1. Genocide = the elimination of an entire population, based upon their common identity (i.e. race, ethnicity, religion) The “Final Solution” = Hitler's plan to specifically exterminate all Jews from Europe.

2. Holocaust victims: Approximately 6 million Jews (out of a European population of 9 million Jews) AND Another 5 million+ persons from assorted other groups: - Communists, socialists, political opponents - Slavs (Poles, Russians, other eastern Europeans) - Gypsies (Roma) - Jehovah's Witnesses - homosexuals - mentally & physically disabled (including German citizens) Over 11 million civilians systematically murdered

3. The Holocaust, 1939 – 1945 Poland is divided into East & West by the Molotov-Ribbentrop line (Non-Aggression Pact). WESTERN POLAND: 1939-1941: Jews are rounded up into urban ghettos, many starve or die of disease. Jan, 1942: Wannsee Conference results in decision for more rapid extermination using death camps. 1942-1945: Jews are “relocated” to labor & death camps. EASTERN POLAND & USSR: 1941-1944: Small towns & villages are emptied of Jewish population, marched outside of town, stripped naked, and die in mass shootings into mass graves. Ghettos later established in larger cities, w/ eventual deportations.

4. Upon arrival at concentration camps... the “selection”: Those well enough to work were assigned to be slave laborers, and were slowly worked & starved to death. The old, young (under 15), and sick were immediately sent to gas chambers to be murdered.

5. Genocide: the systematic elimination of a particular group of people (usually of a specific ethnic identity). Examples of genocide in the 20 th and 21 st Centuries 1915 – 1918Armenian Genocide (Turkey)est. 1 million deaths 1932 – 1933Ukrainian forced famine est. 7 million deaths 1938 – 1945Holocaust est. 11 million deaths 1975 – 1979Cambodian “Killing Fields” est. 2 million deaths 1994Rwanda est. 800,000 deaths 1992 – 1995Bosnia est. 200,000 deaths 2003 – 2010Darfur (western Sudan) est. 330,000 deaths

6. If you lived in Nazi-occupied Europe in the early 1940’s, which of the following would you have been: bystander, collaborator, or dissenter? Why? Guilt,Morality, RewardPunishment  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------  COLLABORATORBYSTANDER DISSENTER

7. Contributing Factors of the Holocaust: Demagoguery: an inspirational, charismatic speaker that plays on the fears and prejudices of the public (i.e. economic depression, humiliation of Treaty of Versailles) → appeals to emotion & prejudices, not intellect. → offers overly simple answers to complicated problems → offers hope and a sense of security in exchange for loyalty → effective use of PROPAGANDA

8. Jingoism: ultra-nationalistic pride, blind loyalty; provides cover for dominant ethnic group to marginalize minority groups (“you're not like us”) Concentrated Power (Autocracy!): too much control in the hands of too few (dictatorship); no separation of powers or checks & balances Fear & Coercion: dissenters are threatened by lost rights, imprisonment, death (SS, Gestapo)

9. Ethnocentrism & Racism: Marginalizing subgroups; different = “inferior”; exclude from any political or economic power & targeted for abuse Economic Desperation: Too much competition for scarce resources or employment opportunities, results in majority excluding minority groups. Scapegoating: Falsely assign blame for problems to a minority group (Jews) Dehumanize Others: Justify abuse of scapegoated group by denying them their humanity; treat people as animals.

10. Incremental approach : Discriminate → Segregate → Exterminate: treatment of scapegoated group gets gradually worse over time, small changes get less notice than big changes. Denial + Apathy: act as if atrocities against scapegoated group are not as bad as they are, or are not happening at all. Internationally: “not my problem”. “Not aware or don’t care”.

11. Review: → Demagoguery → Economic desperation & competition → Ethnocentrism & Racism → Scapegoating → Dehumanize others → Jingoism → Autocracy → Fear & Coercion → Incremental approach → Denial, Apathy

12. Pride Ignorance Greed

13. HOW TO PREVENT FASCISM… AND GENOCIDE: CREATE AND PROTECT A STRONG, DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTION: - CHECKS AND BALANCES & SEPARATION OF POWERS (NO AUTOCRACY!) - FREE SPEECH, ASSOCIATION, PETITIONING (BASIC RIGHTS OF 1 ST AMENDMENT) - EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW FOR ALL CITIZENS (14 TH ) EMBRACE & SUPPORT LIFELONG EDUCATION - READ! A LOT! (multiple, independent sources) - THINK CRITICALLY, ASK CHALLENGING QUESTIONS - RECOGNIZE PROPAGANDA AND DEMAGOGUERY CIVIC ENGAGEMENT & ACTIVISM: SPEAK, WRITE, COMMUNICATE, VOTE, AGITATE, DEMONSTRATE… HOLD ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE DEMAND ECONOMIC LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT STRIVE FOR A BALANCED & SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY!

14. How can YOU stop genocide that is already occurring? Seek out and share AWARENESS & INFORMATION (you can’t care unless you’re aware) Pressure political leaders with letters, phone calls, petitions VOTE… MINDFULLY Participate in a public demonstration Donate to a charitable organization whose mission is to stop or prevent genocide Kick those responsible in the wallet: - Boycott nations and businesses that are associated (directly or indirectly) with genocide - DIVEST your money from nations and businesses associated (directly or indirectly) with genocide

15. First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist; Then 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 out for me. - Martin Niemöller (1892-1984) (German Lutheran pastor, pacifist)