first they came for the socialists, and i did not speak out— because i was not a socialist. then...

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for meMartin Niemöller (1892–1984) was a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.

An Introduction to the An Introduction to the HolocaustHolocaust

Jewish Children in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942

Derived from Greek, the term Holocaust literally means “death by massive fire.” The term is used to refer to the massive destruction of the Jewish people by the Nazi regime. Today the Hebrew word Shoah is also used to name this genocidal event.

DefinitionDefinition

A History of Jewish People in A History of Jewish People in EuropeEurope

By the time Nazis came to power in By the time Nazis came to power in 1933, Jews had been living in every 1933, Jews had been living in every country in Europe for centuriescountry in Europe for centuries

An estimated 9 million Jews lived in An estimated 9 million Jews lived in the 21 countries that would be the 21 countries that would be eventually occupied by German forces eventually occupied by German forces during WWIIduring WWII

By the end of WWII, two thirds of By the end of WWII, two thirds of European Jewry were murderedEuropean Jewry were murdered

Nazi RacismNazi Racism Nazis argued that Germans and Nazis argued that Germans and

so-called “Germanic Races” were so-called “Germanic Races” were better than all othersbetter than all others

Nazi scientists developed Nazi scientists developed extensive tests to prove that they extensive tests to prove that they were anatomically superior and as were anatomically superior and as such, had a responsibility to take such, had a responsibility to take over the “weaker” and “less over the “weaker” and “less civilized races”civilized races”

Hitler maintained that his Hitler maintained that his Aryan Aryan race must remain pure so that it race must remain pure so that it could one day take over the worldcould one day take over the world

Hitler’s ideal Hitler’s ideal AryanAryan was tall, blond was tall, blond haired and blue eyedhaired and blue eyed

Jews in Germany before Jews in Germany before 19331933

In 1933, less than 1% of the German In 1933, less than 1% of the German population was Jewish (there were population was Jewish (there were approximately 600,000 Jews in Germany)approximately 600,000 Jews in Germany)

Most Jews living in Germany were proud Most Jews living in Germany were proud to be Germansto be Germans

More than 100,000 Jews actually served More than 100,000 Jews actually served in the German army in WWI; many of in the German army in WWI; many of these people had been decorated for these people had been decorated for braverybravery

Jewish Business Boycott Jewish Business Boycott

April 1, 1933: Nazis carried out their first April 1, 1933: Nazis carried out their first planned action against Jews by boycotting planned action against Jews by boycotting their businessestheir businesses

The Yellow Star of David was painted across The Yellow Star of David was painted across thousands of doors and windows; signs were thousands of doors and windows; signs were also posted that read “Don’t buy from Jews” also posted that read “Don’t buy from Jews” and “The Jews are our Misfortune”and “The Jews are our Misfortune”

Although this boycott was not very Although this boycott was not very successful, it was significant because it successful, it was significant because it marked the beginning of a nationwide marked the beginning of a nationwide campaign by the Nazi party against the campaign by the Nazi party against the entire German Jewish populationentire German Jewish population

KristallnachtKristallnacht November 9, 1938: the November 9, 1938: the

“Night of Broken Glass”“Night of Broken Glass” In just 2 days 1000+ In just 2 days 1000+

synagogues burned, synagogues burned, 7000 Jewish businesses 7000 Jewish businesses were trashed and were trashed and looted, dozens of looted, dozens of Jewish people were Jewish people were killed, and Jewish killed, and Jewish cemeteries, hospitals, cemeteries, hospitals, schools, and homes schools, and homes were also looted while were also looted while the police and fire the police and fire brigades stood by and brigades stood by and did nothingdid nothing

The Nuremburg Race LawsThe Nuremburg Race Laws In 1935 at their annual party rally in In 1935 at their annual party rally in

Nuremburg, the Nazis announced laws that Nuremburg, the Nazis announced laws that declared Jews to be second-class citizensdeclared Jews to be second-class citizens

Jews were no longer eligible to vote, or Jews were no longer eligible to vote, or marry or have sexual relations with persons marry or have sexual relations with persons of “German or related blood”of “German or related blood”

The Nuremburg Laws defined a Jew as The Nuremburg Laws defined a Jew as anyone who had three or four Jewish anyone who had three or four Jewish grandparents, whether or not that person grandparents, whether or not that person identified him- or herself as a Jew; even identified him- or herself as a Jew; even people who had converted to Christianity but people who had converted to Christianity but had Jewish grandparents were defined as had Jewish grandparents were defined as JewsJews

