Flashcards on the Holocaust and Genocide

Holocaust

Ancient Greek word meaning ‘everything burned’

Shoah

Hebrew word meaning ‘catastrophe’.

Final Solution to the Jewish Question in Europe

Operational euphemism used by the Nazis who carried out the mass murder of Jews.

Anti-Semitism

The irrational hatred or fear of the Jews.

Classification

The differences between people are not respected, creating a division of ‘us’ and ‘them’ using stereotypes or excluding people who are perceived to be different.

Symbolisation

A visual manifestation of hatred where names or symbols are given to those classified as ‘different’.

Aryan race

The Nazis believed that people of Northern European ancestry were superior to all other people.

Discrimination

The dominant group denies civil rights or even citizenship to the identified groups.

Dehumanisation

Those classified as different are refused human rights and personal dignity and are referred to in the media and speech as sub-human.

Kristallnacht

The night of Nov 9th, also known as the Night of Broken Glass, when many Jewish businesses, synagogues and homes were destroyed by mobs of people.

Gestapo

The German Secret State Police, responsible for investigating political crimes and opposition activities.

Einsatzgruppen

Mobile killing units created from SS and police personnel. Responsible for mass executions.

Operation Reinhard

The name given to the mass gassing of the 2 million Jews in the General Government of Poland.

Heinrich Himmler

Reich Leader of the dreaded SS of the Nazi Party responsible for conceiving and overseeing implementation of the Final Solution.

The death marches

The final stage of extermination. Slave laborers from concentration camps were evacuated and forced to walk westwards. Prisoners were treated brutally and shot if they could no longer continue walking.

Holocaust denial

Any attempt to negate the established facts of the Nazi genocide of European Jews. A form of antisemitism and prejudice.

Zionism

A movement that believes Jews are a nation and deserve their own state. About self-determination for the Jewish people and establishing a secure Jewish homeland.