Holocaust Memorial Assembly

Rights Respecting Schools Award

‘You have the right to be protected from being hurt and mistreated, in body or mind.’

Article 19

The Holocaust

What is the Holocaust?

The term "Holocaust," originally from the

Greek word "holokauston" which means

"sacrifice by fire," refers to the Nazi's

persecution and planned slaughter of the

Jewish people. The Hebrew word "Shoah,"

which means "devastation, ruin, or waste," is

also used for this genocide

It is estimated that 11

million people were killed

during the Holocaust. Six

million of these were Jews.

The Nazis killed

approximately two-thirds of

all Jews living in Europe.

An estimated 1.1 million

children were murdered in

the Holocaust

Treaty of Versailles

Armistice first brought an

end to fighting in world

war 1, however it was

not until the treaty of

Versailles was signed

that Britain and Allies

could be certain of

peace.

Treaty of Versailles

The treaty gave Germany many ties which

they had to follow, the largest of these being

the 6.6billion which had to be paid back, as a

result of starting the war.

Rise of the Nazi’s

How was Hitler able to gain power which led to the holocaust?

He was a great speaker

The great depression of 1929 created poverty and unemployment, which made people angry and turned towards the extremist political parties such as the Communists and Nazis during the depression.

Propaganda campaign was very effective and it won support for the Nazis.

German people were still angry about the Treaty of Versailles and supported Hitler because he promised to overturn it.

Industrialists gave Hitler money and support.

How did Hitler’s Hatred Start?

Many theories exist of how Hitler’s hatred

began. Below is two of these.

Hitler’s hatred for Jews was first sparked

when his mother died at the hands of a

Jewish doctor

Hitler blamed Jews for the collapse of the

Germany economy and the defeat to

Germany of World War 1

Beginning of the holocaust

“Night of Broken Glass”

Zigi’s Story

Prior to visiting Auschwitz we attended a

seminar in Glasgow, in which we were

privileged enough to hear Zigi Shipper (who

himself was a prisoner at Auschwitz

concentration camp) tell his account of the

war. We would like to share this with you

today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVMKHM-8GaQ

Reflection of Zigi’s story

From this we learn the pain and misery the Jewish

people endured and how fortunate Zigi is to have

survived. This really brings home that people from all

walks of life were affected by the war.

This story really opens our eyes to the fact that

survival was just circumstance and that in order to

stop history repeating itself we need to make people

aware of it to try and protect our future.

Auschwitz History

The request for Auschwitz to be

established as a concentration camp

happened within months of the Nazi

occupation of Poland. By the end of

1940 the camp was functioning

On 27th January 1945 the Red Army

liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Nazi Concentration and Death Camps

Auschwitz 1

This what lies above

the entrance to

Auschwitz 1. this

shows that the

prisoners thought

that they were

coming to a better

life as the translation

is “work sets you

free”

Auschwitz 1

Of the 6 tones

of human hair

found at

Auschwitz, 2

tonnes are on

display

Auschwitz 1

Auschwitz 1

Auschwitz 1

As a result of the

levels of defense and

security that would

have been present in

these concentration

camps, it would have

been nearly

impossible to escape

Auschwitz Birkenau

On approach to

Auschwitz

Birkenau you are

greeted by the

railway tracks

which approach

the most well

known building in

Auschwitz

Auschwitz Birkenau

The vast scale and

nature of this camp is

evidently visible when

looking from above

Auschwitz Birkenau

This picture highlights how little has changed

within Auschwitz

Living conditions in Auschwitz

Living conditions in Auschwitz

Extermination by Charlotte Delbo

“Them that begin by burning

books, end by burning men”

Heinrich Heine