How many is 6 million? The Holocaust

What was the Holocaust? Holocaust - The systematic destruction of approximately 6 million Jews by the Nazis and their followers in Europe between the years 1933-1945. Other individuals and groups were persecuted during this period, but only the Jews were marked for complete and utter extinction. Roma (gypsies) Soviets Poles and Slavs Jehovah’s Witnesses Nazi political opponents

What is Genocide? Genocide: acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. The Holocaust is not the only genocide in history. In fact, genocide still happens today! Soviet Ukraine Cambodia Rwanda Armenians Yugoslavia Darfur

What factors led to the Holocaust? Totalitarianism and extreme nationalism Anti-Semitism Extreme prejudice and hatred towards Jews Belief in Aryan supremacy, or a “master race” Nazis believed that Germans represented a superior form of humanity The “master race” is believed to be made of non-Jewish Caucasians typically with blonde hair and blue eyes, called the Aryan race

What factors led to the Holocaust? Nazis blamed the problems of the world on the Jews As a way to incite anti-Semitism, pamphlets like this one were spread throughout Europe and America alleging the Jewish elders were plotting against Western society.

How were Jews discriminated against? Boycott of Jewish stores Threats Segregation Couldn’t work for the government Couldn’t go to public events Imprisonment and killing of Jews and others in concentration camps and death camps

Kristallnacht “Night of Broken Glass” November 9, 1938: Nazi organized violence against Jews. They were beat and their homes and businesses destroyed. After this, Jewish people were fined by the government and forced into all Jewish neighborhoods called ghettos.

Inside of a synagogue in Nuremburg, Germany after the destruction on Kristallnacht.

Segregation Beginning in 1939, Jews were removed from their homes and forced to live in all Jewish neighborhoods called ghettos. They were required to wear a star that identified them as Jewish.

Life in the Ghettos

The Final Solution Moving Jews to Ghettos wasn’t enough for the Nazis. Soon after, they began to deport them to “work camps.” It would soon be found that these were actually concentration and death camps. “Arbeit macht frei”= “Work makes one free”

Deportation Jews were transported by boxcar 100+ people in one car Doors were bolted shut No place to sit down Often people were forced to pay for their transportation No food or water given

Concentration and Death Camps Major camps: Auschwitz Dachau

Conditions Overcrowding Little food Forced labor Medical experiments Torture/interrogations Gas chambers Called baths or showers. Many victims had no idea they were going to their deaths. Crematoriums Prisoners were forced to work in the crematoriums, removing valuables from the victims before burning the bodies.

Liberation Survivors of the camps were liberated (freed) by the Allies Began in 1944, after D-Day, and continued into 1945 The world was stunned. In all, nearly 11 million people lost their lives.

Why? Because it still happens today! Intolerance is not over. YOU can make it better, starting with your peers. Watch what this Holocaust survivor has to say. The Holocaust- a summary

Nazi tactics against Jews Aryan supremacy: Nazi belief that Germans represented a superior form of humanity. Usually blonde haired and blue eyed. Anti-Semitism: Extreme prejudice and hatred towards Jews. Holocaust: the systematic attempt to rid Europe of all Jews. **The Holocaust ended with the liberation by Allied forces of Jews and others who survived in concentration camps. Threats Imprisonment and killing of Jews and others in concentration and death camps Nazi tactics against Jews Boycott of Jewish stores Segregation