The Holocaust: SwiIt Extermination

Eric Wood








Eng 102-102
ProIessor Neuburger
November 18, 2011
n 1933, an event took place that would lead to the one oI the worst events in the history
oI mankind. This year would be the beginning oI an era that led to the death oI over 11 million
people. Gypsies, Slavic citizens, and a plethora oI other groups Ielt the eIIects oI this event.
However, the group who became targeted the most, and suIIered Irom systematic extermination,
ended up being Jews.
Anti-Semitism: hatred begins
According to the adl.org, Anti-Semitism is the belieI or behavior oI hostility toward Jews
just because they are Jews (What is Anti-Semitism). This Ieeling is what started the whole
process oI the Holocaust to begin with. AdolI Hitler and his Nazi party members believed that
they should rid the earth oI Jews Ior what appeared to be no reason. Jews were being unIairly
treated early on in the Nazi regime and Iaced death in later years. Hitler and his Nazi Iollowers
became Iilled with hatred toward Jews. The Ieeling around the Nazi people Iavored an
elimination oI races they were superior to, in their own mind. At the top oI the list were the
Jewish people.
Nuremberg Laws: level oI Jews determined
AIter the Anti-Semitic views oI the Nazi regime were brought Iorth, the next step was to
pass laws that Iurther worsened the situation Ior Jews. ThereIore, the Nuremberg Laws were
passed in 1935. The Nuremberg Laws Iurther separated Jews Irom the rest oI Germany and its
people. The Laws banned marriage and sexual relations between Aryan and Jewish people.
Additionally they banned such things as a Jew having a German maid Ior their household. These
types oI rules lead to conIusion and controversy as to what exactly constituted a Jew. People
wondered iI you had to be a Iull blooded Jew to be involved in these new rules. Additionally,
they wondered iI halI -blooded Jews were included in those deIined in the Nuremberg Laws.
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Those aIIected wondered how Iar down the ladder would one have to be beIore they were not
included in the Nuremberg Laws. All oI these concerns led to times where people were not sure
exactly where they stood in society. While it was a step up Irom the complete uncertainty
preceding the Nuremberg Laws, uncertainty still Iloated in the air. This led to Hitler declaring
the Iour groups he saw in Germany. These groups included: German, Jew, halI-blood Jew (also
known as Iirst degree), and quarter-blood Jew (also known as second degree). Hitler considered
halI-blood and up to be completely evil and beyond the point oI return. The Iraction blooded
Jews were determined by grandparents. HalI-Blood Jews had two Jewish grandparents while a
quarter-blood Jew only had one (World War 2). With all the conIusion in the air, it became tough
Ior those involved to live in constant questioning.
Kristallnacht: night oI broken glass
On November 7
th
, a 17 year old Jew by the name oI Hershel
Grynszpan assassinated a German embassy oIIicial by the name oI
Ernst vom Rath. AIter seeing his parents taken Irom him, Grynszpan
sought revenge. This case oI a Jew standing up to a German set the trail
toward continual poor treatment. This was especially the case a Iew
days later when a terrible event took place. On November 9, 1938, the
inIamous Kristallnacht occurred. Kristallnacht means night oI broken
glass and described the night perIectly. This marked an inIamous night where German storm
troopers ransacked and burned Jewish businesses, synagogues, and
villages. Kristallnacht perIectly described the scene as glass Irom
building littered the street. German IireIighters received instruction not to interIere. The only
interIerence aIIorded came only iI the Iires seemed to be getting out oI control. Not only were
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buildings demolished, but lives were lost. Upwards oI 90 Jewish lives were directly lost in this
display oI German superiority. Not only did the lives oI people directly aIIected come to an end,
but many Jews opted Ior suicide rather than continuing to put up with this monstrosity. German
oIIicials attempted to cover up the underlying cause by passing it oII as a political outburst
caused by the assassination (Kristallnacht: A Nationwide Pogrom). However, later events
unveiled this as merely an excuse to validate their actions.
