Holocaust Background Information

HISTORICAL CONTEXT:HISTORICAL CONTEXT:

THE HOLOCAUSTTHE HOLOCAUST

NTI-SEMITISMNTI-SEMITISM

Death of Christ-1400: Christianity becomes Death of Christ-1400: Christianity becomes the official religion of the Roman Empire the official religion of the Roman Empire and…and…

Christ’s death blamed on JewsChrist’s death blamed on Jews refusal to convert to Christianity seen as refusal to convert to Christianity seen as

arrogantarrogant a scapegoat for Christianity—used to make a scapegoat for Christianity—used to make

Christianity look betterChristianity look better

NTI-SEMITISMNTI-SEMITISM 5th-7th Centuries, Middle Ages, 5th-7th Centuries, Middle Ages,

Renaissance/Reformation: Renaissance/Reformation: ““blood libel” as an example of myths about the Jewsblood libel” as an example of myths about the Jews Jews less than human, killed in the CrusadesJews less than human, killed in the Crusades Blamed for Black DeathBlamed for Black Death Wore badges or cones on head, in Italy and Germany Wore badges or cones on head, in Italy and Germany

they were separated into ghettosthey were separated into ghettos Central and eastern Europe: not allowed to own land, Central and eastern Europe: not allowed to own land,

serve as officers in the military, hold positions in state serve as officers in the military, hold positions in state service, and generally denied access to handicraftsman service, and generally denied access to handicraftsman and small-manufacturing opportunities and small-manufacturing opportunities

17th-18th Century tensions eased but the 17th-18th Century tensions eased but the stereotypes remained stereotypes remained

Rise to Rise to PowerPower

Why elect Hitler?Why elect Hitler? Hitler’s promises Hitler’s promises The effects of WWI The effects of WWI

and the Treaty of Versaillesand the Treaty of Versailles

Chancellor to Dictator (1933)Chancellor to Dictator (1933) burning of the Reichstag burning of the Reichstag The Enabling Act (end of Democracy) The Enabling Act (end of Democracy)

Germans cheer Adolf Hitler as he leaves the Hotel Kaiserhof just after being sworn in as chancellor. Berlin, Germany, January 30, 1933.(ushmm.org)

1933-19391933-1939 Dictatorship under the Third Reich (Nazi Party)Dictatorship under the Third Reich (Nazi Party)

““state of emergency”—suspended constitutional civil state of emergency”—suspended constitutional civil rightsrights

Propaganda pushed central ideas/messagesPropaganda pushed central ideas/messages History and biology changed to match anti-Semitic viewsHistory and biology changed to match anti-Semitic views Boys and girl’s clubs/programs immersed in Nazi ideologyBoys and girl’s clubs/programs immersed in Nazi ideology ““The Poison Mushroom”The Poison Mushroom” Aryan “pure” race Aryan “pure” race Euthanasia program conceived Euthanasia program conceived Forced sterilizationsForced sterilizations

““IN MY STATE, THE MOTHER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CITIZEN.” --Hitler, 1934 IN MY STATE, THE MOTHER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CITIZEN.” --Hitler, 1934 (ushmm.org)(ushmm.org)

““OUR STARTING POINT IS NOT THE INDIVIDUAL, AND WE DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THE OUR STARTING POINT IS NOT THE INDIVIDUAL, AND WE DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THE VIEW THAT ONE SHOULD FEED THE HUNGRY, GIVE DRINK TO THE THIRSTY, OR VIEW THAT ONE SHOULD FEED THE HUNGRY, GIVE DRINK TO THE THIRSTY, OR CLOTHE THE NAKED…OUR OBJECTIVES ARE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT: WE MUST HAVE CLOTHE THE NAKED…OUR OBJECTIVES ARE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT: WE MUST HAVE A HEALTHY PEOPLE IN ORDER TO PREVAIL IN THE WORLD.” A HEALTHY PEOPLE IN ORDER TO PREVAIL IN THE WORLD.”

--Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda (1938) (ushmm.org)--Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda (1938) (ushmm.org)

PROPAGANDA (n): Official government communications to the public PROPAGANDA (n): Official government communications to the public that are designed to influence opinion. The information may be true that are designed to influence opinion. The information may be true

or false, but it is always carefully selected for its political effect.or false, but it is always carefully selected for its political effect. [propaganda. (n.d.). [propaganda. (n.d.). The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third EditionThe American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition . .

