The Holocaust

Table of Contents

• Antisemitism

• The Nuremberg Laws

• The “Final Solution”

• The Ghettos

• Death Camps

AntisemitismHistoric:• Religious—Jews blamed for death of Jesus; stereotype of

the “wandering Jew”• Economic—Jews accused of economic exploitation• Social—Jews viewed as outsiders, suffering expulsions,

discriminatory laws, confinement to ghettos

Modern:• Protocols of the Elders of Zion—purports a worldwide

Jewish conspiracy• Political—Jews accused of spreading Marxism• Racial—Nazi racial ideology promoted the idea that

Jews are a separate race “polluting” the German Volk

Nazi Antisemitic Propaganda• Demonized Jews• Perpetuated stereotypes• Reinforced Nazi racial ideology• Encouraged viewing Jews as “alien”• Engendered fear and paranoia

AntisemiticPropaganda

“The Eternal Jew”

• What type of source might this be?

• What do you think the title of the poster means?

• What antisemitic belief does this part of the image reinforce?

• What is in the man’s right hand?

• What might it symbolize?

• What is the man holding in his other hand?

• What does the man hold under his arm?

• What is the symbol?

• Why is the symbol placed there?

Describe the man’s clothing, facial features, and posture.

• How do all these serve Nazi purposes?

• Why is he shown with his eyes closed?

Consider all the highlighted parts of the poster.• What message is conveyed

by the poster as a whole?• Is there any significance in

the colors that are used in the poster?

• How does referring to Jews in this way reinforce Nazi stereotypes?

• How does this characterization of Jews support Nazi goals?