Labels and IdentificationLabels and Identification Jews had a red “J” stamped on their Jews had a red “J” stamped on their

identity cards identity cards They were given new middle They were given new middle

names: “Israel” for all males and names: “Israel” for all males and “Sara” for all females; both the “Sara” for all females; both the stamps and new names enabled stamps and new names enabled police to easily identify Jewspolice to easily identify Jews

Almost everywhere under Nazi rule Almost everywhere under Nazi rule Jews were forced to sew the six Jews were forced to sew the six pointed star (aka, the Star of David pointed star (aka, the Star of David or Jewish star) onto their clothes; or Jewish star) onto their clothes; Jews caught without these stars in Jews caught without these stars in public were arrestedpublic were arrested

Triangles and other symbols were Triangles and other symbols were also used by the Nazis to single out also used by the Nazis to single out other “inferior” peoples, including other “inferior” peoples, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, Gypsies Jehovah’s Witnesses, Gypsies (Roma), and Homosexuals (Roma), and Homosexuals

GhettosGhettos

By 1939, 80,000 By 1939, 80,000 Jewish people were Jewish people were forced into ghettosforced into ghettos—designated areas —designated areas in the city where in the city where Jews were Jews were compelled to livecompelled to live

The Final SolutionThe Final Solution

By 1941 Hitler’s obsession with the By 1941 Hitler’s obsession with the complete annihilation of the Jewish complete annihilation of the Jewish race took on a horrible reality called race took on a horrible reality called the Final Solutionthe Final Solution

Hitler ordered that all Jews in Nazi-Hitler ordered that all Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe be rounded up and occupied Europe be rounded up and sent to the extermination camps to sent to the extermination camps to be killed en massebe killed en masse

Concentration CampsConcentration Camps The Nazi camp system began as a system of The Nazi camp system began as a system of

repression directed against political repression directed against political opponents of the Nazi stateopponents of the Nazi state

In the early years of the Third Reich, Nazis In the early years of the Third Reich, Nazis primarily imprisoned Communists and primarily imprisoned Communists and SocialistsSocialists

In about 1935, the Nazi regime also began to In about 1935, the Nazi regime also began to imprison those whom it designated as racially imprison those whom it designated as racially or biologically inferior, especially Jewsor biologically inferior, especially Jews

During WWII, the Nazi camp system During WWII, the Nazi camp system expanded rapidly as the purpose of the expanded rapidly as the purpose of the camps evolved beyond imprisonment camps evolved beyond imprisonment towards forced labour and outright murdertowards forced labour and outright murder

Concentration / Death Concentration / Death CampsCamps

Jews were sent to concentration Jews were sent to concentration camps that the Germans constructed camps that the Germans constructed in occupied European countries; Jews in occupied European countries; Jews were drafted to do forced labour and were drafted to do forced labour and experienced “extermination through experienced “extermination through work” at such campswork” at such camps

The Germans also deported Jews from The Germans also deported Jews from all over occupied Europe to death all over occupied Europe to death (extermination) camps in Poland (extermination) camps in Poland where they were killed en massewhere they were killed en masse

A door to the gas chamber in

Auschwitz. The note reads: “Harmful Gas!

Entering Endangers Your Life”


Electrified barbed-wire fences kept prisoners within the confines of the camps


A mass grave in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp,

1945


Corpses of women piled up in Auschwitz, February 1945

An SS guard stands among the prisoners killed in his

concentration camp April 27-30, 1945

Victims, Bystanders, and Victims, Bystanders, and PerpetratorsPerpetrators

Terms commonly used by historians to Terms commonly used by historians to describe the different roles people had in describe the different roles people had in the Holocaustthe Holocaust

Victims Victims includes all groups persecuted by includes all groups persecuted by the Nazi Regimethe Nazi Regime

Bystanders Bystanders describes those individuals describes those individuals who were indifferent to the plight of Jews, who were indifferent to the plight of Jews, and other victims of the Nazis; by their and other victims of the Nazis; by their silence and inaction, these individuals and silence and inaction, these individuals and governments gave an unspoken approval governments gave an unspoken approval to Nazi actions and policiesto Nazi actions and policies

Perpetrators Perpetrators defines those people who defines those people who committed the acts of terror and committed the acts of terror and barbarism during the Holocaustbarbarism during the Holocaust

You who live safeIn your warm houses,You who find, returning in the evening,Hot food and friendly faces:

Consider if this is a manWho works in the mudWho does not know peaceWho fights for a scrap of breadWho dies because of a yes or a no.Consider if this is a woman,Without hair and without nameWith no more strength to remember,Her eyes empty and her womb coldLike a frog in winter.