Retrieved February 15, 2008, from Dictionary.com website]Retrieved February 15, 2008, from Dictionary.com website]

Top Left: "The result! A loss of racial pride." Germany, prewar [ushmm.org, Feb 15, 2008]

Top Right: “German children read…DER GIFTPILZ ( "The Poisonous Mushroom"). The girl on the left holds a companion volume…"Trust No Fox." Germany, ca. 1938.” [ushmm.org, Feb 15, 2008]

Bottom Right: "Healthy Parents have Healthy Children." Germany, date uncertain [ushmm.org, Feb 15, 2008]

Bottom Left: “…from a film produced by the Reich Propaganda Ministry. It shows patients in an unidentified asylum. Their existence is described as ‘life without hope.’” Germany, prewar [ushmm.org, Feb 15, 2008]

1933-19391933-1939 Early Stages of PersecutionEarly Stages of Persecution

Sept 1935—Laws at NurembergSept 1935—Laws at Nuremberg deprived Jews of political rights deprived Jews of political rights defined who was a Jew defined who was a Jew

Store Boycott Store Boycott Book burning Book burning KRISTALLNACHT, Nov 9-10, 1938KRISTALLNACHT, Nov 9-10, 1938

Organized violence against Jews throughout Germany Organized violence against Jews throughout Germany and Austria and Austria

Death of Ernst vom Rath (low-ranking German Death of Ernst vom Rath (low-ranking German official) by Herschel Grynszpan, a Polish Jew 17 years official) by Herschel Grynszpan, a Polish Jew 17 years of age of age

“The synagogue in Oberramstadt (a town in southwestern Germany) burns during Kristallnacht. Oberramstadt, Germany, Nov

9-10, 1938.” [ushmm.org, Feb 15, 2008]

1933-1933-19391939

Concentration Concentration Camps Camps ““concentration campconcentration camp refers refers

to a camp in which people to a camp in which people are detained or confined, are detained or confined, usually under harsh usually under harsh conditions and without conditions and without regard to legal norms of regard to legal norms of arrest and imprisonment arrest and imprisonment that are acceptable in a that are acceptable in a constitutional democracy.” constitutional democracy.”

Opened to “hold Opened to “hold subversives”—people subversives”—people opposing the regimeopposing the regime

First camp was in Dachau First camp was in Dachau in 1933, soon after Hitler’s in 1933, soon after Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor appointment as Chancellor

“Roll call for newly arrived prisoners, mostly Jews arrested during Kristallnacht (the "Night of Broken Glass"), at the Buchenwald concentration camp. Buchenwald, Germany, 1938.” [ushmm.org, Feb 15, 2008]

1939-19451939-1945 WWII begins with the invasion of Poland on Sept. WWII begins with the invasion of Poland on Sept.

1, 19391, 1939 More “living space” for the Aryan RaceMore “living space” for the Aryan Race

Other groups targeted during Holocaust: Romas Other groups targeted during Holocaust: Romas (gypsies), Poles, Russians and other Slavic (gypsies), Poles, Russians and other Slavic peoples, homosexuals, Jehovah Witnesses, peoples, homosexuals, Jehovah Witnesses, Communists and Socialists Communists and Socialists

Hitler gives authorization for the Euthanasia Hitler gives authorization for the Euthanasia (“good death”) program(“good death”) program ““qualifications” for the programqualifications” for the program gas showers and crematoriums first used, to be gas showers and crematoriums first used, to be

incorporated later in the “final solution”incorporated later in the “final solution” halted in 1941 due to public suspicionshalted in 1941 due to public suspicions continued, more carefully concealed, in 1942 through continued, more carefully concealed, in 1942 through

lethal injections, drug overdoses and forced starvation lethal injections, drug overdoses and forced starvation all-in-all, deaths estimated at 200,000 individuals all-in-all, deaths estimated at 200,000 individuals

PERSECUTION AND MURDER OF JEWSPERSECUTION AND MURDER OF JEWS GhettosGhettos

1939-1945; small areas of a city where Jews 1939-1945; small areas of a city where Jews isolatedisolated

Warsaw ghetto largest (400,000 Jews crowded in Warsaw ghetto largest (400,000 Jews crowded in an area of 1.3 square miles)an area of 1.3 square miles)

forced labor; had to wear “identification” forced labor; had to wear “identification” (patches/armbands etc…) (patches/armbands etc…)

EinsatzgruppenEinsatzgruppen Mobile units for mass murdersMobile units for mass murders shooting and burying in mass graves progressed shooting and burying in mass graves progressed

to gas vans because of “psychological burden” to gas vans because of “psychological burden” on the soldierson the soldiers

“White armband with a Star of David embroidered in blue thread, worn by Dina Offman from 1939 until 1941 while in the ghetto in Stopnica, Poland.”

