18.1.12

The Holocaust

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The Persecution of the Jews - The Holocaust

The Jews were persecuted (treated unfairly) the most out of all ethnic minorities in Germany. The Holocaust describes the murder of around 6 million Jews in Nazi Germany.

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Kristallnacht (the Night of the Broken Glass), 1938 AD

  • On 9th November 1938 AD, the Nazis staged Kristallnacht in response to a Jew assassinating a German ambassador in Paris.
  • In Kristallnacht, the SS organised a series of attacks on Jewish communities. They destroyed Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues.
    • Kristallnacht means 'night of broken glass' in German because of everything that was smashed.
  • Kristallnacht was a turning point for Jews. This was the first time they had been physically harmed by the Nazis.
    • Afterwards, it was clear that Jews needed to flee Germany.
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The ghettos

  • In the Second World War, the persecution (unfair treatment) of the Jews escalated.
  • From 1939 AD, Jews began to be placed in ghettos. A ghetto was an area of a city solely occupied by Jews, separate from the rest of the city’s population.
    • People could not enter and leave freely, and living conditions were appalling. It was a bit like a slum.
    • The first ghettos were built in Poland and eventually over 1,000 were built in Poland and the Soviet Union. Many people died from starvation and disease in the ghettoes.
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Murder

  • After the Germans invaded the Soviet Union, all Jews they crossed were killed by the Einsatzgruppen (SS killing squad). This led to over 1 million Jews being killed.
  • By December 1941 AD, Jews were being gassed at Chelmno death camp. Many more death camps were to follow.
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The Final Solution

  • After the Wannsee Conference in January 1942 AD, the ‘Final Solution of the Jewish Question’ was decided.
    • 6 death camps with gas chambers were built in Poland.
  • Out of all the Jews killed, 60% were killed after 1942 AD, after the Wannsee Conference.
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How did the public react to Jewish persecution?

  • Almost no one spoke out to help the Jews.
    • Many helped the Nazis, others stood back and did nothing because either it did not affect them or they were too scared of the Nazis.
  • Many Jews and others did not know what happened at the camps. They took suitcases and bought their own train tickets to get to the death camps.

Jump to other topics

1Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5Medieval Religion

1.6The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.10Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11Medieval England & Her Neighbours

1.12European Renaissance

1.13Norman Conquest & Control

1.14Historical Skills

2The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1Anglo-Saxon England

2.2The Contest for the English Throne

2.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4King John

2.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

2.6The Black Death

3Worldviews

4The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8Religion in the Middle Ages

9Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10The English Civil War: 1642-1660 AD

11The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

13The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

14The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

18World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

19The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

20Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

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