The Holocaust
History: KS3, topic 19.1.12
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Test yourself on The Holocaust
When was the first time the Jews were physically harmed by the Nazis?
What was Kristallnacht?
Which of the following about 'the final solution' are correct?
Out of all the Jews killed, what percentage were executed after 1942's Final Solution?