Soviet army pushes east, begins liberating concentration camps Aug 25: Allied army liberates Paris, DeGaulle rejoins the Allies as they push German army into Belgium Soviet army pushes east, begins liberating concentration camps Dec 1944: Hitler pulls troops out of east and launches massive counter attack in Belgium called Battle of the Bulge Jan ‘45: Despite initial success at the Ardennes forest, Germany loses D-Day Battle of the Bulge

What was life like in Nazi Germany? Life in Nazi Germany What was life like in Nazi Germany?

Hitler Eliminates Enemies As Fuhrer (Supreme Leader), Hitler bans all other political parties Hitler names Rudolf Hess Dep. Fuhrer Heinrich Himmler head of the SS  eliminate political enemies - Gestapo: secret police  terrorize citizens into obedience

Ministry of Propaganda 1933: Hitler appoints Joseph Goebbels as Minister of Propaganda promote Reich and blame Jews/others for pre-war problems burning of books written by Jews or anti-Nazi authors Children joined the Hitler Youth or League of German Girls

2:08 – 7:32

Nuremberg Laws 1935: two sets of laws passed in Germany defining race & citizenship 1) Protection of German Blood & Honor – race A) Racial categories: German, Jew, & Mischling (grade 1 & 2) B) Law forbids the marriage of Jews to non-Jews

2) Reich Citizenship Law Must be German to be citizen Only citizens have full rights

Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor [Sept. 1935] Section 1 1. Marriages between Jews and citizens of German or kindred blood are forbidden. Marriages concluded in defiance of this law are void, even if, for the purpose of evading this law, they were concluded abroad. 2. Proceedings for annulment may be initiated only by the Public Prosecutor. Section 2 Sexual relations outside marriage between Jews and nationals of German or kindred blood are forbidden. Section 3 Jews will not be permitted to employ female citizens of German or kindred blood as domestic servants. Section 4 1. Jews are forbidden to display the Reich and national flag or the national colors. 2. On the other hand they are permitted to display the Jewish colors. The exercise of this right is protected by the State. Section 5 1. A person who acts contrary to the prohibition of Section 1 will be punished with hard labor. 2. A person who acts contrary to the prohibition of Section 2 will be punished with imprisonment or with hard labor. 3. A person who acts contrary to the provisions of Sections 3 or 4 will be punished with imprisonment up to a year and with a fine, or with one of these penalties.

Kristallnacht “Night of Broken Glass” 1938: a 17-year old Jewish man shoots a German diplomat, (upset his father was deported to Poland) Nazi blame all Jews and launch an attack against all Jews - smash and burn Jewish businesses & homes - synagogues bombed - thousands of Jews arrested by Gestapo

00:30 – 4:25

Relocation to the Ghettos after Kristallnacht, Jews in Germany try to get out ~400K already emigrated to Palestine - GB closes it  unsure what do w/ Arabs already there ships carrying immigrants like St. Louis not permitted into US & other countries Nazis realized Jews can’t get to other countries  began to deport - segregated into ghettos (mostly in Poland) - forced to wear star

Nazi Genocide The Holocaust in Europe What events led to the Final Solution?

The Holocaust in Europe plan of genocide  “the Final Solution” Jews, Gypsies, Poles, Slavs, Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexuals & Communists considered “subhumans”  eliminated by SS Killing Squads use poison gas (Zkylon-B) to kill faster people shipped to work camps (mostly in Poland) - become death camps gas chambers kill up to 6,000 per day  Auschwitz largest and most notorious camp

Holocaust in Europe mostly ended with German surrender 6 million Jews had been murdered and survivors had to start over Allied troops found the camps  had no idea what they were dealing with remaining Nazi camp Commandants, or camp leaders, fled

German Citizens Readjustment Period some knew – others didn’t difficult and dangerous to question Hitler & the Nazis Anti-Semitism was strong and many turned a blind eye Readjustment Period husbands, sons, daughters were gone; finding survivors was not easy Property rights of stolen goods and homes were not honored few got wealth or property back

Suicide Suicide Suicide Feb-Apr 1945: Allied planes bombing cities (25K killed in Dresden) April 1945: Allies & Soviets enter Germany April 30: Hitler and closest associates in his private bunker Hitler & wife commit suicide Propaganda minister Goebbels & SS Chief Himmler commit suicide May 7: Germany unconditionally surrenders (V-E Day) Suicide Suicide Suicide

Nuremberg Trials camp leaders and Nazis were put on trial for crimes against humanity Of over 7000 SS guards who worked at Auschwitz, fewer than 800 put on trial and 90% of those involved were never prosecuted