Meditate that this came about:I command these words to you.Carve them in your heartsAt home, in the street,Going to bed, rising;Repeat them to your children,

Or may your house fall apart.May illness impede you,May your children turn their faces from you.

-Primo Levi

The AftermathThe Aftermath

Auschwitz Survivors Greeting their Liberators

In 1945, when Allied troops entered the concentration and death camps, they discovered piles of bones and ashes—testimony to Nazi genocide. Soldiers also found thousands of survivors suffering from starvation and disease. After liberation, many Jewish survivors refused to return to their former homes because of the antisemitism that persisted in Europe. Consequently, there were many displaced persons who sought refuge in other countries.

““None is too Many”: Canada’s None is too Many”: Canada’s RoleRole

PM Mackenzie King knew that the Nazis were PM Mackenzie King knew that the Nazis were persecuting Jews and other groups, but he persecuting Jews and other groups, but he saw no need for Canada to become involved saw no need for Canada to become involved or for Canada to accept Jewish refugeesor for Canada to accept Jewish refugees

In his diary in 1938 King wrote: In his diary in 1938 King wrote:

We must … seek to keep this part of We must … seek to keep this part of the the Continent free from unrest … Nothing Continent free from unrest … Nothing can be can be gained by creating an internal gained by creating an internal problem in the problem in the effort to meet an effort to meet an international oneinternational one


Canadian secretary of State in 1939:Canadian secretary of State in 1939:

““despite all sentiments of humanity, so long despite all sentiments of humanity, so long as Canada has an unemployment problem, as Canada has an unemployment problem, there will be no ‘open door’ policy to political there will be no ‘open door’ policy to political refugees here” refugees here”

After After Kristallnacht Kristallnacht Thomas Crerar suggested Thomas Crerar suggested that 10,000 Jews be allowed to immigrate to that 10,000 Jews be allowed to immigrate to CanadaCanada

Cabinet refused Crerar’s suggestion: Cabinet refused Crerar’s suggestion: Immigration Minister Fred Blair insisted that Immigration Minister Fred Blair insisted that “none is too many”“none is too many”


Canada’s policy had tragic Canada’s policy had tragic consequences in 1939 when the consequences in 1939 when the ocean liner St. Louis that was ocean liner St. Louis that was carrying 900 Jewish refugees was carrying 900 Jewish refugees was denied permission to dock in Canadadenied permission to dock in Canada

The St. Louis was forced to return to The St. Louis was forced to return to Europe, where most of the Europe, where most of the passengers died in concentration passengers died in concentration campscamps


Between 1933 and 1945, Canada opened Between 1933 and 1945, Canada opened its doors to less than 5,000 Jewish peopleits doors to less than 5,000 Jewish people

Of the 65,000 refugees let into Canada Of the 65,000 refugees let into Canada through 1948, only 12% were Jewishthrough 1948, only 12% were Jewish

Number of Jewish refugees brought into countries during 12 year Nazi Rule:

United States 200,000 Palestine 125,000Britain 70,000Argentina 50,000Brazil 27,000China 25,000

Bolivia and Chile 14,000CANADA 5,000

How can we Understand What How can we Understand What Happened?Happened?

All issues surrounding the Holocaust are All issues surrounding the Holocaust are complex—it is difficult, if not impossible, to complex—it is difficult, if not impossible, to understand how people could participate in a understand how people could participate in a genocide while the rest of the world stood bygenocide while the rest of the world stood by

One suggestion for understanding the One suggestion for understanding the Holocaust is to try to personalize what Holocaust is to try to personalize what happened so that the “unreal” seems real: happened so that the “unreal” seems real: we must remember that the 6 million Jews we must remember that the 6 million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, as well as murdered during the Holocaust, as well as the other 4 million people who were killed in the other 4 million people who were killed in concentration camps during WWII, were all concentration camps during WWII, were all separate individuals who had unique separate individuals who had unique experiences and suffered different tragediesexperiences and suffered different tragedies

“The World is too dangerous to live in—not because of the

people who do evil, but because of the people who sit

and let it happen.” –Albert Einstein

For Discussion:For Discussion:

Do you agree or disagree with Einstein’s statement?

Why?

first they came for the socialists, and i did not speak out— because i was not a socialist. then...

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