Ghettos: Jews begin being separated
n other countries beIore Germany, Jews had been separated into separate living quarters
and villages. However, when Germany began rounding up Jews and setting them into ghettos,
humanity clearly did not become reason number one. This rounding up oI Jews and setting them
aside became much worse than merely allowing them a place oI their own. Germany would pass
the setting aside oI Jews as protecting humanity Irom viruses which only spread through Jews. t
is clear that this is yet another excuse and cover up. Germany
established over 300 ghettos but was highlighted by Iive main
ones. These included Warsaw, Lodz, Krakow Lublin, and
Lvov. Two weeks aIter Kristallnacht, an ordinance got passed
requiring Jews ages ten and up to wear the Star oI David. This
Star would be the primary distinguishing point between Jews
and the rest oI society. As more and more Jews shipped to
ghettos, conditions worsened. The German established ghettos
did not give a chance to succeed Ior Jews. They were merely a holding place Ior much worse.
However, some people were not able to experience the next step due to the poor ghetto
conditions. Ghettos became overcrowded and disease reigned supreme. I disease did not take
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the liIe oI someone, it usually was by way oI starvation. With the extraordinary number oI Jews
living in one place, Iood became scarce. The scarcity oI Iood led to many deaths and perhaps the
worst part oI the ghettos (Holocaust Timeline: The Ghettos). t became commonplace to walk
past multiple corpses on the sides oI the streets. People could walk past many corpses and not
even bat an eye, as noted in the Iilm directed by Yael Hersonski, 'A Film UnIinished. OI
course, Germany had a cover up Ior the poor treatment oI the real ghettos by establishing pseudo
ghettos. These ghettos made it appear that everything was Iine and dandy in Germany. This, oI
course, did not hold truth in the end.
Wannsee ConIerence: the Iinal solution
Two years aIter the establishment oI ghettos, Germany decided it was time to take things
up a notch. This decision led to a conIerence in January oI 1942. This conIerence laid out the
Ioundation Ior the Iinal solution. This solution Iormed in order to be the grand solution to the
Jewish problem. This conIerence became known as the Wannsee ConIerence. The conIerence,
led by Reinhard Heydrich, established the plan to exterminate
Jews. While it did not say this straight up, this Iact became
prevalent. Since the Wannsee ConIerence papers did not become
prevalent until later years, this may have been passed oII as a
regular meeting (Wannsee ConIerence). However, the Iollowing
transcript Irom the meeting shows just how detailed the plan
became. On page 16 oI the Wannsee Protocol, the Iollowing
writing took place:
n large, single-sex labor columns, Jews Iit to work will work their way eastwards constructing
roads. Doubtless the large majority will be eliminated by natural causes. Any Iinal remnant that
survives will doubtless consist oI the most resistant elements. They will have to be dealt with
appropriately, because otherwise, by natural selection, they would Iorm the germ cell oI a new
Jewish revival.(United States Holocaust Memorial)
This document clearly shows the true intent oI the German. The Wannsee ConIerence became
the Iirst big time planning oI what would be a mass extermination.
Selection: Iamilies separated
Following the Wannsee ConIerence, Jews began being sent to concentration camps.
These concentration camps Iorced them to work, chores, and other duties with limited Iood. This
opportunity to live and suIIer through a concentration camp only became aIIorded to select
citizens. Upon arrival, German oIIicials would begin separating people into groups based upon
gender, age, and physical appearance. Those who appeared weak generally were unable to make
it past the selection process itselI. Families were separated at the selection stand and never saw
each other again. Fit young males were generally aIIorded the opportunity to live through
concentration camps. Young children and older Iolks generally did not receive this opportunity.
They would be cremated, shot, or gassed since it would be more oI a hassle Ior the Germans to
keep them. Many tears would be shed at the selection ground because oI the uncertainty oI
whether or not a loved one would be gone Iorever. UnIortunately, it seemed as though being
selected to die right away may have been a better option Ior many who had to work at
concentration camps (Hidden children and the Holocaust).
Extermination Methods: cruel death
When it came to extermination methods at the concentration camps, one particular
method really stood out. The most common oI the methods used involved gas chambers. Nazi
soldiers were able to kill many Jews in what seemed to be no time at all. All that had to be done
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was to round up as many oI the malnourished and tired Jews as they wanted. The Nazi`s could
just lead them in and once the chamber became locked, it was just a
matter oI time. The type oI gas used varied Irom poison gas to Zyklon
gases. At the end oI the day, it did not matter what type oI gas was used,
as long as it got the job done. Not only did stationary gas chambers
become very popular, but mobile gassing machines were used as well.
