss possible responses. In January 1944, the United States established the War Refugee Board to help rescue Jews in Europe.

Martin Niemöller In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist; And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist; And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew; And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up.