1. Hitler’s Final Solution
THE HOLOCAUST
Hitler’s Final Solution

2. Anti-Semitism Anti-Semitism – Hostility or prejudice toward the Jews
What created this environment in Germany?
The hardships after World War I created anger for many Germans – scapegoats needed
Mass immigration of Jews into Germany from Russia – they were being persecuted there under the Czar and under the new Communist governments
Many Jews moving in were middle class and had money – were not as poor as German people
Adolf Hitler preached that Germans were a superior race – Aryan Nation
There had been tension between Jews and Christians since middle ages
In the year 1215 – Germans passed law that said Jews had to dress differently from Christians
This law would compare to the Jews having to wear the Star of David under Hitler’s regime
Nazi Laws on determining a Jew – anyone who had a Jewish grandparent was considered a Jew.
Hatred based on ancestry and not just religion

3. Hitler and The Jews
Hitler becomes leader of Germany in 1933 – things change for the Jews
Anti-Semitic Laws established – purpose was to drive Jews out of Germany
Nuremberg Laws (1935) – stripped German Jews of citizenship and economic rights and defined who was a Jew and who was an Aryan
Attacks on Jews increase
Kristallnacht – also known as the night of broken glass was an event that occurred from November 9 and 10 in 1938 that saw Nazis unleash attacks on Jewish homes and businesses – killed nearly 100 Jews
Jews were rounded up and isolated from the rest of Germany
Started with creation of ghettos – neighborhoods in a city in which Jews were confined behind walls with armed guards – This kept the Jews separated from the rest of the people
They also used concentration camps – labor camps meant to hold what Hitler called enemies of the state
The result – Jews got the message from Hitler, “Get Out!!!!”
Over 100,000 Jews left Germany – those who found the money and means
German laws had made it impossible for others to get out – these people would face even worse treatment

4. The Final Solution
Final Solution – This was the plan that called for the mass and quick execution of European Jews.
What the plan called for:
Building of six new death camps – these were focused on quick executions of the Jews
Some of these death camps were: Treblinka, Auschwitz, Dachau, Bergen-Belsen, Buchenwald
The rounding up of Jews from the ghettos, placing them on trains, and sending them to camps
No one will be safe – old, young, women, men, and children were all to be executed
Jewish Reaction:
Many would try to hide out – built secret rooms in house
Others would face fate – knew they were going to die
Germans told those who were rounded up on trains that they were being relocated so they were to bring all their possessions – Germans would collect these items and sell them and take the money

5. Results of Final Solution
Decrease in Jewish Population in Germany:
Nation
1933 Population
1950 Population
Percent Decrease
Poland
3,000,000
45,000
98.5%
Romania
980,000
28,000
97%
Germany
565,000
37,000
93.5%
Hungary
445,000
155,000
65%
Czechoslovakia
357,000
17,000
95%
Austria
250,000
18,000
93%
Greece
100,000
7,000
Yugoslavia
70,000
3,500
Bulgaria
50,000
6,500
87%`
EUROPEAN TOTALS
9,500,000
3,500,000
63%

6. American Response
American Immigration – was limited and no immigrants were wanted
Limited number of Jews who could move to United States
Americans still unwilling to change knowing Hitler’s policies and after hearing about the Kristallnacht
1942 – This attitude changes – Americans made aware of Final Solution and the extermination of Jews
Led to formation of War Refugee Board – created by Roosevelt in 1944 which said to take all measures to rescue the victims of enemy oppression
Led to the rescue of 200,000 Jews
Liberation of the Nazi Camps
These were discovered as the Nazi began to fall and shrink back into Germany
American Forces in the West and Russian forces in the East all begin to free those they found left behind in camps
Also they discovered the mass graves and piles of bodies

7. Nuremberg Trials
These were trials held in a court in Nuremberg, Germany
The judges were made up of those from the International Community
Called the International Military Tribunal
These trials were for the purpose of punishing the Nazis for the crimes they committed during the Holocaust – genocidal campaign against the Jews
Tried 22 Nazis for their role in these war crimes
12 were sentenced to death
Others were sentenced to long prison terms
After Nuremberg:
Many other Nazis were captured and tried in other nations – primarily Israel
Some of these trials continued to carried out into the 1960s