All that was necessary Ior this was a sealed truck with a connection
between the sealed portion and the exhaust. t became as simple as
loading up the prisoners, and driving around. The Iumes Irom the exhaust eventually made it
impossible to breath, thus causing suIIocation. Even though gassing became the most popular
extermination methods, there were other methods used. One oI the more inhumane oI methods
involved having prisoners digging a huge hole. UnIortunately, this hole would soon be a grave.
Huge holes were Iilled with corpses oI prisoners who got shot when the hole was satisIactory
enough to shoot. This method became convenient Ior the Nazi`s as it disposed oI the bodies with
limited work (The Danish center).
Death Camps: camps set aside Ior death
The extermination methods listed previously were primarily used in six death camps.
These camps included: Auschwitz, Belzec, Chelmno, Majdanek, Sobibor, and Treblinka. These
camps gained Iame aIter the war as the primary six. Death camps stood out pretty clearly as they
rivaled prisons in terms oI looks. They included watch towers, barbed wire Iences, guards, and
even anti-tank sandbags. These camps were built to keep people in and out at the same time.
UnIortunately, many victims never got the opportunity to leave as they were killed in the camps.
The most Iamous oI all the death camps became Auschwitz.
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Auschwitz ended up being the grave site to more victims than any oI the other Iive (Auschwitz
gates). The death toll oI Jews alone reached upwards oI one million lives. Jews were not the only
ones dying though. This quote by Polish prisoner Pavel Stemin really captured the essence oI
Auschwitz and any other death camp. Stemin quoted aIter liberation, 'Death, death, death. Death
at night, death in the morning...death in the aIternoon. Death... we lived with death. How could a
human Ieel. This quote captured the true terror oI death camps (Auschwitz inside the Nazi
state). They became known as death camps Ior a reason. The Nazi supporters expected those
who arrived to have their lives end there. For the most part this is indeed what occurred.
ReIugees: the lucky Iew
Throughout the entire process, many prisoners remained hopeIul that one day, they would
be Ireed and their lives restored. While a Iull scale liberating siege did not take place until 1945,
underground rescuers became known as live savers. When the rounding up began several years
earlier, German citizens who had become Iriends with certain Jews would try to save them.
Whether they hid them inside their house or elsewhere, attempts were made to salvage Iriends.
The most prominent post-war story oI this Iact rested in the diary oI a young girl name Anne
Frank. Anne Frank, a teenaged Jewish girl, decided during
her time in hiding to keep a diary. She did not hide alone,
though. Anne Frank was joined by her Iather, mother,
sister, and a Iamily oI Iour who were close with the Franks.
Otto, Anne`s Iather, owned a business prior to all oI the
negatives oI the Holocaust started to occur. He remained
Iriends with a Iew oI his employees which set the stage Ior
the groups hiding. This group oI eight had to go into recluse and rely on the German Iormer
employees oI Otto. They had to put a lot oI trust not only in the employees bringing them Iood
and water, but also hope word would not spread as to their whereabouts. Not only did they have
to live in constant Iear oI being discovered, but they had to deal with a crowded living quarters.
The hiding place did not have enough space Ior eight Iolks to live comIortably. However, the
group endured and lived Ior a two years in sanctuary. The world caved in on the hopes oI being
undiscovered in 1944 when one oI the suppliers turned them in. German oIIicials stormed the
sanctuary and hauled the group oII to Auschwitz. Otto Frank eventually became the only one oI
the group to survive. Following his return to Ireedom, Otto had his daughter`s diary, which gave
daily thoughts and occurrences among the group, published (Anne Frank`s History). While this
story received the most post-war notoriety, many other brave citizens stood Iorth and supported
reIugees.