Wannasee Conference; Jan 20, 1942Wannasee Conference; Jan 20, 1942 German leaders discuss the “final solution” to the “Jewish German leaders discuss the “final solution” to the “Jewish

Question” Question” Deportations and killing centersDeportations and killing centers

Movement from ghettos to concentration and death camps (by Movement from ghettos to concentration and death camps (by train) train)

Auschwitz-Birkenau largest death camp (960,000 Jews murdered Auschwitz-Birkenau largest death camp (960,000 Jews murdered along with about 135,000 individuals of other groups)along with about 135,000 individuals of other groups)

Selection took place upon getting off the trainSelection took place upon getting off the train Zyklon-B replaces carbon monoxide in gas chambers/showersZyklon-B replaces carbon monoxide in gas chambers/showers Experiments on prisoners (most well known SS Captain Dr. Josef Experiments on prisoners (most well known SS Captain Dr. Josef

Mengele who worked with infants, twins and dwarves specifically) Mengele who worked with infants, twins and dwarves specifically)

“Main entrance to the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp. Poland, date uncertain.”

““The Final Solution”The Final Solution”

Top Left: “A transport of Hungarian Jews lines up for selection at the Auschwitz extermination camp. Poland, May 1944.”

Bottom Left: “Suitcases that belonged to people deported to the Auschwitz camp. This photograph was taken after Soviet forces liberated the camp. Auschwitz, Poland, after January 1945.”

Top Right: “Hungarian Jews on their way to the gas chambers. Auschwitz-Birkenau, Poland, May 1944.”

[ushmm.org, February 15, 2008]

May-July 1944: Over 430,000 Hungarian Jews May-July 1944: Over 430,000 Hungarian Jews deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, most are gasseddeported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, most are gassed

June 6: D-day; Allies invade NormandyJune 6: D-day; Allies invade Normandy ““Death Marches” towards Germany beginDeath Marches” towards Germany begin

Losing territory, destroying evidence, needed Losing territory, destroying evidence, needed for production, perhaps use as hostages for production, perhaps use as hostages

“A view of a death march from Dachau. Germany, April 29, 1945.”

LIBERATION and 1945LIBERATION and 1945 July 1944: Soviet Troops liberate Majdanek camp July 1944: Soviet Troops liberate Majdanek camp

in Polandin Poland January 27, 1945: Soviet Troops liberate January 27, 1945: Soviet Troops liberate

Auschwitz-BirkenauAuschwitz-Birkenau April-May 1945: Allies liberate Buchenwald, April-May 1945: Allies liberate Buchenwald,

Bergen-Belsen, Dachau, Mauthausen, and Bergen-Belsen, Dachau, Mauthausen, and Theresienstadt concentration campsTheresienstadt concentration camps

April 30, 1945: Hitler commits suicideApril 30, 1945: Hitler commits suicide May 7, 1945: Germany surrenders and the war May 7, 1945: Germany surrenders and the war

ends in Europeends in Europe November 1945-October 1946: War Crimes Trials November 1945-October 1946: War Crimes Trials

held at Nuremberg, Germany held at Nuremberg, Germany Crimes against humanityCrimes against humanity Some eventually sentenced to death Some eventually sentenced to death

ResourcesResources All pictures acquired from:All pictures acquired from:

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. 15 February 2008. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. 15 February 2008. <http://www.ushmm.org/><http://www.ushmm.org/>

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Teaching about the Teaching about the Holocaust: A resource book for educators.Holocaust: A resource book for educators. Washington, DC. Washington, DC.

The History Place, TM. 2008. 15 February 2008. The History Place, TM. 2008. 15 February 2008. <http://www.historyplace.com/><http://www.historyplace.com/>