The Jews 1940 - The Jews 1940 - 19451945

The HolocaustThe Holocaust

► . How would you react if you saw the . How would you react if you saw the enemy soldiers appear suddenly on enemy soldiers appear suddenly on your street? your street?

►What would you do if your What would you do if your neighborhood was surrounded by the neighborhood was surrounded by the enemy troops blocking your way out? enemy troops blocking your way out?

►What would you do if soldiers with What would you do if soldiers with rifles and sub-machine guns knocked rifles and sub-machine guns knocked on your door ordering you to come on your door ordering you to come out? out?

►Would you have helped the Jews in Would you have helped the Jews in such dangerous times? such dangerous times?

► Would you have hidden the Jews in Would you have hidden the Jews in your house? your house?

Prelude to the Final Prelude to the Final SolutionSolution

►When Hitler seized power in 1933 he used When Hitler seized power in 1933 he used his new powers under the ‘Enabling Law’ to his new powers under the ‘Enabling Law’ to begin his attack on the Jews.begin his attack on the Jews.

► In 1938, the Nazi attack on the Jews In 1938, the Nazi attack on the Jews changed and became more violent with changed and became more violent with Himmler launching Kristallnacht on 11Himmler launching Kristallnacht on 11thth November 1938.November 1938.

► By 1939, half of Germany’s 500,000 Jews By 1939, half of Germany’s 500,000 Jews had emigrated to escape Nazi persecution.had emigrated to escape Nazi persecution.

Prelude to the Final Prelude to the Final SolutionSolution

► In 1939, Germany In 1939, Germany invaded Poland invaded Poland which had a much which had a much larger population larger population of 3 million Jews.of 3 million Jews.

► In 1941, Germany In 1941, Germany invaded Russia invaded Russia which had a which had a population of 5 population of 5 million Jews.million Jews.

Change of Tactics: Change of Tactics: EinsatzgruppenEinsatzgruppen

► Eichman sent four specially trained SS units Eichman sent four specially trained SS units called “Einsatzgruppen battalions” into called “Einsatzgruppen battalions” into German occupied territory and shot at least 1 German occupied territory and shot at least 1 million Jews.million Jews.

► Victims were taken to deserted areas where Victims were taken to deserted areas where they were made to dig their own graves and they were made to dig their own graves and shot.shot.

►When the SS ran out of bullets they sometimes When the SS ran out of bullets they sometimes killed their victims using flame throwers.killed their victims using flame throwers.

How did the Nazi decide who How did the Nazi decide who was Jewish?was Jewish?

► At the Wannsee conference At the Wannsee conference it was decided that if one of it was decided that if one of person’s parents was Jewish, person’s parents was Jewish, then they were Jewish.then they were Jewish.

► However, if only one of their However, if only one of their grandparents had been grandparents had been Jewish then they could be Jewish then they could be classified as being German.classified as being German.

► In 1940, all Jews had to have In 1940, all Jews had to have their passports stamped their passports stamped with the letter ‘J’ and had to with the letter ‘J’ and had to wear the yellow Star of wear the yellow Star of David on their jacket or coat.David on their jacket or coat.

Defining Jew as a racial Defining Jew as a racial GroupGroup

►Labeled property and businessesLabeled property and businesses►Non Aryan= anyone w/Jewish parents Non Aryan= anyone w/Jewish parents

or grandparents.or grandparents.

Reich Citizenship Law 1935Reich Citizenship Law 1935

►4 categories4 categories►Fully Jewish (at least 3 Jewish Fully Jewish (at least 3 Jewish

grandparents regardless of faith)grandparents regardless of faith)►Mischling of the 1Mischling of the 1stst Degree (2 Jewish Degree (2 Jewish

Grandparents) treated as JewsGrandparents) treated as Jews►Mischling of the 2Mischling of the 2ndnd Degree 1 Jewish Degree 1 Jewish

Grandparent (treated as Aryans)Grandparent (treated as Aryans)►Non-JewishNon-Jewish

