The holocaust is a term that is used to describe the genocide in Europe during World War 2. Eleven million people died in the holocaust and around six million of them were Jews. The holocaust started in Nazi Germany and was lead by dictator Adolf Hitler. Hitler and the Nazis used Jews as a scapegoat, blaming them for Germany's past failures. As Nazi control grew across Germany, they started creating new laws that stripped Jews of their Germany citizenship, jobs, and property. Hitler believed that Aryans were a "superior race", and became obsessed with ridding the world of all other races and religions. He started moving all of the "non-Aryans" into Ghettos which separated them from the the rest of society. As Hitler's obsession grew, he started moving them into Concentration camps where they were kept as slaves, then taking to extermination camps where they were killed by mass shooting or gas chambers.
A lot of people knew what was happening in Europe but nobody did anything because they were scared of their governments or the Anti-Semites. FDR wasn't doing much as well because a lot of the people in the world at that time were Anti-Semites and he was scared to loose the support he had by helping the Jews. There were a lot of Jews trying to escape to countries that were not controlled by the Nazi government, but many nations would not take in so many refugees. Eventually FDR let 100,000 Jewish refugees into the United States, but because it was at the time of the Great Depression, Americans were afraid that if they let too many refugees into America, there would be less jobs for citizens.
The Holocaust was a tragic event, and would never have gotten as far as it did in the time period we're in now.
-Cory and Ofri
It was surprising that no nations intervened with the Holocaust and that the Germans at that time supported the idea of Aryans as the "superior race." Good article but "Holocaust" should be capitalized
ReplyDeleteNice summary of the Holocaust, and I like how you called it Hitler's "obsession". It really is surprising how other nations did not react to this genocide. In the first paragraph, I think "lead" should be "led" and "loose" should be "lose".
ReplyDeleteYour blog was very informative. Most people know what the Holocaust is but not necessarily the ties that US have with it. It seems like you are trying to say that even is FDR wanted to help the Jews, he is still torn between his country's fears and his obligation as a leader. Great job with your posting.
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