The HolocaustThe Holocaust

Mr. DodsonMr. Dodson

ObjectivesObjectives

In what ways did In what ways did Germany Germany persecute Jews in persecute Jews in the 1930s?the 1930s?

How did How did Germany’s policies Germany’s policies toward Jews toward Jews develop from develop from murder into murder into genocide?genocide?

Persecution in GermanyPersecution in Germany

Jews in Europe faced persecution for their religious Jews in Europe faced persecution for their religious beliefs for centuries. beliefs for centuries.

In the 1800s, some thinkers developed the theory that In the 1800s, some thinkers developed the theory that European peoples, whom they called “Aryans” were European peoples, whom they called “Aryans” were superior to Middle Eastern peoples, - Semites. superior to Middle Eastern peoples, - Semites.

Europeans began to use the term Europeans began to use the term anti-Semitismanti-Semitism to to describe discrimination or hostility, often violent, describe discrimination or hostility, often violent, directed at Jews.directed at Jews.

When Hitler became Germany’s leader in 1933, he When Hitler became Germany’s leader in 1933, he made anti-Semitism the official policy of the nation.made anti-Semitism the official policy of the nation.

He wanted to get rid of the Jews!He wanted to get rid of the Jews!

Persecution in GermanyPersecution in Germany The The HolocaustHolocaust was Nazi Germany’s systematic was Nazi Germany’s systematic

murder of European Jews. In all, some 6 million Jews murder of European Jews. In all, some 6 million Jews would die. would die.

No other persecution of Jews in modern history equals No other persecution of Jews in modern history equals the extent and brutality of the Holocaustthe extent and brutality of the Holocaust

In 1935, the In 1935, the Nuremberg LawsNuremberg Laws stripped Jews of their stripped Jews of their German citizenship & their rights:German citizenship & their rights:• exclusion from public schools, exclusion from public schools, • forced sale of Jewish businesses, forced sale of Jewish businesses, • marked identity cards. marked identity cards. • forced to sew yellow stars forced to sew yellow stars

marked “Jew” on their clothing.marked “Jew” on their clothing.

Further Persecution in GermanyFurther Persecution in Germany

When Hitler came to power he formed the When Hitler came to power he formed the SS, or the SS, or the SchutzstaffelSchutzstaffel, an elite guard that became the private , an elite guard that became the private army of the Nazi Party. army of the Nazi Party.

The SS guarded the The SS guarded the concentration campsconcentration camps, - places , - places where political prisoners are confined under harsh where political prisoners are confined under harsh conditions. conditions.

Nazi camps held people whom they considered Nazi camps held people whom they considered undesirables—mainly Jews, but also Communists, undesirables—mainly Jews, but also Communists, homosexuals, disabled, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Gypsies, homosexuals, disabled, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Gypsies, and the homeless.and the homeless.

KristallnachtKristallnacht On the night of November 9, 1938, Nazi thugs On the night of November 9, 1938, Nazi thugs

throughout Germany and Austria looted and throughout Germany and Austria looted and destroyed Jewish stores, houses, and destroyed Jewish stores, houses, and synagogues. This incident became known as synagogues. This incident became known as KristallnachtKristallnacht,, “Night of the Broken Glass.” “Night of the Broken Glass.”

Nearly every synagogue was destroyed and Nearly every synagogue was destroyed and thousands of Jews were arrested and sent to thousands of Jews were arrested and sent to concentration camps. concentration camps.

After Kristallnacht many Jews sought any After Kristallnacht many Jews sought any possible means to leave the country. possible means to leave the country.

Refugees Seek an EscapeRefugees Seek an Escape

Jewish refugees were not welcomed in Jewish refugees were not welcomed in many nations, in part because of the many nations, in part because of the Depression. Depression.

To deal with this problem, FDR called To deal with this problem, FDR called the the Evian ConferenceEvian Conference in 1938. in 1938.

Still, most nations, including the U.S., Still, most nations, including the U.S., refused to open their doors to more refused to open their doors to more immigrants.immigrants.

From Murder to GenocideFrom Murder to Genocide As German armies invaded As German armies invaded

other European countries, more other European countries, more Jews came under German Jews came under German control. control.

Nazis dealt with these Jews by Nazis dealt with these Jews by confining them in ghettos, confining them in ghettos, areas in which minority groups areas in which minority groups are concentrated. are concentrated.

Nazis confined more than Nazis confined more than 400,000 Jews in the 400,000 Jews in the Warsaw Warsaw ghettoghetto in Poland. Thousands of in Poland. Thousands of Jews died as a result of disease.Jews died as a result of disease.

From Murder to GenocideFrom Murder to Genocide

In 1942, Nazi officials met at the In 1942, Nazi officials met at the Wannsee Wannsee ConferenceConference outside Berlin. outside Berlin.

They came up with a plan - It was referred to as They came up with a plan - It was referred to as the “final solution to the Jewish question.”the “final solution to the Jewish question.”

They developed their plan to commit They developed their plan to commit genocidegenocide, , or the deliberate destruction of an entire ethnic or or the deliberate destruction of an entire ethnic or cultural group, against the Jewish people. cultural group, against the Jewish people.

To carry out their plan, the Nazis outfitted six To carry out their plan, the Nazis outfitted six camps in Poland with gas chambers. camps in Poland with gas chambers.

Unlike concentration camps, Unlike concentration camps, death campsdeath camps existed primarily for mass murder.existed primarily for mass murder.

Rescue & LiberationRescue & Liberation The U.S. government knew about the mass murder of The U.S. government knew about the mass murder of

Jews for two years before President Roosevelt created Jews for two years before President Roosevelt created the the War Refugee Board (WRBWar Refugee Board (WRB)) in January 1944. The in January 1944. The WRB’s programs helped save WRB’s programs helped save somesome lives by trying to lives by trying to rescue Jews. rescue Jews.

Horrified by the German death camps, the Allies Horrified by the German death camps, the Allies conducted the conducted the Nuremburg TrialsNuremburg Trials in November 1945. in November 1945.

They charged a number of Nazi leaders with crimes They charged a number of Nazi leaders with crimes against peace, crimes against humanity, and war against peace, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.crimes.

The important idea to come out of the Nuremberg The important idea to come out of the Nuremberg trials - individuals are responsible for their own trials - individuals are responsible for their own actions, not “just following orders.”actions, not “just following orders.”