Also targetedAlso targeted

►HomosexualsHomosexuals►SlavsSlavs►GypsiesGypsies►Political DissidentsPolitical Dissidents►Physical HandicapsPhysical Handicaps

Madagascar PlanMadagascar Plan

► French would give Madagascar to Germany French would give Madagascar to Germany ► Germany would be given the right to install military Germany would be given the right to install military

bases on Madagascar bases on Madagascar ► The 25,000 Europeans (mostly French) living on The 25,000 Europeans (mostly French) living on

Madagascar would be removed Madagascar would be removed ► Jewish emigration was to be forced, not voluntary Jewish emigration was to be forced, not voluntary ► The Jews on Madagascar would operate most local The Jews on Madagascar would operate most local

governmental functions but would be responsible to governmental functions but would be responsible to a German police governor a German police governor

► The entire emigration and colonization of The entire emigration and colonization of Madagascar would be paid by Jewish possessions Madagascar would be paid by Jewish possessions confiscated by the confiscated by the

T-4 Euthanasia Plan 1939T-4 Euthanasia Plan 1939

►““mercy Killing”mercy Killing”►NUREMBERG LAWS: forced sterilization NUREMBERG LAWS: forced sterilization

of the unfitof the unfit►Carbon-monoxide chambers Carbon-monoxide chambers ►Dec. 1939 – Aug. 1941 50,000- 60,000 Dec. 1939 – Aug. 1941 50,000- 60,000

Germans secretly killed by lethal Germans secretly killed by lethal injection or gassinginjection or gassing

Jewish women, some holding infants, are forced to wait in a line before their execution by Germans and Ukrainian collaborators.

A German policeman shoots individual Jewish women who remain alive in the ravine after the mass execution.

Eichmann and the JewsEichmann and the Jews

►Suggested use of ghettosSuggested use of ghettos►Developed special units called Developed special units called

Einsatzgruppen Units: Came behind Einsatzgruppen Units: Came behind German units to exterminate JewsGerman units to exterminate Jews

►Kept RecordsKept Records►End of War was finally tried and End of War was finally tried and

executed in 1962executed in 1962

Change of Tactics: Change of Tactics: EinsatzgruppenEinsatzgruppen

Between 1939 and 1945

six million Jews were murdered, along with hundreds of thousands of others, such as Gypsies, Jehovah’s Witnesses, disabled and the mentally ill.

The ‘Final Solution’The ‘Final Solution’► In January 1942, Eichman In January 1942, Eichman

decided to change tactics decided to change tactics once again and called a once again and called a special conference at special conference at Wannsee.Wannsee.

► At this conference it was At this conference it was decided that the existing decided that the existing methods were too methods were too inefficient and that a new inefficient and that a new ‘Final Solution’ was ‘Final Solution’ was necessary.necessary.

What was Known?What was Known?

► Info about the Nazi atrocities was Info about the Nazi atrocities was known in great detailknown in great detail

►3,000 soldiers knew about killings and 3,000 soldiers knew about killings and talkedtalked

►German railway system was aware of German railway system was aware of the Jewish Transportsthe Jewish Transports

►Private industries built; crematoriums, Private industries built; crematoriums, supplied gassupplied gas

Nazis in chargeNazis in charge

►Adolph Eichmann: in charge of Adolph Eichmann: in charge of logistics, worked with foreign logistics, worked with foreign governmentsgovernments

►Bankers and business leaders Bankers and business leaders processed confiscated Jewish propertyprocessed confiscated Jewish property

►Populations around the camps saw Populations around the camps saw prisoners and death marchesprisoners and death marches

► Italian officers witnessedItalian officers witnessed►Resistance movements supplied infoResistance movements supplied info►Stream of intelligenceStream of intelligence

Where were the Death Where were the Death Camps built?Camps built?

Why do you think that they located them here?

The work of the Einsatzgruppen

Types of CampsTypes of Camps

►Labor campsLabor camps: concentration camps : concentration camps where interned inmates had to do hard where interned inmates had to do hard physical labor under inhumane physical labor under inhumane conditions and cruel treatment. Some of conditions and cruel treatment. Some of these camps were sub-camps of bigger these camps were sub-camps of bigger camps, or "operational camps", camps, or "operational camps", established for a temporary need. established for a temporary need.

