The Holocaust

The Holocaust

How was it possible for a modern state to carry out the systematic murder of an entire people for no other reason than that they were Jewish? Only a modern state, with its capacity for

bureaucratic organization, mass communication/propaganda, and modern technology (e.g. railroads, mass communications) could carry out murder on such a scale.

The Holocaust was centrally planned and an expression of state policy.

To carry out the transport and murder of millions took significant organization and involved many government agencies and tens of thousands of workers.

Why the Jews? Anti-Jewish attitudes deeply rooted in

European Christian culture and society. Jews historically charged with the crime of

deicide (murder of God). All measures taken by the Nazis against the

Jews had precursors in European history. Early Christianity: You cannot live among us as Jews. Middle Ages: You cannot live among us. Holocaust: You cannot live.

Stages of the Holocaust Anti-Jewish Legislation (1933-1935)

Boycott of Jewish businesses in Germany (April 1, 1933) Nuremberg Laws (1935) stripped Jews of rights of

citizenship and barred Jews from education, professions, and public spaces (parks, pools, theatres, etc). Jews disappeared from German public life.

Persecution (1938-39) *Kristallnacht (November 1938) Anti-Jewish

violent outbreak orchestrated by Nazis after murder of German diplomat by Jewish youth.

*Expulsion: Germany attempted to expel many Jews from the Reich. Few nations would accept Jewish refugees.

Kristallnact

How was it possible for an entire people to allow itself to be destroyed?How was it possible for the world to stand by without halting this destruction? From 1935 until the outbreak of war, many Jews tried to leave the

Reich (Germany and Austria), but found few nations willing to take them. Why?

Economies suffering by depression had little capacity to absorb refugees. Anti-Jewish attitudes pervasive among world leaders and among larger populations.

After war broke out, opportunities to rescue Jews diminished. Historians debate whether nations responded adequately to the

Holocaust. Allies threatened Nazi leaders with punishment for crimes against the

Jews and civilian populations. Could Allies have done more, such as bomb Auschwitz or the rail

networks leading to death camps? Of all the nations of the western world, Canada’s response was

the most dismal. Between 1933 and 1946, Canada admitted only 5,000 Jewish refugees, fewer than Cuba, Paraguay and the Dominican Republic. (The St. Louis Incident)

The St. Louis Incident

By far the largest group in Europe were bystanders. To varying degrees they knew what was taking place, but did nothing.

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

– Edmund Burke

There were 11-12 million victims of the Holocaust, including Jews, Gypsies, political prisoners, Jehovah Witnesses, and homosexuals.

“Not every victim was Jewish, but every Jew was a victim.”

– Elie Wiesel

Rescuers Despite grave risk to themselves and their families,

some individuals and communities rescued Jews. Oskar Schindler saved 1,000 Jews (700 men and 300

women) in Crakow. His heroism was the subject of the Stephen Spielberg film, Schindler’s List.

As in the case of all historical events, there is much about the Holocaust that is subject to debate. Some people claim that the Holocaust never took place or

that the number of victims has been greatly exaggerated. There are mountains of evidence including documents and

testimonies by eyewitness, including perpetrators, victims and by-standers.