Introduction to WWII Introduction to WWII and the Holocaustand the Holocaust

A VERY brief history.

Why did this happen?

Germany’s economy was really bad after WWI. Hitler found an easy scapegoat in the Jews of Europe.– Anti-Semitism had been running unchecked

throughout Europe for centuries.• Many had a high standard of living due to

historical restrictions placed upon them.

• Jews were perceived by others as being loyal only to their religion, not to their country.

1933-1939

Nazi party manages to get elected by a small margin of victory.

Hitler, as head of the Nazi party, ends German democracy.

Suspends freedom of speech and right to assembly as “emergency” measures.

Special State Police (gestapo), and Security Police (S.S.) established.

Opposition political leaders executed or assassinated.

1933-1939

In Germany, Jews forced to leave all public (government) jobs. Their citizenship is taken away, and the Nuremberg Laws go into effect taking away many rights.

First wave of Jews, political prisoners, and Jehovah’s Witnesses sent to concentration camps. German Gypsies sent to municipal camps.

1939-1945

Germany invades Poland. WWII begins. Thousand of Polish “intellectuals” murdered.

Handicapped, mentally disabled, and otherwise incurably sick are killed at Hitler’s orders. “Euthanasia” program moves into secrecy after public outcry.

1940: Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg, and France fall to Germany.

1939-1945

Italy, Romania, and Hungary join Germany “Axis” powers.

Allies join together: British Commonwealth, United States, free France, and Russia.

Ghettoes, transit camps, new concentration camps, and death camps set up by Germany to deal with the influx of new victims.

The Death Camps

There were six camps set up for the mass murder of Jews, gypsies, political dissidents, and homosexuals:

1. Belzec 4. Chelmno

2. Sobibor 5. Majdanek

3. Treblinka 6. Auschwitz-Birkenau

Confiscated Shoes

http://fcit.usf.edu/HOLOCAUST/GALL31R/15330.htm

A warehouse full of shoes and clothing confiscated from the prisoners and deportees gassed upon their arrival.

Dachau Inmates

http://fcit.usf.edu/HOLOCAUST/gallery/44062.htm

Works Cited

http://gymnasium-heissen.de/projekte/hisprojekt/causes.htm

http://www.ourpeak.com/shofar/html/history.html