The holocaust revision

The Holocaust - Revision

The Holocaust- Revision

Answers to Quick Quiz1. B. The mass murder of about 6 million Jews in Europe by the

Nazis2. C. 2/33. C. 1,5,3,4,2.4. A. The Nuremberg Laws 5. B. … and non-Jewish citizens6. D. it was based on racial grounds7. B. apathetic8. A. 19399.C. east10. D. those able to work survived until they were too weak to work any more11. A. train12. D. all of the above

Why did the German people allow the persecution to happen?

Why did the German people allow the persecution to happen?

• Centuries of European hatred of the Jews on religious grounds vs new anti-semitism based on racial grounds

• Propaganda – Jews as scapegoats – economic situation and defeat in WW1– Jews as Communists

– dehumanising of the Jews• Kristallnacht• Range of views on role of German people– active participation to

indifferent bystanders– Ignorance– Fear– “Just doing my job”

• Gradual introduction of measures

Evidence

• Check doc study• Check handout• For more ideas and eyewitness accounts• http://somewereneighbors.ushmm.org/about/

exhibit (5.30)

Was the genocide systematically planned from the outset?

Was the genocide systematically planned from the outset?

• Some (intentionalists) say it was planned from the outset– evidence? no direct order from Hitler to annihilate the Jews

• Others (functionalists) believe that idea of The Final Solution developed over time

• Can say that the genocide, or mass destruction, of the Jews was the culmination of a decade of increasingly severe discriminatory measures. – At first, Jews to be forced to emigrate from Germany– As Germany conquered more territory in Europe, the

number of Jews under German control increased – “solution” to the Jewish question needed urgently

• Steps towards genocide

How did the persecution of the Jews develop over time?

How did the persecution of the Jews develop over time?

• Increasingly repressive measures over time• Has been described as “road to genocide”• What steps? When?

– Hitler comes to power – 1933– The Nuremburg Laws - 1935– Kristallnacht -1938– Isolation in Ghettos - 1939– Commencement of deportation of Jewish people

from Germany – Establishment of the death camps -1942– Death marches - 1945

See Hite and Hinton

Who was responsible? What was Hitler's role?

Who was responsible? What was Hitler's role?

• Brain storm ideas

• Hitler? – Mein Kamp, driving force• Individuals in Nazi party? • Allies? – policy of appeasement; refusing refugees;

not bombing train tracks to Auchwitz• Pope? – did not give clear lead to German Catholics• German people? – active persecution to

indifference to allow Holocaust to happen• Other conquered nations? – some rescued Jews• Police forces? Locals? - active participation

Hitler’s role?

• Plan• Motive• Means• Vision• Control

Evidence?

Important areas to remember• What was the name of the book Hitler wrote? • When did Hitler come to power?• What was the Jewish population of Europe at that time?• What were the Nuremberg Laws?• Why were the Nuremberg Laws significant?• What was Kristallnacht?• What was “The Final Solution”?• What were the steps on the road to genocide?• What was the purpose of putting Jews in Ghettos?• When did deportation of Jews from Germany start?• Who were put in Concentration Camps?• What was Auchwich?• How were the Jews transported to the east?• What was the selection process applied to Jews when they reached the camps?• Where were most of the Death Camps?• How many Jews were killed in the Holocaust?• Why is it important to remember the Holocaust?