Warm-Up What is your opinion of the use of nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Explain your answer in detail.

The Holocaust Throughout WWII, Germany was also working to exterminate the Jewish Population. The Holocaust is the mass murder or genocide of 6 million Jews throughout Europe. Hitler is a racist who uses the Jews as a scapegoat for Germany’s problems. SLIDE 12 – NUREMBERG LAWS - The rise of the Nazi party and tools of power                 In 1933, the President of the German Republic appointed Hitler the position of Chancellor of Germany. The President was old and ill and he realized that his political party was losing power and the Nazi party was getting stronger. Within weeks, Germany changed from being a republic to being a dictatorship. Hitler opened the first concentration camp – Dachau. The first prisoners were people to oppose his new vision of government: Jehovah’s Witnesses, political criminals, and handicapped people. A republic is a form of government in which the citizens entitled to vote holds supreme power. A dictatorship is a form of government in which one person, who is historically brutal and oppressive, holds absolute power. Germany soon passed the laws that took away the rights of the Jewish people and the reign of terror began. Harsh, discriminatory laws (the Nuremberg Laws) were intended to make Jews want to leave Germany. Those discriminatory laws can be summarized in one sentence, “You have no right to live among us as Jews.” Through time that sentence became “You have no right to live among us.” Ultimately, the law became, “You have no right to live.”

The Jewish People A monotheistic religion that follows the Hebrew Bible, called the Torah Jews believe that God revealed commandments and laws to Moses. Star of David is the Jewish Symbol Hitler not only considered the Jews a religion but a race.

Groups 1 Reporter of Data 1 Image Analyzers

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Discrimination The Holocaust begins with discrimination against the Jews. Propaganda is produced which demonizes Jews and uplifts “Aryans”. The Nazi party blame Jews for causing the economic problems in Germany. The Nazi party claims that people of Aryan descent are superior to Jews. Aryans are defined as being tall with blonde hair and blue eyes.

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SLIDE 13 – “YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO LIVE AMONG US AS JEWS.”   Having to wear yellow stars on clothing.

Restriction Next, Jews were forced to wear a Star of David, which identifies them as Jewish. Jews are forced to live together in ghettos, which had cramped living quarters are were unsanitary.

BADGES OF HATE! SLIDE 18 – BADGES OF HATE Badges – labeling system   Badges – labeling system The German government had a mandated labeling system that identified members of so-called undesirable groups. Wearing symbols or badges stripped away the humanity of the people who wore them. Example of present day possibilities: Imagine if you were segregated out because you were left handed, or if you received a poor grade in school.

SLIDE 19 – ACTUAL BADGES

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Concentration Camps After the establishment of Ghettos, Hitler creates concentration camps throughout Nazi territory. Jews are rounded up and transported to the camps, much like cattle.

Hitler establishes concentration camps

“Work will set you free” Entrance to Auschwitz “Work will set you free” SLIDE 27 - CAMP ENTRANCE: "ARBEIT MACHT FREI“ – “Work Will Set You Free”  Above the gated-entry into the camp was a slogan - "Arbeit Macht Frei" which means "Work will set you free." While the Nazis did use some prisoners as slave laborers, killing was the major goal of this camp. Another mind game example. Once they were separated by sex, the victims waited in long lines to be checked by a doctor. He decided who would go to the gas chambers. Old people, sick people, women with children under 14, and all pregnant women were told to remove their clothing and then they were led to the shower rooms which were actually the gassing chambers. Guards threw canisters into the "showers" which exploded. At the end of 15 minutes, if the guard saw no one standing, doors were opened, bodies removed and an exhaust fan cleaned the bad air before the next group of people were brought in. Before the bodies were taken to the crematorium, a person's head was shaved and all dental work was removed. Then the bodies were placed in the ovens to burn.

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Concentration Camps Workers and children in concentration camps are subjected to horrific living conditions. Disease and starvation kill millions of Jews.

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The Final Solution When allied troops enter Germany, they realize what Germany has done to the Jewish population. “The Final Solution” is what the Nazi party termed the extermination of the Jews. At Concentration camps, Jews were selected for work or death. Jews who appeared healthy were allowed to live, those who appeared weak were murdered. In many cases, Jews in a particular city were rounded up and murdered on the spot.

SLIDE 15 – “YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO LIVE.”   Sent to concentration camps and/or death camps. Photo credit: Leopold Page Photographic Collection

A German policeman shoots individual Jewish women who remain alive in the ravine after the mass execution. THEY HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO LIE, FACE DOWN ON THE GROUND AND HAVE BEEN SHOT. THE GERMAN POLICEMAN IS SHOOTING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ESCAPED DEATH FROM THE INITIAL ROUND OF BULLETS. THIS IS HORRIFIC BUT WE CANNOT SEE THE INDIVIDUAL FACES OF THOSE KILLED, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHO THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY REALLY LOOKED LIKE. SO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS NEXT PICTURE...

Smoke rises as the bodies are burnt. NO. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE MURDERED GREW ESPECIALLY HIGH, NAZIS BURNED THE BODIES. SO WHAT OTHER METHODS WERE USED TO SYSTEMATICALLY MURDER THESE PEOPLE?

The Final Solution 67% of the Jewish population is killed during the Holocaust