The Holocaust Jacob, Katie, Colton, Mirah, Tyler

Adolf Hitler The Nazi leader Adolf Hitler ( ) was one of the most powerful and infamous dictators of the 20th century. After World War I, he rose to power in the National Socialist German Workers Party, taking control of the German government in His establishment of concentration camps to inter Jews and other groups he believed to be a threat to Aryan supremacy resulted in the death of more than 6 million people in the Holocaust. His attack on Poland in 1939 started World War II, and by 1941 Germany occupied much of Europe and North Africa. The tide of the war turned following an invasion of Russian and the U.S. entry into battle, and Hitler killed himself shortly before Germany’s defeat.

Adolf Hitler

What happened to the Jewish people in the camps? Children and or disabled adults would get put into gas chamber to suffer to death. Other people were used as medical experiments. Experiments include pressure chambers, testing drugs, freezing them, and attempting to change eye color by injecting chemicals into children eyes. About six million Jews died in the Holocaust.

Anne Frank Born on June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany, Anne Frank lived in Amsterdam with her family during World War II. Fleeing Nazi persecution of Jews, the family went into hiding for two years; during this time, Frank wrote about her experiences and wishes. She was 15 when the family was found and sent to the camps, where she died. Her work, The Diary of Anne Frank, has gone on to be read by millions.

Anne Frank

Major Information about the Holocaust The Holocaust lasted for 12 years, until Starting as early as 1944, the Allies were advancing on the Germans finally and they began taking over their camps. In July 1944, Maidanek, a camp in Poland, was liberated by the Soviets. This was followed by many more liberations and takeovers as the Americans and other Allies slowly removed Hitler from power. In January 1945, Auschwitz was liberated. This was the biggest camp in the Nazi territory and it was also the one where the most deaths occurred. The liberation of this camp was a major milestone in the end of the Holocaust.

The Ending of the Holocaust By the end of the war, there were some 50,000 to 100,000 survivors that were living in occupied Europe. Within just a year after the removal of Adolf Hitler from power, that number quickly climbed to over 200,000 survivors. Camps were built for Jewish displaced persons, who couldn't return to their homes because of the horror and threats of danger from lingering anti-Semitic residents of the countries. They were emigrated to Israel, Palestine, and the United States primarily, while some went to other countries. These camps were in existence until 1957 when all the DPs (displaced persons) had been re- homed. When the Allied forces finally invaded Germany in 1945, Adolf Hitler knew he had been defeated. Whether out of cowardice and fear of punishment, or based on Nazi ideals of death before dishonor, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in April of 1945 before the Allies had a chance to capture him. Thousands of Nazis committed suicide during this year, as they were taught that it was a more favorable option than being captured and punished for their beliefs. However, hundreds more were caught and punished for their involvement in the Holocaust.

Questions When was Anne Frank born? When was Adolf Hitler born? How did the Holocaust end? What are some examples of what happened to the Jews in the Holocaust?