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Holocaust 1933-1945 Before Hitler • Before Hitler, Germany was not overtly anti-semitic. Most people got along well within their small communities. • Minorities were generally not persecuted • It was not until Hitler’s message of hate that Germans started to distinguish “differences”. • Note: Judaism was not (and is not) a race. Hitler made it a race to justify persecution of Jewish peoples and denote them as different Life Before Hitler 1933 Hitler was appointed Chancellor • After he legally came to power he waited for the opportune moment to take over the government. • In 1933 there was a fire in the main building of the government (Reichstag) and Hitler used this as an excuse to blame “those working against the government” • He suspended all civil liberties and took complete control of the government (for the “protection” of Germany) • To make sure everyone was conforming to Hitler’s new rules, new laws were passed Boycott of Jewish Businesses Burning of non-Nazi Books Arrests of Enemies of the State • Enemies included: – – – – Jews Communists Gypsies Homosexuals • This list also came to include those who would “weaken” the German race, ie. the physically and mentally handicapped Enforcers of Hitler’s Laws • SS Troops • Gestapo • H.J. (Hitler Youth) Everyday Germans also helped to support Hitler’s regime 1935 Nuremburg Laws • Separated Aryans from non-Aryans – Restricted lives of nonGerman citizens (especially those that did not have 4 German, non-Jewish Grandparents) – Jews forced to wear yellow stars – Marriage was not allowed between Jews and nonJews – Jewish business were further boycotted and even closed Nuremburg Laws cont. 1938 Kristallnacht • Massive violence against Jews included: – – – – Destruction of property Murders Beatings Arrests • Costs millions in damage and Jews were expected to pay for it • Enacted to encourage Jews to leave Germany • Many tried to, but very few were able to get out. 1939 WWII Begins • With each country that Hitler took over, all “non-desirables” were rounded-up and disposed of. • Many were sent to Ghettos and later to concentration camps. 1940 Ghettos • Ghettos were built all over Germany and Eastern Europe as temporary holding locations for Jews until a solution of what to do with them was agreed upon. • Ghettos were usually in areas of towns that the Jewish community already lived in, they were just confined there now. • Those that did not already live in a Jewish community were “relocated” to the ghettos. Relocation Greek Ghetto Polish Ghetto (Lodz) Warsaw Ghetto (largest ghetto) Lithuania Ghetto (Kovno) 1941 • Einsatzgruppen (mobile killing units) – Followed behind advancing German armies liquidating “undesirables” from conquered towns (mostly Jews) – Many of those doing the killing were not officially German military, they were “average” people being swept up by the fervor of the Nazis and turning on their neighbors. • U.S. joins the war in the end of 1941 1942 Wannsee Conference • German officials decided on the “Final Solution” • Gassing at certain concentration camps began as an efficient method of extermination Concentration Camps Gas Chambers Auschwitz-Birkenau 1941-44 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising • Jews in one of the largest Ghettos fought back against the Germans. Though almost all died, they did try to defend themselves. • The Germans were infuriated because the Jews were successful at holding them back for 1 month! 1944 - 1945 • • • • • D-Day Soviets begin moving into Germany Many camps are discovered and liberated Nazis retreated from the Soviets and Allies. They began to destroy evidence: – Mass murder of prisoners – Death Marches = evacuation of other camps to interior camps • End of 1945 – Germany surrenders = V-E Day! – Full evil of the Nazis discovered Death Marches Liberation of Camps Innocent Victims Between 8-12 Million people were executed. This is referred to as THE HOLOCAUST