The Holocaust Dropping of an Atomic Bomb Atrocities of WWII The Holocaust Dropping of an Atomic Bomb

Nazi anti-Semitism Anti-Semitism: hostility or prejudice toward Jews A major characteristic of the Nazi party ideology Why single out the Jews? Hitler promoted the idea of the perfect Aryan race Used Jews as a scapegoat for German problems

Attacks on German Jews Nuremburg Laws 1935- stripped Jews of their German citizenship Kristallnacht 1938- “Night of Broken Glass” – two nights of rampage in which Jewish businesses and places of worship were destroyed

Attacks on German Jews Ghettos- an area in city in which Jews were confined within its borders Could not leave Extremely crowded Scarce food – lots starved Concentration Camps Prisons – labor, horrible conditions

The Final Solution Hitler introduced his plan for the Jewish race- complete and total destruction A genocide (destruction of an entire race) of ALL Jews in Europe …. And many other groups Added 6 new camps – purely extermination camps – individuals were killed on arrival… usually in a gas chamber. Nazis were responsible for the death of 6 million European Jews and 5 million others

Pastor Martin Niemoller, A German Theologian First the Nazis went after the Jews But I was not a Jew So I did not object Then they went after the Catholics But I was not a Catholic Then they went after the Trade Unionists But I was not a Trade Unionist Then they came for me And there was no one left to object Numbers of German Holocaust 5,820,960 Jews 4,800,000 Poles/Slavs 250,000 Gypsies 250,000 Physically/Mentally . Handicapped 80,000 Freemasons 27,000 Political Prisoners 25,000 African-Germans 15,000 Homosexuals 10,000 Oppositional Clergy 5,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses Pastor Martin Niemoller, A German Theologian 10

Response to the Holocaust Initially, America had limited immigration to the U.S. to many European Jews Anti-Semitism was not uncommon in the U.S. The liberation of the camps displayed the horrors to the world and thought changed War Refugee Board- established by Roosevelt in 1944 it aided rescue victims of enemy oppression Nuremburg Trials- established after WWII to try those accused of crimes against humanity – 22 Nazis tried for their crimes against the Jews, 12 sentenced to death

The Aftermath of Holocaust Migrations of Jews Across Europe and to U.S. and Latin America NOT to U.S.S.R. due to Pogroms Establishment of Israel British territory established state Conflicts in Israel

Other Atrocities of WWII

Other Atrocities of WWII Bataan Death March American troops forced on 60 mile march No food or water Brutal treatment – beheadings, throat cutting, etc 18,000 killed Rape of Nanking Invasion of Nanking by Japanese troops Killed over 260,000 – many as part of “sword games” Raped estimated 80,000 women Brought to tribunal for war crimes 14

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Other Atrocities of WWII Atomic Bombs Dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by U.S. Destroyed 2 mile radius, fire beyond center, radiation Up to 275,000 deaths, many injuries, birth defects Japanese Internment U.S. citizens of Japanese (110,000) decent sent to camps Property confiscated or forced to be sold Accused of spying (men, women, children, babies) Poor camp conditions (food, housing, heat) “Americanized” while in camps 16

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