The Holocaust
Directions: Complete the following activities to learn about the Holocaust. Be aware that some of
these materials may be a little upsetting.
Part I: Anti-semitism Explained
Explore this link from the U.S. Holocaust Meusum to learn more about the hatred of Jewish people, or Anti-Semitism. The explore this link form the
Anne Frank House to learn more about why Anti-Semitism grew in Nazi Germany.
What is Anti-Semitism?
Hating Jews
Why did Hitler hate Jewish people?
Because they thought they were stabbed in the back by the Jews
PART II: Holocaust Background Reading
On January 30, 1933, German President Paul von Hindenburg appointed up-and-coming politician Adolf Hitler as
Germany’s new Chancellor. Hitler was the leader of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, also known as
the Nazi Party, and he quickly set in motion policies to rid the nation of those whom he believed failed to meet
the German national identity. Hitler’s policies persecuted many whom he viewed as inferior, such as
homosexuals, people with disabilities, and Roma and Sinti people from central Europe. However, Hitler’s
ultimate goal as Chancellor was to target, persecute, and rid the region of its large Jewish population. In 1919,
fourteen years before his appointment to Chancellor, Hitler made his goals openly clear when he said in a
statement that the “ultimate goal must definitely be the removal of the Jews altogether.”
In March, 1933, the first of many concentration camps was built in Dachau, and by that summer several
government-supported activities took place to turn the German populace against the Jewish people, including
boycotts of Jewish-owned businesses and the burning of books by Jewish authors. On July 14, the Sterilization
Act was passed, which authorized the sterilization of disabled people (this meant they would be unable to have
children). In September 1935, the Nuremberg Laws were passed that prohibited Germans from marrying Jewish
people, and by the end of the 1930s, Jewish people were forced to mark their passports with a “J” and begin
wearing a yellow star that identified them as Jewish. On the night of November 9, 1938, a violent pogrom, or
massacre, was initiated by the Nazis to loot, raid, and destroy Jewish shops and businesses. Called Kristallnacht,
or the “Night of Broken Glass,” over 91 Jewish people were killed and Jewish-owned businesses suffered
millions of dollars in property damage.
PART II: Holocaust Background Reading: pg 2
Following Kristallnacht, attempts to ethnically cleanse German society drastically increased. On September 1, 1939, Operation T-4 was
authorized to euthanize, or put to death, disabled people. By the end of 1939, the Nazi network of concentration camps started to see a
rapid uptick of prisoners who were sent to perform hard, physical labor. In 1940, the largest and most brutal of the camps, known as
Auschwitz, was constructed as an extermination camp to complete what Hitler called the “Final Solution” to ruthlessly murder all Jewish
people brought here. At Auschwitz alone, over one million Jewish and Roma people were exterminated in gas chambers almost
immediately upon arrival.
On January 27, 1945, Soviet forces liberated the prisoners held at Auschwitz as it closed in on Nazi Germany to bring World War II to an
end. Today, January 27 commemorates International Holocaust Remembrance Day and is a day to remember the six million people who
suffered so brutally in this horrific genocide.
In addition to Jews, who did Hitler view as inferior?
ROma people
What were some of the first acts the Nazis took against Jewish citizens?
Putting them to concentration
What was Hitler’s “Final Solution”?
He built the largest and brutalist camps and sent jews and ROmas
Sleeping bunks in Buchenwald. Each bunk
Prisoners at one of the largest Nazi Prisoners completing forced labor
held 2-3 prisoners and had no padding.
Concentration camps in Austria. under SS guard.
PART III: Life In The Concentration Camps
Based on the images, what were conditions like for prisoners inside the concentration camps?
The conditions were bad
PART IV: Survivor Stories
Click Here to hear interviews with some of the survivors of the Holocaust. (Choose 2)
Survivor #1’s Name: Type Here
After thoroughly listening to this account, what details impacted you that you feel you need to share?
Survivor #2’s Name: Type Here
After thoroughly listening to this account, what details impacted you that you feel you need to share?
PART V: Heroes of The Holocaust
Click Here to read the stories of some the heroes of the Holocaust. (Choose 1)
Hero’s Name: Type Here
How did this person stand up for other’s during the Holocaust?
PART VI: Final Reflection
After learning about the Holocaust, why do you think it is
important to speak up for the rights of others?
Share any additional thoughts or feeling you have about the Holocaust below.
