The HolocaustThe HolocaustAn event of Human Suffering and An event of Human Suffering and

ignoranceignorance

The HolocaustThe Holocaust Def. - Nazi Germany’s systematic Def. - Nazi Germany’s systematic

murder of European Jewsmurder of European Jews 6 million Jews6 million Jews 2/3’s of Europe’s Jewish 2/3’s of Europe’s Jewish

populationpopulation

Holocaust Cont.Holocaust Cont.

6 million others’6 million others’

–Gypsies, mentally ill, physically Gypsies, mentally ill, physically disabled, homosexuals, disabled, homosexuals, homeless, Socialist, and homeless, Socialist, and CommunistCommunist

Anti-SemitismAnti-Semitism Persecution or hostility towards Persecution or hostility towards

JewsJews

Nuremberg LawsNuremberg Laws 19351935 Stripping of citizenship

–Forbid marriage b/w Jews and Forbid marriage b/w Jews and non-Jewsnon-Jews

–Banned Jewish doctors Banned Jewish doctors

from treating non-Jewsfrom treating non-Jews

Nuremberg Laws Cont.Nuremberg Laws Cont.

““Aryanize” Jewish business - Aryanize” Jewish business - dismissed Jewish managers and dismissed Jewish managers and employeesemployees

carry ID cards - Star of Davidcarry ID cards - Star of David

Nuremberg Laws ContNuremberg Laws Cont Warsaw GhettoWarsaw Ghetto

–Largest Jewish ghetto (Poland)Largest Jewish ghetto (Poland)

–450,000 Jews450,000 Jews

–30% of population30% of population

–In an area of 1.3 milesIn an area of 1.3 miles

Deportation / Deportation / Concentration CampsConcentration Camps

–Put on trains for concentration Put on trains for concentration camps - labor campscamps - labor camps

–Usually for POW’s and political Usually for POW’s and political leadersleaders

–Very harsh lifeVery harsh life–All work, very little All work, very little sleep or foodsleep or food

German EnforcementGerman Enforcement SASA - Storm Troopers - Storm Troopers SSSS - Einsatzgruppen – - Einsatzgruppen – mobile killing unitsmobile killing units

–Kill by firing squadKill by firing squad–Murder racial or political leaders Murder racial or political leaders

behind the front linesbehind the front lines

TerezinTerezin

German Concentration camp “given” to the German Concentration camp “given” to the Jews as a safe-houseJews as a safe-house

Hitler used Terezin as an example for Hitler used Terezin as an example for concentration camps when red Cross visitedconcentration camps when red Cross visited

Red Cross wasn’t permitted everywhere – Red Cross wasn’t permitted everywhere – Only areas in “good” conditionsOnly areas in “good” conditions

Show Propaganda video clipShow Propaganda video clip

German Enforcement Cont.German Enforcement Cont. GhettosGhettos

– Sealed off Jewish communities by barbed wire Sealed off Jewish communities by barbed wire or wallsor walls

– Often overcrowdedOften overcrowded– Lack of food and sanitationLack of food and sanitation– Brought about disease, increase in Brought about disease, increase in death ratedeath rate

GestapoGestapo– Secret PoliceSecret Police

KristallnachtKristallnacht November 9, 10, 1938November 9, 10, 1938 ““night of broken glass”night of broken glass” Destroyed Jewish stores, houses, Destroyed Jewish stores, houses,

and synagoguesand synagogues

Wannsee ConferenceWannsee Conference Plan for “Plan for “Final SolutionFinal Solution””

–Mass murder of JewsMass murder of Jews

–Death camps - extermination Death camps - extermination centers, ovens, gas chamberscenters, ovens, gas chambersZyklon BZyklon B

LiberationLiberation Def.Def. – to set free – to set free The Russians were 1The Russians were 1stst to liberate many to liberate many

campscamps Americans could not believe what they sawAmericans could not believe what they saw

Nuremberg TrialsNuremberg Trials Nov. 1945Nov. 1945 24 leading Nazis on trial 24 leading Nazis on trial

– Planning the warPlanning the war– Committing war crimesCommitting war crimes– Committing crimes against humanityCommitting crimes against humanity– Conspiring to commit crimesConspiring to commit crimes

Nuremberg Trials Cont.Nuremberg Trials Cont. 12 received the death penalty12 received the death penalty 7 received jail sentences7 received jail sentences 3 were acquitted3 were acquitted Thousands of other Nazis were tried and Thousands of other Nazis were tried and

jailed in other courtsjailed in other courts Most important – ind. were responsible for Most important – ind. were responsible for

their own actionstheir own actions

Nuremberg Trials Cont.Nuremberg Trials Cont. Escape to Latin and South AmericaEscape to Latin and South America

– Adolph Eichmann – architect of Jewish Adolph Eichmann – architect of Jewish extermination programextermination program

– Josef Mengele – Auschwitz’s “Angle of Death”Josef Mengele – Auschwitz’s “Angle of Death”