The holocaust January 1933 – May 1945

Starving prisoners at a German camp. What Was It? The Holocaust was the systematic, government- sponsored mass murder of nearly 11,000,000 people. Performed by the Nazis in Germany during the WWII era. Lead by Adolf Hitler. Starving prisoners at a German camp.

Why did it happen? “Warmongers” “War Extenders” In 1921 Adolf Hitler became leader of the Nazi party. The Nazis were racists and believed that their Aryan race was superior to others. Anti-Semitism-Hatred of Jews. Hatred of other non-German groups Other ethnic or “undesirable” groups Homosexuals (or suspected homosexuals) Disabled people Romani (People from the Indian Subcontinent living in Europe) Jehovah’s Witnesses Many others Did not want to use resources to feed prisoners of war “Master Race” - (blonde hair & blue eyes) Aryan was anyone who was European and not Jewish, Romany or Slavic “Warmongers” “War Extenders”

Anti-Semitism in Europe Anti-Semitism existed in Europe since the Middle Ages (5th-15th centuries) Based largely on religion Crusades made it worse Christian Europeans did not care what happened to Jews. Jews were resented for owning businesses. Many were doing OK financially when others in Germany were suffering. Vokisch Movement A return to traditional German folk way- of-life “Scientific” racism Considered Jews naturally inferior “The Wandering Jew” A documentary film on the world of Judaism

A pin that someone might wear to show their loyalty to the Nazi Party What is a Nazi? Nazi is short for Nationalsozialist National Socialist German Workers’ Party Political Party in Germany from 1920-1945 The party wanted to draw workers away from communism and into ethnic nationalism. Had the idea that a perfect “Aryan Race” could be created. Undesirables, such as non- German ethnic groups, needed to be eliminated. A pin that someone might wear to show their loyalty to the Nazi Party

Who was Adolf Hitler? Leader of the Nazi Party Chancellor and dictator of Germany 1934-1945 Upset over the treatment of Germany after WWI Had goals for Germany Capture more land for German people (successful) Rearm Germany (successful) Employ Germans (successful) Exterminate undesirables so Germany could be reserved for “pure” Germans (successful) Committed suicide on April 30, 1945 to avoid capture by the Russians.

Nazi Power and the Third Reich The Nazi Party took power in Germany in 1933. All done legally Winning elections Hitler was open about his hatred of Jews, but he didn’t run around saying he wanted to kill them all. Many Jews left Germany at this time. Albert Einstein was one of them. Jews and other groups were persecuted. Nazis, Hitler, and SS used violence against anyone that opposed them.

1933 Law for Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring Any person suffering from a hereditary disease may be rendered incapable of procreation by means of a surgical operation (sterilization), if the experience of medical science shows that it is highly probable that his descendants would suffer from some serious physical or mental hereditary defect. For the purposes of this law, any person will be considered as hereditarily diseased who is suffering from any one of the following diseases: –(1) Congenital Mental Deficiency,(2) Schizophrenia,(3) Manic- Depressive Insanity,(4) Hereditary Epilepsy,(5) Hereditary Chorea (Huntington’s),(6) Hereditary Blindness,(7) Hereditary Deafness,(8) Any severe hereditary deformity.(3) Any person suffering from severe alcoholism may be also rendered incapable of procreation. “We do not stand alone” The flags are other nations that were considering similar laws.

Jewish Rights in the 1930’s A number of laws were passed to restrict the rights of Jews in Germany. Could not have Civil Service jobs- lawyers, teachers, judges, etc. Could not own farms or work on farms Could not attend college Could not own or edit newspapers 1938, Regulations Against Jews’ Possession of Weapons Jews could not manufacture or own firearms or ammunition

Kristallnacht, November 9 & 10, 1938 Jewish stores, buildings, and synagogues were attacked across Germany. Burned Damaged in other ways “Organized” by the Nazi Party. At least 91 Jews killed. 30,000 Jews arrested and sent to concentration camps. 7,000 businesses destroyed 1,000 Synagogues burned A synagogue that was burned during Kristallnacht. Lines of Jews who were arrested for being Jewish during Kristallnacht.

The gate says, “Work will make you free.” Concentration camps Concentration: as-in many were in one place, or concentrated there. Used to house undesirables & political opponents. Prisoners became slave labor for the German war effort. The Nazis did not want to pay to feed the prisoners, so they were simply, and literally, worked to death. The gate says, “Work will make you free.”

The Concentration Camp experience Living quarters for prisoners at a concentration camp Prisoners arrived on trains and were herded like cattle. Jews were forced to wear patches that identified them. Thousands of concentration camp prisoners died within their first week of freedom from malnutrition and disease

Meanwhile, WWII is raging It’s actually pretty complicated. But Germany started WWII by trying to gain land from the surrounding countries. The United States did not enter the war until 1941. Germany & Italy vs. the rest of Europe and the U.S.

Ghettos are established Starting in 1940 the Nazis needed a place to send people before they went to camps. Basically, they were arresting so many people there was no place to keep them Ghettos were located inside cities and were run by Jewish community leaders. They tried only to send people to camps who committed crimes punishable by death. They were responsible for taking care of the inhabitants of the Ghetto. The conditions in Ghettos were horrible, and some people just died in the streets.

The Final Solution This was a Nazi term for dealing with the Jews. Death was the final solution. In the minds of Nazis and Hitler: It was a waste of resources to keep Jews alive. Jews did not deserve to live Germany, and really the world, would be better if there were no Jews. This led to Death Squads and Extermination Camps.

A Jewish man about to be executed by a Death Squad Death Squads These were made up of people in countries that Germany was conquering. They wanted to prove that they were loyal to Germany so they would not be punished. They also thought that if there were no Jews or other undesirables in their town the Nazis would leave them alone. Executions were carried out in public. Roughly 2,200,000 people were killed this way. A Jewish man about to be executed by a Death Squad

Auschwitz II Extermination Camp Extermination Camps Exterminate-To get rid of by destroying completely, kill, murder, slaughter, or eliminate. These camps were set up for the sole purpose of killing prisoners. All prisoners arrived by train. They were told to go into a room to shower and get a meal. Up to 2,000 people would go into the room, the doors were locked, and poisonous gas was pumped in. A few people might be spared if they seemed fit to work, but they would probably die from starvation eventually. Auschwitz II Extermination Camp Gas Chamber

A mass grave at one of the camps More death As the war drew to an end, Nazi officials worried about being punished for their crimes. Evidence of the killings was covered up. Death marches-forcing any remaining prisoners to march to a camp deep within Germany. Most died of exposure and starvation. A mass grave at one of the camps

How did it all end? Germany lost WWII. The good guys came in and freed any prisoners that they found. USA, Great Britain, France, Russia Hitler and a few others killed themselves because they were afraid of being caught. 24 German officials were tried for their crimes. 19 were found guilty. 12 of them were sentenced to death. Hermann Goring-one of the men sentenced to death. He committed suicide the night before his execution.

Death totals 5,900,000 Jews 2,000,000-3,000,000 Soviet POWs 2,000,000 Poles Other ethnic or “undesirable” groups Homosexuals (or suspected homosexuals) Disabled people Romani (People from the Indian Subcontinent living in Europe) Jehovah’s Witnesses Many others Around 11,000,000 people were killed by order of Hitler and the Nazis.