HolocaustHolocaust

Often asked questions…Often asked questions… How could people believe in Hitler’s How could people believe in Hitler’s

ideology?ideology?– Poverty/humiliation from WWI (Treaty of Versailles) spurned Poverty/humiliation from WWI (Treaty of Versailles) spurned

Nationalism. Also, Nazi propaganda blaming Jews for Germany’s Nationalism. Also, Nazi propaganda blaming Jews for Germany’s defeat in WWI.defeat in WWI.

Why didn’t they just leave?Why didn’t they just leave? -- Jews couldn’t foresee the death camps. Patriotism (many German Jews couldn’t foresee the death camps. Patriotism (many German

Jews fought in WWI and were loyal to their country). It was difficult Jews fought in WWI and were loyal to their country). It was difficult to leave.to leave.

Why didn’t they fight back?Why didn’t they fight back? -- They did. Jews carried out acts of resistance in every European They did. Jews carried out acts of resistance in every European

country…but what would it take to carry out such a resistance?country…but what would it take to carry out such a resistance?

Vocabulary TermsVocabulary Terms Holocaust – systematic persecution and Holocaust – systematic persecution and

annihilation of annihilation of European Jews by Nazi GermanyEuropean Jews by Nazi Germany

Genocide – the deliberate murder of an entire Genocide – the deliberate murder of an entire group of group of

peoplepeopleAntisemitism – prejudice against or hatred of JewsAntisemitism – prejudice against or hatred of JewsEinsatzgruppen – Special German killing squadsEinsatzgruppen – Special German killing squads

Early Stages of HolocaustEarly Stages of Holocaust Nov 9/10 1938 - Nov 9/10 1938 -

Kristallnacht - The Night of Broken Glass.

April 30, 1939 -April 30, 1939 - Jews lose rights as Jews lose rights as tenants and are relocated into Jewish tenants and are relocated into Jewish houseshouses

Sept 1, 1939 -Sept 1, 1939 - Nazis invade Poland Nazis invade Poland (Jewish pop. 3.35 million, the largest in (Jewish pop. 3.35 million, the largest in Europe). Beginning of SS activity in Europe). Beginning of SS activity in PolandPoland

Who was Targeted?Who was Targeted? All Jews (5,860,000 killed)All Jews (5,860,000 killed) Gypsies (300,000 killed)Gypsies (300,000 killed) Jehovah’s WitnessesJehovah’s Witnesses Opponents of NazisOpponents of Nazis HomosexualsHomosexuals Habitual criminalsHabitual criminals Anti-Socials Anti-Socials

(vagrants/beggers/homeless)(vagrants/beggers/homeless) Mental or Physically HandicappedMental or Physically Handicapped

Auschwitz Concentration Auschwitz Concentration Camp Camp

Largest CampLargest Camp Consisted of 3 Consisted of 3

Camps 1. Camps 1. Auschwitz (Main)Auschwitz (Main)

2. Auschwitz II 2. Auschwitz II Birkenau Birkenau (Extermination)(Extermination)

3. Auschwitz III –3. Auschwitz III – Manowitz (Labor)Manowitz (Labor)

Arriving @ AuschwitzArriving @ Auschwitz

Wagon loaded with corpses from Wagon loaded with corpses from AuschwitzAuschwitz

Jewish men forced to dig their own graveJewish men forced to dig their own grave

German Police looking through the clothing of the German Police looking through the clothing of the deaddead

Dr. Josef Mengele – “The Angel of Death”Dr. Josef Mengele – “The Angel of Death”

““Experiments”Experiments” Mengele’s “patients” were subjected Mengele’s “patients” were subjected

to:to:– Pressure ChambersPressure Chambers– Tested with drugsTested with drugs– Frozen to deathFrozen to death– Surgeries without anesthesiaSurgeries without anesthesia

Blood TransfusionsBlood Transfusions Removal of Organs and limbsRemoval of Organs and limbs CastrationsCastrations

Pressure Chamber ExperimentsPressure Chamber Experiments

injecting chemicals into the eyes of children to change their injecting chemicals into the eyes of children to change their

eye coloreye color

Inflicting Burns to “patient” bodiesInflicting Burns to “patient” bodies

Drug InjectionsDrug Injections

Injected patients Injected patients with Spotted Feverwith Spotted Fever

Exposed patients Exposed patients to mosquitos to mosquitos carrying malariacarrying malaria

Over 10,000 used Over 10,000 used for these for these experimentsexperiments

Freezing ExperimentsFreezing Experiments

““Patients” were Patients” were exposed in ice exposed in ice water to determine water to determine how long it would how long it would take a person to take a person to die from die from hypothermiahypothermia

Inflicting Wounds onto PrisonersInflicting Wounds onto Prisoners

Inflicted wounds on Inflicted wounds on “patients” that “patients” that simulated combat simulated combat wounds of German wounds of German soldiers.soldiers.

Once inflicted, foreign Once inflicted, foreign objects such as rusty objects such as rusty nails, glass, dirt and nails, glass, dirt and sawdust were rubbed sawdust were rubbed into the woundsinto the wounds

End of the HolocaustEnd of the Holocaust

As Allied Forces advanced they As Allied Forces advanced they would liberate concentration campswould liberate concentration camps

Last camps liberated on May 8, 1945Last camps liberated on May 8, 1945(VE Day = Victory in Europe)(VE Day = Victory in Europe)

* Shortly after the end of the * Shortly after the end of the Holocaust, the United Nations would Holocaust, the United Nations would be divide Palistine in 2 and the be divide Palistine in 2 and the Nation of Israel was createdNation of Israel was created