The Holocaust (about 1938-1945) was one of the most world changing events in WWII. Tyrannical leaders such as Hitler and Mussolini preformed horrific acts against the Jewish religion in Germany and Italy. Many of the Jews that did not escape were sent to concentration camps. The concentration camps were a place where the Jews were imprisoned and worked to death. They were gasses, tortured, shot, starved to death, and many other things. Over 70 percent of the Jewish population was killed during time.
By March of 1942, the West knew of the killing operations using poison gas at the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. Many people think US and the Allied powers should have acted earlier to end this horrific act of discrimination committed by Adolf Hitler. For example, they could have deployed US troops earlier to stop the Holocaust related crimes, or allowed bomb to be set off on gas chambers. Instead they didn't really try to help at all. The US was so powerful that they could have helped a lot. For example in August 1942, the State Department received the Nazi's plans for the murder of the Jews. The US authorities although, did not take an action on this. Proving that thy did not really even try to help.
Winston Churchill said that the Holocaust “was probably the greatest and most terrible crime ever committed in the whole history of the world.” but that doesn't clean Great Britain's hand of the innocent children's blood who died under the rein of Hitler's Germany.
Sources
*This picture is a primary source because it is a picture that was actually taken during the time. It was taken after the Holocaust was over, because all the people were already piled up in the picture. They didn't pile them up until the end of the Holocaust. They made all the survivors pile them up. This picture defiantly brings out the realities of this horrific event. About 6 million Jews were killed by the Nazis during the Holocaust.
*This picture was taken sometime in 1944 or 1945, in German territory. It is a primary source because it was picture that was actually taken at the time. It was probably taken at the beginning of the Holocaust, because this is what they did when they arrived, and they aren't too damaged yet in this picture. As you can tell they all look very scared and confused. This was a very scary and confusing time for the Jews, especially since they were totally innocent.
*This picture is a primary source because it is an actual picture. This was taken during the Holocaust. You can tell this because this is how they lived during the Holocaust. They all had to share beds, and pretty much everything. It was a terrible thing for all the Jews involved.
"I simply can't believe that one day I will be allowed to leave this house without the yellow star. Or even that this war will end one day. If this happens I will probably lose my mind from joy," she wrote on Feb. 5, 1943. "The little faith I used to have has been completely shattered. If God existed, He would have certainly not permitted that human beings be thrown alive into furnaces, and the heads of little toddlers be smashed with gun butts or shoved into sacks and gassed to death."
*This quote is a primary source because it is something that was actually said. This was probably said either during or after the Holocaust. Rutka Laskier said this, she was just a normal person involved in the Holocaust. This quote gives us a little glimpse at how bad the Holocaust, and tells us some things that the people were going through.
"If I am ever really in power, the destruction of the Jews will be my first and most important job. As soon as I have power, I shall have gallows erected, for example, in Munich on the Marienplatz-as many of them as traffics allows. Then the Jews will be hanged on after another, and they will stay hanging until they sink. They will stay hanging as long as hygienically possible. As soon as they are untied, then the next group will follow and that will continue until the last Jew is Munich is exterminated. Exactly the same procedure will be followed in other cities until Germany is cleansed if the last Jew!"
*This quote is a primary source because it is something that was actually said. This was said by Adolf Hitler before the Holocaust took place, around August of 1920. He said this when he was asked what he would do if he ever got fill freedom against the Jews. This shows what a horrible man he was, and shows the reality of the situation.
"It is debatable as to whether the American press was provided with valid information about the tragedies that occurred during the Holocaust. If we the idea that the American press was not given correct information, it is not fair to state that it was not in denial about the realities, but instead as ignorant. It is proven in various articles, memoirs, and novels that the Easter Europeans who worked in the concentration camps as generals and SS soldiers were not aware of the harsh realities that occurred where they worked. Consequently, it is fair to state that if those who worked in the close proximity with the Nazi regime were not aware of the Nazi's actions then it is impossible to believe that those who lived continents away had access to the reality of the situation."
*This statement is a secondary source, because it is just some one's opinion. This was said recently, obviously after the Holocaust. This is a statement because it shows the other side of the Holocaust. It makes a good point about defending the West in the Holocaust. The Holocaust also, as you can see from this, effected the West.
These videos are both primary sources, because they are someone who actually experienced it, and they are telling their story. These were obvioulsy after the Holocaust, somewhere close to right now. These are both very good sources, because they are actually coming from the person, and are telling what they actually went through. Which, at some times, is more intense than and actual photo. These videos show how desperate people got, but at the same time people were willing to sacrifice their life's for others.
Q & A's
Q: Around what time did the Holocaust take place?
A: 1938-1945
Q: When did the West know about the Holocaust?
A: 1942
Q: What is two examples of something America could have done to help this horrific event?
A: Deployed US troops earlier, or allowed bomb on the gas chambers.
I hate the Holocaust!! Its so horrible what they did!! I cry when ever I read about.. It interests me buts really bad!! Im so glad that we dont have that anymore.. I think that everyone is equal.. Everyone should have an aqual life at living!!
ReplyDeleteThe human race must be the most evil race of them all, when we can do such a thing to another human being!
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with the sentiment about the United States not doing enough to stop this horrific tragedy from happening. Jews were not the only people subjected to this cruelty. Many Europeans, as well as gays, protestants, people of any race or color that didnt fit the agenda, mentally handicapped, physically handicapped. It was Hitlers mission to take over and own the world, and create his "perfect race". Anybody not fitting his ideals were subject to this cruelty, Americans included.