The HolocaustThe Holocaust

Chapter 32, Section 3Chapter 32, Section 3

IntroductionIntroduction

As part of their vision for Europe, the Nazis proposed a As part of their vision for Europe, the Nazis proposed a new racial order.new racial order. They proclaimed that the Germanic peoples, or They proclaimed that the Germanic peoples, or AryansAryans, were , were

a “master race.” (a misuse of the term a “master race.” (a misuse of the term Aryan, Aryan, which actually which actually refers to the Indo-European peoples who began to migrate into refers to the Indo-European peoples who began to migrate into the Indian subcontinent around 1500 B.C.) the Indian subcontinent around 1500 B.C.)

The Nazis claimed that all non-Aryan peoples, particularly The Nazis claimed that all non-Aryan peoples, particularly Jewish people, were inferior.Jewish people, were inferior.

This racist message would eventually lead to the This racist message would eventually lead to the HolocaustHolocaust, the systematic mass slaughter of Jews and , the systematic mass slaughter of Jews and other groups judged inferior by the Nazis.other groups judged inferior by the Nazis.

The Holocaust BeginsThe Holocaust Begins

Hitler knowingly tapped into a hatred for Jews that had deep roots in European history. Jews as scapegoats for

personal failures. Germany’s defeat in World War I

Targeting Jews government policy 1935 Nuremberg Laws made it illegal to marry a

Jew. Other laws limited the work of Jews.

““Night of Broken Glass”Night of Broken Glass”

On November 7, 1938, Herschel Grynszpan (pictured) a Jewish youth from Germany, shot a German diplomat living in Paris to avenge his father’s deportation to Poland.

November 9, 1938: In retaliation Nazi leaders in Germany launched a violent attack on the Jewish community on November 9, 1938. This attack was carried out by the SA (storm troopers) and SS, who attacked Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues. This night was called Kristallnacht.

Burning Synagogue on Burning Synagogue on KristallnachtKristallnacht

Did you know?Did you know? KristallnachtKristallnacht was not was not just staged without just staged without planning, but planning, but served a served a specific purposespecific purpose in in Nazi policy toward the Nazi policy toward the Jews. The SA was Jews. The SA was under strict orders to under strict orders to confiscate any confiscate any firearms owned by firearms owned by JewsJews when ransacking when ransacking Jewish homes and Jewish homes and businesses. This would businesses. This would prevent any significant prevent any significant armed resistance to armed resistance to Nazi policies in the Nazi policies in the future.future.

This picture is typical of the smashed windows of Jewish businesses on Kristallnacht.

A Flood of RefugeesA Flood of Refugees

By the end of 1939, a number of German Jews had fled to other countries.

At first, Hitler favored emigration as a solution to what he called “the Jewish problem.”

After admitting tens of thousands of Jewish refugees, France, Britain, and the United States abruptly closed their doors to further immigration.

Isolating the JewsIsolating the Jews

Hitler then ordered Jews in all countries under his control to be moved to designated cities called ghettos.

After 1941, all Jews in German controlled areas had to wear a yellow Star of David patch (pictured).

The “Final Solution”The “Final Solution”

Hitler’s plan called the “Hitler’s plan called the “Final SolutionFinal Solution” was a ” was a genocidegenocide plan to systematically kill an entire plan to systematically kill an entire people.people.

Hitler wanted to purify the “Aryan” race.Hitler wanted to purify the “Aryan” race. He tried to eliminate other groups he viewed as He tried to eliminate other groups he viewed as

“subhuman.”“subhuman.” Roma (gypsies), Poles, RussiansRoma (gypsies), Poles, Russians the insanethe insane the disabledthe disabled the incurably illthe incurably ill

The Killings BeginThe Killings Begin

As the Nazis moved across Europe the SS As the Nazis moved across Europe the SS killing squads rounded up men, women, killing squads rounded up men, women, children, and even babies and shot them in pits children, and even babies and shot them in pits where they were buried.where they were buried.

Other Jews were rounded up and herded into Other Jews were rounded up and herded into concentration camps where they were slave concentration camps where they were slave labor.labor.

Inmates would work seven days a week for the Inmates would work seven days a week for the SS or for German businesses. Food consisted SS or for German businesses. Food consisted of thin soup, scraps of bread, and potato of thin soup, scraps of bread, and potato peelings. Most inmates lost 50 lbs quickly.peelings. Most inmates lost 50 lbs quickly.

The Final StageThe Final Stage

In 1942 the Germans built huge exterminations In 1942 the Germans built huge exterminations camps equipped with gas chambers that could camps equipped with gas chambers that could kill as many as 6,000 people in a day.kill as many as 6,000 people in a day.

Committees of Nazi doctors separated the Committees of Nazi doctors separated the strong (mostly men) from the weak (women, strong (mostly men) from the weak (women, children, and elderly). The weak went to their children, and elderly). The weak went to their deaths in the gas chambers usually that day.deaths in the gas chambers usually that day.

The victims were told to undress and head into The victims were told to undress and head into the gas chambers under the guise they were the gas chambers under the guise they were taking showers. Cyanide gas from Zyklon B taking showers. Cyanide gas from Zyklon B granules came through the fake showerheads.granules came through the fake showerheads.

Zyklon B granules on display at Zyklon B granules on display at AuschwitzAuschwitz

Empty Zyklon B canisters found by the Empty Zyklon B canisters found by the Allies at Auschwitz at the end of World Allies at Auschwitz at the end of World War IIWar II

Auschwitz Death Camp, PolandAuschwitz Death Camp, Poland Except for the picture on this slide, all other Auschwitz Except for the picture on this slide, all other Auschwitz

pictures are by Elisabeth Yankey taken in 2001.pictures are by Elisabeth Yankey taken in 2001.

This wheeled table helped transport the bodies of the gassed victims to the ovens for cremation.

This mechanism rotated the table upon which the bodies of the gassed victims were transferred to the ovens for cremation.

There was once a building standing here, but this is the area where the Nazis themselves burned this building down to attempt to destroy evidence of the death camps.

inmate barracks

These are burned down barracks where the Nazis again tried to destroy evidence of atrocities in the Auschwitz camp.

Jews Killed Under Nazi Rule*Jews Killed Under Nazi Rule*

Original Jewish Original Jewish PopulationPopulation

Jews KilledJews Killed Percent Percent SurvivingSurviving

PolandPoland 3,300,0003,300,000 2,800,0002,800,000 15%15%

Soviet Union Soviet Union (area (area occupied by Germans)occupied by Germans)

2,100,0002,100,000 1,500,0001,500,000 29%29%

HungaryHungary 404,000404,000 200,000200,000 49%49%

RomaniaRomania 850,000850,000 425,000425,000 50%50%

Germany/AustriaGermany/Austria 270,000270,000 210,000210,000 22%22%

*Estimates Source: Hannah Vogt, The Burden of Guilt

The SurvivorsThe Survivors

About six million European Jews were killed About six million European Jews were killed during the Holocaust.during the Holocaust.

Less than four million European Jews survived.Less than four million European Jews survived. Some Jews were helped by non-Jews who Some Jews were helped by non-Jews who

risked there lives, hid Jews in their homes, and risked there lives, hid Jews in their homes, and helped them escape to neutral countries. One helped them escape to neutral countries. One such family was the Ten Boom family of such family was the Ten Boom family of Harlem in the Netherlands. The book and film Harlem in the Netherlands. The book and film The Hiding PlaceThe Hiding Place tells this story. tells this story.