The HolocaustThe Holocaust

• Nuremberg LawsNuremberg Laws– Strip Jews of CitizenshipStrip Jews of Citizenship– Forbid marriage between Jews and Non Forbid marriage between Jews and Non

JewsJews– Other requirementsOther requirements

• Register PropertyRegister Property

• Carry Identity CardsCarry Identity Cards

The HolocaustThe Holocaust

• Gestapo, SA, & SSGestapo, SA, & SS– Tracked down and arrested opponents of the Tracked down and arrested opponents of the

Nazis and threw them into concentration Nazis and threw them into concentration campscamps

– Concentration Camps Concentration Camps

                      Heinrich Himmler

Head of SS & Chief of German Police, later will also control Gestapo under the SS

Head of Concentration Camp Security

In Charge of Carrying out “Final Solution

The HolocaustThe Holocaust• KristallnachtKristallnacht

– 1938 “night of broken glass1938 “night of broken glass– When organized attacks on Jews beganWhen organized attacks on Jews began– Looting and destroying Jewish stores, Looting and destroying Jewish stores,

houses, and synagogueshouses, and synagogues– Mass arrests of Jews followedMass arrests of Jews followed

The HolocaustThe Holocaust• St. LouisSt. Louis Ship Ship

– About 900 Jews refused entrance into AmericaAbout 900 Jews refused entrance into America

• Evian Conference (1938)Evian Conference (1938)– All but one of 29 countries refused to ease their All but one of 29 countries refused to ease their

immigration laws to deal with Jewish refugees immigration laws to deal with Jewish refugees fleeing Germanyfleeing Germany

• War Refugee Board (1944)War Refugee Board (1944)– Try help people threatened w/ murder by NazisTry help people threatened w/ murder by Nazis– Help save some 200,000 livesHelp save some 200,000 lives– Less successful in bringing Jews to America, only Less successful in bringing Jews to America, only

about a 1,000 refugeesabout a 1,000 refugees

The HolocaustThe Holocaust• Wannasee ConferenceWannasee Conference

– Decide on “Final Solution”– German government announce plan calling for genocide,

or deliberate destruction of Europe’s Jewish population The SS Einsatzgruppen

This picture says it all. In the process of undressing, this girl waits with her family to be shot.

She has not the will to even look as her picture is taken. In total resignation,

her face looks downwards as she leans against her mother.Leipaja, Latvia. Dec. 1941

The HolocaustThe Holocaust

• Death CampsDeath Camps

– Like concentration camps but used only for mass murder, mainly of JewsLike concentration camps but used only for mass murder, mainly of Jews

– Buchenwald, Auschwitz, Treblinka, DachauBuchenwald, Auschwitz, Treblinka, Dachau

– Elderly, weak, & many women w/ children kill immediately, survivors had head Elderly, weak, & many women w/ children kill immediately, survivors had head shaved and number tattooed on armshaved and number tattooed on arm

– Unbearable conditions=malnutrition, crowded cold barracks, no bathrooms or Unbearable conditions=malnutrition, crowded cold barracks, no bathrooms or beds, harsh laborbeds, harsh labor

The HolocaustThe Holocaust• Nuremberg TrialsNuremberg Trials

– Trial of 24 leading Nazis for crimes against humanity– Established principle that individuals were responsible

for their own actions