►Transit and collection campsTransit and collection camps: camps : camps where inmates were collected and routed where inmates were collected and routed to main camps, or temporarily heldto main camps, or temporarily held

►POW campsPOW camps: concentration camps : concentration camps where prisoners of war were held after where prisoners of war were held after capture. These POW's endured torture capture. These POW's endured torture and liquidation on a large scale. and liquidation on a large scale.

►Camps for rehabilitation and re-Camps for rehabilitation and re-education of Poleseducation of Poles: camps where : camps where the intelligents of the ethnic Poles the intelligents of the ethnic Poles were held, and "re-educated" were held, and "re-educated" according to Nazi values as slaves according to Nazi values as slaves

►Hostage camps (or death camps)Hostage camps (or death camps): : camps where hostages were held and camps where hostages were held and killed as reprisals. killed as reprisals.

►Extermination camps: These camps : These camps differed from the rest, since not all of differed from the rest, since not all of them were also concentration camps. them were also concentration camps. Of these, four were extermination Of these, four were extermination camps, where all new-arrivals were camps, where all new-arrivals were simply killed simply killed

Children Dying of Children Dying of Starvation in the Warsaw Starvation in the Warsaw

GhettoGhetto

SS Tactics: SS Tactics: DehumanisationDehumanisation

► The SS guards who murdered the Jews were The SS guards who murdered the Jews were brainwashed with Anti-Semitic propaganda.brainwashed with Anti-Semitic propaganda.

► The Jews were transported in cattle cars in The Jews were transported in cattle cars in terrible conditions.terrible conditions.

► Naked, dirty and half starved people look like Naked, dirty and half starved people look like animals, which helped to reinforce the Nazi animals, which helped to reinforce the Nazi propaganda.propaganda.

► The SS used to train their new guards by The SS used to train their new guards by encouraging them to set fire to a pit full of live encouraging them to set fire to a pit full of live victims – usually children.victims – usually children.

Tactics: What happened to new Tactics: What happened to new arrivals?arrivals?

Deception & Selection

At Auschwitz the trains pulled into a mock up of a normal station.

The Jews were helped off the cattle trucks by Jews who

were specially selected to help the

Nazis

At some death camps the Nazis would play records of classical music to help calm

down the new arrivals.

At Auschwitz the new arrivals were calmed

down by a Jewish orchestra playing classical music.

All new arrivals went through a process

known as ‘selection.’

Mothers, children, the old & sick were sent

straight to the ‘showers’ which were

really the gas chambers.

The able bodied were sent to work camp

were they were killed through a process

known as ‘destruction through work.’

A MAP OF THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS AND DEATH CAMPS A MAP OF THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS AND DEATH CAMPS USED BY THE NAZIS.USED BY THE NAZIS.

16 of the 44 children taken from a French children’s home.

They were sent to a concentration camp and later to Auschwitz.

ONLY 1 SURVIVED

A group of children at a

concentration camp in Poland.

Entrance to Entrance to AuschwitzAuschwitz

Notice how it has been built to resemble a railway station

Why inaction?Why inaction?

►Caution – US had been burned in WWI Caution – US had been burned in WWI on false propaganda of atrocitieson false propaganda of atrocities

►Option of emigrating to British Palestine Option of emigrating to British Palestine was cut off by Arab pressureswas cut off by Arab pressures

►US reluctance to publicize the atrocities US reluctance to publicize the atrocities against Jews against Jews

►No dedicated administrative structure No dedicated administrative structure dedicated to rescue Europe’s Jews.dedicated to rescue Europe’s Jews.

