BELLWORK 1.What was decided at the Yalta Conference? 2.Why did Hitler commit suicide? 3.Why does Germany surrender? 4.Look at the graph on page 515  Which country had the most military deaths? Which country had the most civilian deaths? The U.S. suffered 2,000 civilian deaths – what factors account for this comparatively low estimate? 5.THINKER: Now that war in Europe is over, what do you think the countries should do to help rebuild and restore trust in the government?

Effects in post-WWII Germany Germany was totally defeated, and the Nazi regime brought down. Its leaders were tried for crimes against humanity at Nuremberg. German cities were in ruins from a massive bombing campaign. Germany was divided into 4 zones of occupation by the victorious powers

Effects in post-WWII England England was devastated by the war, having experienced extensive bombing during the 1940 blitz by the Germans. The economy depended on recovery & aid from the United States. England rapidly phased out most of its remaining colonies in the years immediately following the war.

Effects in post-WWII France France had not experienced the enormous human losses sustained in the First World War, but would have to recover from the effects of Nazi occupation. Like England, France would be compelled to dismantle its colonial empire in the years following the war. This was a particularly traumatic and drawn out process for the French, in Algeria and in Vietnam where they fought prolonged and bitter wars in an attempt to maintain their colonial control. England and France no longer held a status of power comparable to the United States or the Soviet Union.

Effects in post-WWII Soviet Union The Soviets had suffered immeasurably during the war, and western SU was devastated by the land warfare which was primarily on Soviet territory. But, in the process of defeating the Germans, the Russians had built a large and powerful army, which occupied most of Eastern Europe at the end of the war. The great resources and population of SU assured that the Soviet Union would be, along with the United States, one of two super- powers.

Effects in post-WWII United States The United States economy was greatly stimulated by the war, even more so than in World War I. The depression was brought to an end, and new industrial centers were built all over the United States. By avoiding the physical destruction of war, the U.S. economy dominated the world economy. After 4 years of military buildup, the U.S. had also become the leading military power. The position of the United States as world leader was now more obvious than ever.

Discussion When Allied troops invaded central Europe, they began to liberate concentration camps. For many, this was the first time they saw the horrors of war and genocide. Before we talk about the Holocaust, let’s discuss a few questions…. What is genocide? What racial, ethnic, or cultural groups have been subjected to genocide in the past or in the present? What steps could a country take to eliminate genocide? Should the U.S. help other countries that are experiencing genocide?

“Once I really am in power, my first and foremost task will be the annihilation of the Jews... until all Germany has completely been cleansed of Jews.” –Adolf Hitler

Anti-Semitism Aryans > Semites When Hitler became leader in 1933, he made anti-Semitism (discrimination directed at Jews) the official policy of Germany. This hatred led to the Holocaust: Nazi Germany’s mass murder of European Jews. Included Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, disabled, mentally challenged, communists, homeless, and dissenters. Enforced by the Gestapo: Nazi secret police Nuremburg Laws: 1935 series of anti-Semitic laws; defined racial laws; revoked citizenship from Jews

Kristallnacht “Night of the Broken Glass” November 9, 1938: Nazi thugs in Germany and Austria destroyed Jewish stores, houses and synagogues.

Warsaw ghetto Nazi plans for dealing with Jews included establishment of ghettos: areas in which minority groups are concentrated. Nazis took 30% of Warsaw’s pop. and sealed them off in the Warsaw ghetto. Ghettos were surrounded with walls barbed wire.

Concentration Camps

1.Labor Camps 2.Transit and Collection Camps 3.POW Camps 4.Education Camps 5.Hostage Camps 6.Extermination/Death Camps

German Jewish Family before the war- only two survived the Holocaust

A sign, in both German and Latvian, warning that people attempting to cross the fence or to contact inhabitants of the Riga ghetto will be shot. Riga, Latvia,

Deportation of Jewish children from an orphanage. Lodz ghetto, Poland.

Jews move into the Kovno ghetto. Lithuania, 1941.

Child forced laborer in a ghetto factory. Kovno, Lithuania, between 1941 and 1944

A child eats in the streets of the Warsaw ghetto. Warsaw, Poland.

Children eating in the ghetto streets. Warsaw, Poland.

A Jewish victim of life in a concentration camp

Mass grave of Holocaust victims

Once the people were killed, they were cremated in large furnaces like this one

Auschwitz

3 million died here by systematic starvation, forced labor, lack of disease control, individual executions, and "medical experiments". Camp was divided into three parts: –Auschwitz I – administration –Auschwitz II – extermination camp –Auschwitz III – labor camp Soviet troops liberated the camp on April 19, 1945, which came to be known as Holocaust Remembrance day.

Medical Experimentations

Allied Help Witold Pilecki: Polish army captain who agreed to spend 945 days in Auschwitz. He gathered evidence of genocide and sent it to Britain. Two prisoners, Rudolf Vrba and Alfred Wetzler, escaped and gave a detailed report about the camp. Convinced Allied leaders about the truth of Auschwitz.

Birkenau Revolt On October 7, 1944, the Jewish Sonderkommandos of Auschwitz II staged an uprising. They attacked prison guards and blew up the Crematorium IV. Joined by other inmates who overpowered guards and broke out of the compound.

Liberation of Auschwitz In November 1945, generals ordered the crematoriums to be destroyed before the Red Army reached Auschwitz. Gas chambers were blown up to hide evidence of German crimes. The Death March: there were 60,000 prisoners left in Auschwitz. Forced them to walk to Loslau, another Polish concentration camp. 15,000 died on the way, but eventually Soviet forces infiltrated all camps.

Holocaust Comes to an End In 1944, FDR created War Refugee Board (WRB): programs and funding to help rescue Jews Nazis began abandoning camps for fear of Allied advances. In 1945, American armies reached the concentration camps. Nuremburg Trials: Former Nazi leaders on trial for crimes against peace, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. 24 Nazi defendants – 12 executed

Total Deaths: 9-11 Million

Holocaust Facts Jewish Population Greek Origin Maria Mandel Amount of Z-clon B Nazi Escape Grave Discovery Berlin Olympics Chocolate

Where was America? Did Americans know the Holocaust was happening? If so, why didn’t they do anything earlier? Why did they wait so long to help? Similar stories during WWI Thought it was an exaggeration Major news sources downplayed its importance –New York Times reported the victims as “refugees” –Were timid about mixed Jewish – German readership –Never highlighted its importance

CLOSURE What fact/term/concept/idea about the Holocaust sticks out the most to you? Explain! Many German citizens knew about the Holocaust as it was happening but chose to do nothing. Do you think this makes them just as guilty? –What could they have done to help? –What might have happened if they decided to speak out against the government?