The Holocaust Some people & information to know

Why were Germans so upset? The Treaty of Versailles, which ended WWI, was harsh to Germany The Treaty of Versailles, which ended WWI, was harsh to Germany –War Guilt Clause: accept total blame for the war –Pay reparations to Allied governments for all damages to the countries & people –Reduce the German Army to 100,000 men –Reduce the Navy & eliminate the Air Force –Territories of Alsace & Lorraine were returned to France

Why were Germans so upset? In the early 1920’s inflation ran wild as the German gov’t continued to print money to pay workers salaries In the early 1920’s inflation ran wild as the German gov’t continued to print money to pay workers salaries In 1924, with the help of the Dawes Plan, the U.S. gave Germany a $200 million loan In 1924, with the help of the Dawes Plan, the U.S. gave Germany a $200 million loan From the situation improved as the U.S. heavily invested in Europe From the situation improved as the U.S. heavily invested in Europe

Inflation Run Wild!

The Great Depression What began as a U.S. problem quickly became a worldwide problem What began as a U.S. problem quickly became a worldwide problem American investment was fueling the rebuilding economies of Europe American investment was fueling the rebuilding economies of Europe When our depression began, the problem spread across the Atlantic When our depression began, the problem spread across the Atlantic In Germany 4.38 million people were unemployed in 1930 In Germany 4.38 million people were unemployed in 1930

Adolf Hitler Developed his ideas of anti-Semitism & German nationalism in Austria Developed his ideas of anti-Semitism & German nationalism in Austria Served 4 years in the German Army in WWI Served 4 years in the German Army in WWI Jailed in 1923 for staging an uprising against the gov’t Jailed in 1923 for staging an uprising against the gov’t Became the leader of the Nazi party in the Reichstag after his release from prision Became the leader of the Nazi party in the Reichstag after his release from prision

Why did people follow? Germany’s economic woes Germany’s economic woes Promised to create a New Germany Promised to create a New Germany Appealed to Germans: Appealed to Germans: –National Pride –National Honor –Traditional militarism Elected Chancellor of Germany on March 23, 1933 Elected Chancellor of Germany on March 23, 1933

Meet the Evil Men Behind Hitler Joseph Goebbels Joseph Goebbels –Propaganda minister –Known as one of the Nazi’s most devout anti-Semites –Viciously attacked Jews at every opportunity –Also in charge of German civilian morale during the war

Nazi Propaganda

Meet the Evil Men Behind Hitler Heinrich Himmler Heinrich Himmler –One of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany –Bears a great burden of responsibility for the Holocaust –In charge of the SS, concentration & extermination camps, and the death squads

The SS & Einsatzgruppen

Meet the Evil Men Behind Hitler Reinhard Heydrich Reinhard Heydrich –Chaired the Wannsee Conference where the “Final Solution” was developed –Organized Kristallnacht –Known as “The man with the iron heart” –One of the most powerful Nazis

The Final Solution The “Final solution to the Jewish problem” was agreed upon at the Wannsee Convention in The “Final solution to the Jewish problem” was agreed upon at the Wannsee Convention in The “Solution” was to deport and exterminate all Jews in German controlled territory. The “Solution” was to deport and exterminate all Jews in German controlled territory.

Map of the Camps