Night History & Background Information Night by Elie Wiesel

Elie Wiesel ( ) Born in Sighet, a village in Transylvania, Romania Jewish Forced to live in a ghetto during World War II 1944 – taken to Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland Separated from mother and sisters Never saw them again Had to go on a “death march” which he describes in Chapter 6 of Night 1945 – Allies liberated the concentration camp 1985 – won the Congressional Medal of Freedom won the Nobel Peace Prize

Night Memoir = type of autobiography that concentrates on a particular period or series of events An account of Wiesel’s experience as a young Jew in Nazi Germany and in concentration camps (between 1941 and 1945) Considered to be one of the most powerful accounts of the Nazi atrocities Wiesel does not intend his autobiographical account to be a comprehensive view of everything that took place in the Holocaust Wiesel did not write Night until 10 years after the Holocaust

World War II Began in 1939 with the German invasion of Poland Ended in 1945 with the Allied invasion of Normandy, France on D-Day Allies = United States, Britain, France, Soviet Republic Axis = Germany, Italy, and Japan Nuclear bombs dropped on Japan lead to the end of WWII

The Holocaust Was the systematic, planned extermination of 6 million European Jews (and others) by the Nazis during WWII Many non-Jews died also, but the Holocaust only targeted the complete extermination of the Jews Holocaust = a Greek term, meaning “burnt whole”

The Holocaust was Genocide… From the Greek term genos- (race or nation) + -cide (killing) Term created AFTER WWII to describe the deliberate and systematic murder of an entire political, cultural, or religious group The word DID NOT exist before the Holocaust Nazis used phrases such as “Final Solution” and “resettlement” in place of genocide

Adolf Hitler ( ) Born in Austria Developed anti-Jewish and anti-democratic views WWI veteran Dedicated, courageous soldier, but never promoted beyond rank of Private because he didn’t have leadership qualities (SITUATIONAL IRONY) Nazi – National Socialist German Workers Hitler was elected party chairman with full dictatorial powers

Adolf Hilter continued… Wrote Mein Kamph ( My Struggle ) while in prison Rebuilt the Nazi party after WWI; took power of Germany and established himself as dictator One of the 20 th centuries most powerful dictators Launched WWII in 1939 with the invasion of Poland Anti-Semitism (hatred toward Jews) = a keystone of Hilter’s propaganda and politics

Being Jewish is NOT a race; being Jewish is a religion Religion is a choice. You are not born with a permanent religion in your genes/DNA. You can CHOOSE your religion. Race is NOT a choice. You are born with genes/DNA that makes you a certain race. You CANNOT choose your race.