The Holocaust Liberation

Band of brothers questions What do the allied soldiers find while patrolling? What type of conditions do the prisoners live in? What did the Germans do before deserting the work camp? What types of prisoners are in the work camp?

Definition Between 1933 and 1945, Germany’s government, led by Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist party, carried out a deliberate, calculated attack on European Jewry. Basing their actions on anti-Semitic ideology, and using World War II as a primary means to achieve their goals, they targeted Jews as their main enemy, killing 6 million Jewish men, women, and children by the time war ended. As part of their wide-reaching efforts to remove from German territory all those whom they considered racially, biologically, or socially unfit, the Nazis terrorized many other groups as well, including political opponents. In the course of state sponsored tyranny, the Nazis left countless lives shattered and millions dead.

Discussion Questions What types of people are in these photographs? What types of clothing are they wearing? What are the people in the photographs doing? Are there objects in the photographs? List them if appropriate. How are the individuals in the photographs using the objects? What do you think happened after a particular photograph was taken? What questions do these photographs raise in your mind? When do you think these photographs were taken? Why do you think these photographs were taken? How do these photographs fit into the definition of the Holocaust? What story do these photographs tell about the Holocaust? Write captions for three of these photographs. How would the caption be different if it were published in a Nazi newspaper, a Jewish-German newspaper, or in an American newspaper?

Identification cards Assume the role of the person on your identification card and write a brief letter or journal entry about what life was like for you during the Holocaust. Be sure to include details from: Prior knowledge about the Holocaust The Band of Brothers video clip Images from the gallery walk Your letter/diary entry should be 2-3 paragraphs long.

Systematic extermination of the Jewish population 6 million Jews died plus 6 million other undesirables Video

The Jews are our Misfortune Nazi anti-semitism Soon after taking power in 1933 Hitler began his campaign against the Jewish people. Nuremberg Laws (1935) Stripped Jews of German citizenship. Took away civil and economic rights Defined who was Aryan and who was Jewish. The Jews are our Misfortune

Kristallnacht While some Germans were repelled by Hitler’s actions Many Germans supported his anti-Semitic ideas. Discrimination and violent attacks against Jews continued. Anti-Jewish riots broke out in an attack called Kristallnacht, or The Night of Broken Glass. (1938) Jews were sent to concentration camps, killed, and fined for the attack.

After Kristallnacht many Jews attempted to leave Germany Over 100,000 managed to leave. However those without money found it difficult to leave Many nations were unwilling to take immigrants. Were placed in concentration camps – mainly work camps or experimental camps

Looking for Refuge

From Murder to Genocide 1939 -Invasion of Poland brought 2 million Jews under German control Placed in Ghettos – hunger, overcrowding, disease – death rate soared

The Final solution World War II brought many of Europe’s 9 million Jews under the control of the Nazi SS. The Wannsee conference (1942) Hitler called for the total destruction of all of Europe’s Jews.

1941: Experimented on Jews and Soviets for most efficient way to kill people Zyklon B: poison gas Created death camps: mass murder

Auschwitz 1.3 million deported 1.1 million murdered Oral History ^

America’s Response Despite knowing about Hitler’s policies toward the Jews American immigration limited the number of Jews who could move to the United States. In 1942, Americans officials began to hear about what was happening to the Jews in Europe. The Americans thought the reports might just be war rumors. Finally in 1944, Roosevelt created the War Refugee Board. Through this board, the United States was able to help 200,000 Jews.