1. Introduction to the Holocaust

2. The Holocaust
“was the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. ” (“Holocaust Introduction”)

3. The word “holocaust” derives from Greek, it means to “sacrifice by fire”
Eventually, the Nazis resorted to mass murdering (genocide) through burning to save on bullets.

4. Genocide
Violent, horrific, systematic crimes committed against a group with intent to destroy and eliminate that specific group

5. How it all started…
Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany in 1933 and brought his Nazi Party into power.
Hitler was a powerful and spellbinding speaker who attracted a wide following of Germans desperate for change.
He promised the disenchanted a better life and a glorious Germany.
The Nazis appealed especially to the unemployed, young people, and members of the lower middle class (small store owners, office employees, craftsmen, and farmers).

6. Also in 1933…
The first concentration camp, Dachau, was set up, imprisoning 200 Communists.
The Nazi party also began burning books that they considered to be dangerous to the way of life they were trying to dictate.

7. After Hitler Won Favor…
He began barring Jews basic rights and had citizens begin boycotting Jewish businesses.
Jews are forced to wear identification in the form of yellow stars and were eventually forced to move into ghettos.

8. The terror continued…
Hitler began forcing Jews and other “undesirables” into concentration camps and began systematically killing them.

9. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—   Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—  Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Reverend Martin Niemöller

10. Auschwitz & “The Final Solution”
schwitz_map.shtml
1942 – Hitler realized he was being ganged up on and would shortly be defeated, so he, with the help of Heinrich Himmler, introduced the “Final Solution”, which would destroy the rest of the Jewish population and those left in concentration camps.

11. Remembering Auschwitz: 71 years later
The liberation of Auschwitz was January 27, 1945
BBC took a drone through Auschwitz in 2015.
?v=V76jjzo-U4E

12. Elie Wiesel ( )
Born September 1928 in Sighet, Romania
He and his family practiced Hasidic Judaism.
Elie was inspired to study both the Talmud and modern Hebrew by his grandfather and father, and spent much of his young life learning about his religion.

13. Elie Wiesel (Continued)
Elie wrote his first novel, And the World Would Remain Silent (1956), which was shortened to Le Nuit or, as we know it, Night in
Elie won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986.
Elie died on July 2nd, 2016.

14. I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormenter, never the tormented. - Elie Wiesel