THE HOLOCAUST THE HOLOCAUST

Auschwitz “arbeit macht frei” — “work sets you free”

HOLOCAUSTHOLOCAUST• The systematic state-sponsored murder of 6

million Jews by the Nazis and their collaborators during World War II.

• The word itself is Greek in origin meaning “burnt whole.”

• In Hebrew, the word is “holokauston” literally meaning “that which is offered up”.

WHY DO WE STUDY THE HOLOCAUST?WHY DO WE STUDY THE HOLOCAUST?

1. It is a major historical event2. It makes us look at the fragility of democracy.3. It shows us the dangers of indifference.4. It is a prime example of man’s inhumanity to

man.

JUDAISM AND THE HOLOCAUSTJUDAISM AND THE HOLOCAUST• In 70 A.D. there is a break between Judaism and

Christianity after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans.

• Roman responsibility for the murder of Jesus gradually diminishes with more emphasis placed on the Jews as the murderers.

• Jews became known as rebels against God – a Race of Vipers.

VERBAL/SITUATIONAL IRONYVERBAL/SITUATIONAL IRONY• Verbal Irony – when a character says or believes something

that the audience know is not true. A character may or may not be aware that his or her statement is ironic.

• Example: A slave owner stated, My slaves respect and love me when I discipline them with beatings and starvation.

• Situational Irony- when a scene or action occurs that implies a meaning.

• Example: A man who is an inept failure in life, envisions himself a hero while he stands in front of the Vietnam War Memorial.

DRAMATIC IRONYDRAMATIC IRONY• When the audience/reader knows more than the

character does• Example: In “Oedipus Rex,” we (the reader) know

that Oedipus indeed did kill his father and marry his mother, but he does not.

JEWS IN THE MIDDLE AGESJEWS IN THE MIDDLE AGES• Increased anti-Semitism; Jews are

accused of the “blood libel” – murdering Christian children as an act of ritual worship at Passover.

• Increased acts of violence against Jews in the spring, particularly around Good Friday.

• Jews were expelled at various times from England, France, and in 1492 – Spain.

• At the heart of the hatred – the Jews killed Jesus.

JEWS IN EUROPEAN SOCIETYJEWS IN EUROPEAN SOCIETY• Jews lived on the fringes of society.• Anti-Semitism continues to the Protestant

Reformation and improves during the Enlightenment Period.

• France – the most liberal country in Europe toward Jews in the 1830s.

1933 GERMANY1933 GERMANY

• Economic depression, massive unemployment, social unrest, loss of national confidence.

• Nazis - Nationalist Socialist Party - became a significant minority party only in 1930.

• Tactics based on terror, street brawling and thuggery , as well as intimidation.

ADOLF HITLERADOLF HITLER• Attracted a wider

following as economic conditions worsened in Germany.

• Spell binding orator• Skilled organizer • Named chancellor in 1933

with the hope that he would become more moderate in his tactics.

THE NAZI ASSAULT ON THE JEWSTHE NAZI ASSAULT ON THE JEWS• April 1, 1933 - Boycott of Jewish

businesses.• April 7, 1933 - Burning of books.• January, 1934 - Sterilization of

those considered abnormal.• 1935 - Nuremburg Race Laws -

Jews persecuted not for religion, but for race.

• 1938 - Jewish businesses taken over.

• 1939 - Census taken to identify Germans and used against the Jews.

• 1942 - Jews deported and sent to concentration camps.

EXISTENTIALISMEXISTENTIALISM• Philosophical movement that developed in Europe in

the 1800s and early 1900s.• Interested in the nature of existence or being.• Grew out of the work of two thinkers: Nietzche and

Kierkegard.• Argues that certain knowledge no matter who you

are, is an unattainable goal.

Nietzche Kierkegard

EXISTENTIALISMEXISTENTIALISM• Everyone is a limited human being.• Stresses the importance of choice in creating

values.• Human beings can have laws, rules, traditions,

and customs to guide them, but in the end, the individual is free to choose what he/she believes.

• Emphasis is on freedom and choice.• We are free to choose our own attitudes.