History of Holocaust – Remembering the Greatest Tragedy of 20th Century

Standing before a memorial stone, a spiritual graveyard to over a million souls killed at Auschwitz, is quite a bizarre experience. The Holocaust was a tragedy unlike any other in the 20th century. It’s hard to grasp the scale of what happened.

Let’s remember the six million European Jews lost. They were taken by the Nazi German regime under Adolf Hitler. This act of remembrance is a promise to humanity. We vow that such horrors will not happen again.

Before the Nazis, Europe had 9 million Jews. Their 'Final Solution to the Jewish Question’ was evil. We look back to learn and promise 'Never Again’.

By remembering, we honor those who can’t speak for themselves. We also honor those who fight for Holocaust remembrance.

What was the Holocaust?

The Holocaust was a coordinated effort by the Third Reich to murder all European Jews. It’s also known as the „Shoah”, or „catastrophe” in Hebrew. During this time, the *Nazi* party passed laws that targeted and dehumanised Jews.

Hitler made them feel left out from the start. Laws were made to take away their rights and jobs. This led to the persecution of Jews and others seen as unwanted by the Nazis. Jews were pushed out of society and faced violence.

The *Final Solution* was a plan to kill all European Jews. It started in 1942 and led to the creation of death camps. These camps were where millions of Jews lost their lives.

• 1.7 million Polish Jews were under German rule during WWII.
• Nearly 900,000 Soviet Jews were killed in 1941.
• *Aktion Reinhard* camps killed at least 1.75 million Jews.
• 104,000 Jews were deported from the Netherlands, with 101,800 killed.

But it wasn’t just Jews who suffered. Roma, Sinti, disabled people, and political opponents were also targeted. Over 1.1 million people died out of nearly 1.3 million sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Remembering the Holocaust teaches us about the dangers of hate and prejudice. It shows us the harm caused by such beliefs.

Why did the Nazis target Jews?

The Nazis hated Jews because of old prejudices, made worse by World War I’s bad outcomes. This hatred led to a plan to blame Jews for Germany’s loss. It started a big campaign to persecute Jews, supported by many people.

German Jews helped a lot in the war but were blamed for 'stabbing Germany in the back.’ This was a lie that fit with the Nazi idea of race. They thought some races were better than others. Hitler wanted a society without what he saw as 'bad’ people.

The Nazis wanted to get rid of Jews for many reasons. They were racist, facing economic problems, and wanted a pure society. They thought killing Jews was key to keeping their race 'pure.’

Geography of the Holocaust

The Holocaust covered a wide area in Europe, affecting nearly every part of Axis-controlled Europe. Before World War II, about nine million Jews lived mainly in Germany, Poland, and the Soviet Union. The Nazis took over countries like Poland, Denmark, Norway, and others from 1939 to 1942. This move put more Jewish communities under harsh rule.

Ghettos and concentration camps became harsh realities during this time. By January 1945, over 700,000 people were held in camps across Europe. The Nazis also used about 1,500 cities and towns in Eastern Europe to harm Jews. They made ghettos to keep Jews apart and under control.

As the Nazis lost the war in 1944-1945, prisoners were moved in death marches. Many were killed by their guards. The Allies came to free the camps, with the Soviets reaching Majdanek in Poland first and Americans freeing others. But, many faced hard times after being freed.

By late 1946, about 250,000 Jewish survivors stayed in camps in Germany, Austria, and Italy. They wanted to go to Palestine or the US. Their stories show the huge impact of the Holocaust in Europe.

It’s important to remember and honour these sad events. To learn more or pay respects, you can book tours to Auschwitz online anytime. For help, customer service is available from 9:00 to 21:00 daily. You can find more info by contacting us here.

The Holocaust’s geography shows a vast network of suffering and strength. It deeply marks European soil.

Anti-Jewish Policies and Measures

Between 1933 and 1945, the Nazi regime introduced many antisemitic policies. These started with the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service in 1933. It forced Jews and others out of public jobs.

By April 1933, Jews were no longer allowed in schools and universities. This cut off their chances for education.

The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 made things worse. They took away German Jews’ citizenship and banned them from marrying non-Jews. Jews were also stopped from writing legal books and taking doctoral exams.

By 1938, Jews had to add „Israel” or „Sara” to their names. This made it clear they were Jewish.

Kristallnacht in November 1938 was a violent attack on Jews. It led to more violence, property damage, and strict rules. Jews were banned from public places like schools and cinemas.

After Kristallnacht, all Jewish businesses were closed. Jews lost their valuables without getting anything in return.

The Nazis also made Jews live in crowded, poor ghettos. This was a step towards sending them to labour or death camps. These actions led to the death of six million Jews, a tragic event in history.