The Holocaust 1933-1945

What is the Holocaust? Holocaust - The destruction of some 6 million Jews by the Nazis and their followers in Europe between the years 1933-1945. Other individuals and groups were persecuted and suffered grievously during this period, but only the Jews were marked for complete and utter extinction.

What is Genocide? The Systematic and purposeful destruction of a racial, political, religious, or cultural group. Some Past and Current Genocides: The Holocaust Soviet Ukraine Cambodia Rwanda Yugoslavia Darfur

Pyramid of Hate This pyramid shows how hate can escalate into something more than just discrimination but into extermination.

Elements Leading to the Holocaust Totalitarianism combined with Nationalism History of Anti-Semitism Defeat in World War I Hitler’s belief in the Master Race

Totalitarianism Centralized control by an autocratic authority and the political concept that the citizens should be totally subjected to an absolute state authority

Nationalism Loyalty and devotion to a nation; and a sense of national consciousness exalting ones nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups.

Anti-Semitism Hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group.

Master Race Used in Nazism to designate a supposed master race of Non-Jewish Caucasians usually having Nordic features. Blond hair and Blue eyes Known as the Aryan Race Chart Showing the Races of Germany

Nuremberg Laws Germany - 1935 Defined who was a Jew Deprived Jews of political rights

Kristallnacht 1938 - Germany “Night of the Broken Glass” Organized violence against Jews throughout Germany and Austria

The fire department only made sure the fire did not spread to the building next to the synagogue

View of the interior of the Essenweinstrasse synagogue in Nuremberg following its destruction during Kristallnacht.

Ghettos 1939-45 - German occupied territories Small areas of a city where Jews were isolated

Einsatzgruppen 1941 - Poland and Russia Mobile Killing Squads

Final Solution Ghettos Camps Transportation Gas Chambers Crematories

Transportation Systematic Deportation 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.

Deportations 1939-1945 - Throughout Europe Movement of Jews to ghettos and then to camps

Jews board a deportation train at the railroad station in Würzburg.

Hundreds of Jews wait to board deportation trains at the railroad station in Würzburg. Their luggage and bed rolls are piled in the center of the platform.

Concentration Camps Types of Camps Major Camps Concentration/Labor Extermination/Death Major Camps Dauchau-Buchenwald Auschwitz Treblinkia Bikenau Types of Camps Concentration camps Forced labor Life in the camp was terrible There was overcrowding Low food rations Prisoners underwent interrogations to discover and information Cruel medical experiments conducted

Camps 1939-1945 - Throughout Europe Different types: labor camps, concentration camps, and death camps

“Work makes one free”

Gas Chambers Many victims did not know of their death Gas Chambers were referred to as Baths/Showers Zyklon B – was used as a poison Millions of people came to their deaths.

Crematoriums Prisoners were forced to staff the crematoriums. Their job was to remove all valuables from the victims.