Jews and the Holocaust
Chun Heng, Nicholas, Zheng Yu
What is the Holocaust?
The word
The word “Holocaust,” originated from the Greek words “holos” (whole) and “kaustos” (burned) and were historically used to describe a sacrificial offering burned on an altar.
What happened?
Millions of Jews were persecuted and sent to concentration camps and massacred, along with others, targeted for racial, political, ideological and behavioural reasons. They were forced into manual labour and starved or tortured to death. Approximately six million Jews were killed during this time.
Why?
Adolf Hitler, the leader of the Nazi party, was anti-Semitic and thought of Jews as inferior and a threat to German racial purity.
Liberation of Auschwitz in January 1945, a concentration camp in Germany, by the Red Army.
What led to the Holocaust?
After the first World War, Germany had signed the unfair Treaty of Versailles which saw Germany having to pay 6.6 billion pounds and multiple territorial reductions along with limitations on their military etc. Jobs were limited and hyperinflation soon came into play. This had led to a economic and social disorder in Germany.
Life in Germany was tough, and many people were starving and the quality of life was deteriorating. People in Germany were furious and hated the ineffective Weimar Government. This was when Hitler saw himself as someone who could restore Germany to its former glory and gave Germans a scapegoat to blame for all of their sufferings. Eventually, Jewish businesses were boycotted and soon, Jews were sent to concentration camps and killed in what was known as the world's worst atrocity.
Treaty of Versailles; a treaty signed after WW1 and saw harsh demands from Germany
Pounds; British currency
Weimar Government; a provisional government formed in Germany after WW1
Boycotted; withdraw from commercial or social relations with (a country, organization, or person) as a punishment or protest.