Outside of America*, it is likely that no other event is so closely tied to World War II than the Holocaust (sometimes called the Shoah), in which more than 6 million Jews were killed in what can only be labeled as genocide. Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group"; the Jews fit at least three of these (ethnic, religious, and national).
(*I say outside of America because, according to some research, the bombing of Pearl Harbor is typically the first thing mentioned when American students are asked about World War II. The Holocaust is almost always second, however...)
At the outset of World War II, more than 9 million Jews lived in Europe; by the end of the War, there were fewer than three million, with some estimates as low as 1.5 million, with hundreds of thousands of Jews fleeing the region prior to the rounding up of the Jews and after the creation of the Nuremburg Laws.
The Nuremburg Laws were put into place by Hitler's regime in 1935. These laws were actually a strict set of guidelines about behavior and expectations put on the Jews.
The poster reads:
The Laws for the Protection of German Blood and German Honour
Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass)
On November 7, 1938, an 18 year old Jewish man named Herschel Grunspan assassinated a Nazi party member, and German diplomat, named Ernst vom Rath, in Paris. This gave the Nazis even more fuel for their arguments against the Jews as being "uncivilized" and allowed the Nazis to now use full-scale physical retaliation. The Nazis claimed that what happened next was "spontaneous", but there is little doubt it was planned: over the next three days, in what is now called Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, more than 7,000 Jewish-owned businesses, and nearly 1,700 Jewish synagogues were damaged or destroyed; 91 Jews were "officially" killed (it is believed that this number should be many times higher); more than 30,000 Jews were rounded up and sent to concentration camps such as Dachau and Buchenwald. Those who were captured were released a few weeks later if they could prove they were going to leave Germany OR if they agreed to transfer their property over to the Nazi Party. Following this, on November 11, Jews were banned from owning firearms or other weapons. Jews were also levied an additional tax, called the "atonement tax", which was used to repair everything damaged during Krystallnacht...
(*I say outside of America because, according to some research, the bombing of Pearl Harbor is typically the first thing mentioned when American students are asked about World War II. The Holocaust is almost always second, however...)
At the outset of World War II, more than 9 million Jews lived in Europe; by the end of the War, there were fewer than three million, with some estimates as low as 1.5 million, with hundreds of thousands of Jews fleeing the region prior to the rounding up of the Jews and after the creation of the Nuremburg Laws.
The Nuremburg Laws were put into place by Hitler's regime in 1935. These laws were actually a strict set of guidelines about behavior and expectations put on the Jews.
The poster reads:
(September 15, 1935) Moved by the understanding that the purity of German blood is essential to the further existence of the German people, and inspired by the uncompromising determination to safeguard the future of the German nation, the Reichstag has unanimously resolved upon the following law, which is promulgated herewith:
- Section 1
- Marriages between Jews and citizens of German or kindred blood are forbidden. Marriages concluded in defiance of this law are void, even if, for the purpose of evading this law, they were concluded abroad.
- Proceedings for annulment may be initiated only by the Public Prosecutor.
- Section 2
- Extramarital sexual intercourse between Jews and subjects of the state of Germany or related blood is forbidden.
- Section 3
- Jews will not be permitted to employ female citizens under the age of 45, of German or kindred blood, as domestic workers.
- Section 4
- Jews are forbidden to display the Reich and national flag or the national colours.
- On the other hand they are permitted to display the Jewish colours. The exercise of this right is protected by the State.
- Section 5
- A person who acts contrary to the prohibition of Section 1 will be punished with hard labour.
- A person who acts contrary to the prohibition of Section 2 will be punished with imprisonment or with hard labour.
- A person who acts contrary to the provisions of Sections 3 or 4 will be punished with imprisonment up to a year and with a fine, or with one of these penalties.
- Section 6
- The Reich Minister of the Interior in agreement with the Deputy Führer and the Reich Minister of Justice will issue the legal and administrative regulations required for the enforcement and supplementing of this law.
- Section 7
- The law will become effective on the day after its promulgation; Section 3, however, not until 1 January 1936.
Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass)
On November 7, 1938, an 18 year old Jewish man named Herschel Grunspan assassinated a Nazi party member, and German diplomat, named Ernst vom Rath, in Paris. This gave the Nazis even more fuel for their arguments against the Jews as being "uncivilized" and allowed the Nazis to now use full-scale physical retaliation. The Nazis claimed that what happened next was "spontaneous", but there is little doubt it was planned: over the next three days, in what is now called Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, more than 7,000 Jewish-owned businesses, and nearly 1,700 Jewish synagogues were damaged or destroyed; 91 Jews were "officially" killed (it is believed that this number should be many times higher); more than 30,000 Jews were rounded up and sent to concentration camps such as Dachau and Buchenwald. Those who were captured were released a few weeks later if they could prove they were going to leave Germany OR if they agreed to transfer their property over to the Nazi Party. Following this, on November 11, Jews were banned from owning firearms or other weapons. Jews were also levied an additional tax, called the "atonement tax", which was used to repair everything damaged during Krystallnacht...
No comments:
Post a Comment