Anne Frank: A Lesson in Remembering

Part 1: Understanding the Holocaust

Holocaust n. destruction by fire; n. the attempted destruction of the Jews by the Nazis during World War II.

Our story begins with the end of World War I...

Germany, who was on the losing side, lay in ruins and in poverty.

Two political parties began to emerge... Communists Nazis Everything owned by govt. Germany would be a satellite of Russia. Govt. would provide food and jobs for everyone. BUT Germans could remain independent Germany could become a world power. The war debt would not be paid.

Loans money to Germany. Both communism and Nazism fade for the time being. Helps rebuild the country.

However, in October of 1929, something happens... The stock market crashes!

The Great Depression

America’s Depression leads to a European Depression. Results of the Great Depression: America can no longer provide aid to Germany. America’s trade with other countries is affected. Germany is once again poor and vulnerable to political parties.

Once again the Nazis began to gain power under the leadership of a man by the name of... Adolf Hitler

Hitler... was born to Klara and Alois Hitler in Austria in Studied to be an artist but failed. wrote Mein Kampf while in prison serving time for a failed attempt at overtaking the government.

In the pages of Mein Kampf, Hitler tells of his dream of creating the perfect race: Aryan: blond hair & blue eyes No imperfections--get rid of: Jews blacks Jehovah’s Witnesses gypsies handicapped chronically ill anti-Nazis

Anti-Semitism (hatred of the Jewish race) Was not new to the world Was promoted by Hitler and Nazis Used Jews as scapegoats for the problems in the world Stereotyped Jews

1939 Hitler becomes dictator of Germany and begins to put his plan for a master race into action….

Step One: Discrimination --the act of treating a group of people differently All Jews had to register. Star of David sewn to clothes No bicycles or telephones Boycotting Jewish businesses Restrictions on shopping and entertainment Taking over Jewish businesses

Step Two: Persecution--the act of doing harm to a group of people Public humiliation

Anti-Jewish riots--Pogroms

Moved to ghettos

Shootings

Step Three: Concentration camps--work camps where prisoners were detained and often killed

Step 4: Genocide: the killing off of a race of people Gas chambers Cyanide gas Too many bodies Crematory ovens

1939 World War II begins

World War II AlliesAxis United States Great Britain France Soviet Union Germany Japan Italy

Netherlands invaded by Hitler 1940

United States enters WWII December 7, 1941 Japan bombs Pearl Harbor

Margot Frank, Anne’s older sister, gets her notice to report to a “work camp.” Mr. Frank decides the family must go into hiding. Our play begins...