Auschwitz OrchestraAuschwitz Orchestra

Map of AuschwitzMap of Auschwitz

New Arrivals

‘Destruction Through Work’

‘Showers’

Auschwitz from the airAuschwitz from the airNotice how the Death camp is set out like a

factory complex

The Nazis used industrial methods to murder the Jews and

process their dead bodies

The Gas ChambersThe Gas Chambers► The Nazis would force The Nazis would force

large groups of large groups of prisoners into small prisoners into small cement rooms and cement rooms and drop canisters of drop canisters of Zyklon B, or prussic Zyklon B, or prussic acid, in its crystal acid, in its crystal form through small form through small holes in the roof. holes in the roof.

► These gas chambers These gas chambers were sometimes were sometimes disguised as showers disguised as showers or bathing houses.or bathing houses.

The SS would try and pack up to 2000 people into this gas chamber

The outside of the Gas The outside of the Gas ChamberChamber

Notice the Ovens easy located near the Gas Chambers

After liberation, an Allied soldier displays a stash of gold wedding rings taken

from victims at Buchenwald.

Bales of hair shaven from women at Auschwitz, used to make felt-yarn.

Soviet POWs at forced labor in 1943 exhuming bodies in the ravine at Babi Yar, where the Nazis had murdered over 33,000 Jews in September of 1941.

In 1943, when the number of murdered Jews exceeded 1 million. Nazis ordered the bodies of those buried to be dug up and burned to destroy all traces.

Processing the bodiesProcessing the bodies

► Specially selected Jews Specially selected Jews known as the known as the sonderkommando were sonderkommando were used to to remove the used to to remove the gold fillings and hair of gold fillings and hair of people who had been people who had been gassed.gassed.

► The Sonderkommando The Sonderkommando Jews were also forced to Jews were also forced to feed the dead bodies feed the dead bodies into the crematorium.into the crematorium.

The Ovens at DachauThe Ovens at Dachau

Dead bodies waiting to be Dead bodies waiting to be processedprocessed

Shoes waiting to be Shoes waiting to be processed by the processed by the sonderkommandosonderkommando

Taken inside a huge glass case in the Auschwitz Museum. This represents one day's collection at the peak of the gassings, about twenty five thousand

pairs.

A Total of 6,000,000 Jews

Percentage of Jews killed in each country

Destruction Through WorkDestruction Through Work

This photo was taken by the Nazis to show just how you could quite literally work the fat of the Jews by feeding

them 200 calories a day

Destruction Through WorkDestruction Through Work

Same group of Jews 6 weeks later

Josef MengeleJosef Mengele

►““Angel of Death”Angel of Death”Mengele's experiments also included attempts to take one twin's eyeballs and attach them to the back of the other twin's head, changing eye colour by injecting chemicals into children's eyes, various amputations of limbs

Allied InactionAllied Inaction

► Immigration quotas not increasedImmigration quotas not increased►Refugees not taken in (St. Louis)Refugees not taken in (St. Louis)►Rail lines to death camps were never Rail lines to death camps were never

disrupteddisrupted

Was the Final Solution Was the Final Solution successful?successful?

► The Nazis aimed to The Nazis aimed to kill 11 million Jews kill 11 million Jews at the Wannsee at the Wannsee Conference in 1941Conference in 1941

► Today there are only Today there are only 2000 Jews living in 2000 Jews living in Poland.Poland.

► The Nazis managed The Nazis managed to kill at least 6 to kill at least 6 million Jews.million Jews.

►Men like Schindler Men like Schindler helped Jews escape the helped Jews escape the Final Solution.Final Solution.

►Not all Jews went quietly Not all Jews went quietly into the gas cambers.into the gas cambers.

► In 1943, the Warsaw In 1943, the Warsaw Ghetto, like many others Ghetto, like many others revolted against the revolted against the Nazis when the Jews Nazis when the Jews realised what was really realised what was really happening.happening.

Nuremberg TrialsNuremberg Trials

►The Nuremberg trials were a series of The Nuremberg trials were a series of trials held between 1945 and 1949 in trials held between 1945 and 1949 in which the Allies prosecuted German which the Allies prosecuted German military leaders, political officials, military leaders, political officials, industrialists, and financiers for crimes industrialists, and financiers for crimes they had committed during world war they had committed during world war IIII