The Holocaust

Adolf Hitler b. April 20, 1889 d. April 30, 1945 Braunau, Austria Parents: Alois and Klara

Adolf Hitler Close with his mom, didn’t get along with his dad Trouble at school, expelled for constant skipping, only liked art Wanted to be an artist, his dad wanted him to be a civil servant Vienna Academy of Art Interview, portfolio

Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler Great landscapes and technical drawings, but lacked the ability to draw the human figure well. Hitler is encouraged to apply for architecture school, but rejected from the academy.

Hitler Probably already anti-Semitic, but this may have been a turning point (majority of people on committee were Jews) Flop house, street painter Mother gets sick, dies from cancer before he can get home (mother’s dr was a Jew)

Hitler WWI breaks out; joins German army Hitler was a runner; very dangerous Wounded in a poison gas attack Hospitalized; shocked to find out Germany has lost Blamed Communists for Germany’s defeat --- Karl Marx – a German Jew

Hitler as a dispatch runner in WWI

Hitler’s Rise to Power 1919 – Hitler joins and becomes leader of the NAZI party – National Socialist German Workers 1923- Hitler announces the NAZIs will take over the government, arrested for treason Sentenced to 7 years, but only serves 9 months Writes Mein Kampf – My Struggle

Hitler named Chancellor President Hindenberg names Hitler Chancellor in 1933 – pressured by NAZIs Hindenberg dies in 1934 The Reichstag (Congress) turns over legislative power to Hitler. Once in power, Hitler now creates a totalitarian state. Germany - dictatorship

The Third Reich Hitler – popular, promised economic recovery and delivered. Massive public works program gave people jobs. SS – Schutzstaffel- elite black-uniformed troops Gestapo – secret police

The Holocaust Begins… 1933 23 March – Dachau opens – first concentration camp (and the largest) {Image shows Dachau being liberated by US troops.}

1933 14 July – Law to Prevent Offspring with Hereditary Defects (T-2 Program) Mental/physical handicaps Milder cases – sterilized More severe – euthanized Propaganda – “life without existence” Protests by mothers/women caused Hitler to mostly stop this program All political parties outlawed except Nazi party

Nuremberg Laws - 1935 Jews are declared non-Germans; prohibited from: Marrying/procreating with Germans Attending/teaching at German schools Holding govt. jobs Practicing law or medicine Publishing books Many Jews fled (Albert Einstein)

Physical Traits of Aryans v. Jews Ideal Aryan traits Blue eyes, blond hair, light complexion, tall and athletic, angular features Blue eyes were most important Jewish traits Brown eyes, dark hair, large forehead, rounded face, dark complexion

1936 Jehovah’s Witnesses were rounded up (wouldn’t swear allegiance to Hitler) 1938 7 Nov – Grynszpan kills von Rath in Paris Herschel Grynszpan (17 yrs old); in school in France German Jew – found out that his family was being deported to Poland. Shoots the German ambassador to France – von Rath. This event triggers worst violence yet back in Germany.

1938 9-10 Nov – Kristallnacht – “night of broken glass” Reaction to the killing of von Rath Nazis attacked Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues in Germany Jewish business owners had to pay for repairs; police looked the other way Resistant Jews were sent to Dachau Emigration increased, but most countries denied Jewish refugees.

1939 1940 1 Sept – WWII begins when Germany invades Poland 27 April – Auschwitz opened Highest # of deaths Selection process; healthiest were chosen for work; the weak were gassed

1941 Germany invades the Soviet Union (USSR) Einsatzgruppen Mobile killing units Babi Yar – natural ravine Lined victims up, shot them, and let them fall in Probably killed over 30,000 here

Josef Mengele Josef Mengele, German physician and SS captain. In 1943, he was named SS garrison physician (Standortartz) of Auschwitz. In that capacity, he was responsible for the differentiation and selection of those fit to work and those destined for gassing. Mengele also carried out human experiments on camp inmates, especially twins.