Liberation: help arrives
AIter years oI under the table liberation, Iull scale liberation Iinally became possible.
n 1944, a Iew lesser known camps were liberated. These included a trio including Treblinka,
Belzec, and Sobibor. Following these eIIorts, a big breakthrough happened in early 1945 when
the Soviets broke through into Auschwitz. The true horrors oI the occurrences in Auschwitz were
Iinally realized. While the Germans had retreated, only corpse-like Iigures remained. The sad
part is even as they were going down, Nazi oIIicials led prisoners onto death marches just prior
to liberation. This showed the true amount oI mind washing taking over the Nazi`s. Even as the
plan Iell through around them, they continued to kill Jews Ior the cause. EIIorts continued and
camp aIter camp received liberation. UnIortunately, even aIter receiving liberation the horror
story had not reached an end. Disease ravaged many survivors and many died aIter liberation due
to eIIects in the camps. Even those who did not die in camps or Irom disease had to suIIer mental
anguish. Basically, the terror oI the Holocaust killed people and other`s mental state oI health.
By late 1945, prisoners had been Ireed and the Allied Iorces had taken over the war. Things
continued to go downhill Ior the Nazi regime Irom there (Liberation oI Nazi camps).
Post-Liberation: srael is Iormed
Following liberation, Jews Iound it hard to return back home. Going back home would
mean returning to where the terror started. ThereIore, many chose to emigrate to greener
pastures. n other parts oI Europe, the Allied Iorces began establishing and maintaining reIugee
centers to rehabilitate survivors. With the war over by 1946, the Allied Iorces gained the ability
to attempt to help survivors. This led to the Iormation oI a Holy land Ior Jews. This land would
be set aside Ior Jews to Ilourish and live their lives. This is why srael became a Jewish sanctuary
in 1948 (The Anguish oI Liberation and Surviving Remnants). The peace and tranquility there
would not last long due to other conIlicts, but the eIIort had been made.
n the end, over six million Jews died. This number does not even include all the other
prisoners who lost their lives. How some people can deny the legitimacy oI the Holocaust is
beyond human intellect. The pictures are all over the place and there are over six million less
people in the world than there were. For 12 long years, a treacherous evil took over power and
showed what charisma can do with enough Iollowers. Hitler convinced countless amounts oI
people that he was doing things Ior the good oI them. t is scary knowing this happened and hid
behind a veil to the rest oI the world. At the end oI the day, many innocents were killed, and
those lives will never get to live their true potential.
Works Cited
"Anne Frank's History." Anne Frank Museum Amsterdam - the Official Anne Frank House Website.
Web. 18 Nov. 2011. http://www.anneIrank.org/en/Anne-Franks-History/~.
"Auschwitz." Gates To Hell - The Na:i Death Camps. Web. 18 Nov. 2011.
http://www.deathcamps.inIo/newpage1.htm~.
"Auschwitz: nside the Nazi State . Auschwitz 1940-1945 , PBS." PBS. Public Broadcasting Service.
Web. 18 Nov. 2011. http://www.pbs.org/auschwitz/40-45/~.
"Hidden Children and the Holocaust." Jewish Jirtual Library - Homepage. Web. 09 Dec. 2011.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/hidden.html~.
"Holocaust Timeline: The Ghettos." Florida Center for Instructional Technology. Web. 18 Nov. 2011.
http://Icit.usI.edu/holocaust/timeline/ghettos.htm~.
"Kristallnacht: A Nationwide Pogrom, November 9-10, 1938." United States Holocaust Memorial
Museum. Web. 18 Nov. 2011.
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?Moduled10005201~.
"Liberation oI Nazi Camps." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Web. 09 Dec. 2011.
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?Moduled10005131~.
"The Anguish oI Liberation and the Surviving Remnants - Yad Vashem." Web. 18 Nov. 2011.
http://www1.yadvashem.org/yv/en/holocaust/about/10/aItermath.asp~.
The Danish Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Web. 09 Dec. 2011. http://www.holocaust-
education.dk/lejre/udryddelseslejre.asp~.
"Wannsee ConIerence." Jewish Jirtual Library - Homepage. Web. 18 Nov. 2011.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud00020020020606.html~.
Comment |L1]: "# marglns and nC urls
"What s Anti-Semitism?" ADL. Fighting Anti-Semitism, Bigotry and Extremism. Web. 18 Nov. 2011.
http://www.adl.org/hate-patrol/antisemitism.asp~.
"World War in Europe Timeline: September 15, 1935 - The Nuremberg Race Laws." The History
Place. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/nurem-
laws.htm~.

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