holocaust - gunsul

Genocide

The deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group.

Origin of the word 'genocide'

"Geno-" (Greek for race or tribe) + "-cide" (Latin for killing); coined in 1944.

UN definition of genocide

Defined in 1948, through the Genocide Convention.

5 acts of genocide (UN Definition)

Killing members of the group, Causing serious bodily or mental harm, Imposing destructive living conditions, Preventing births within the group, Forcibly transferring children out of the group.

Genocides between 1956-2016

43 genocides, with over 50 million people killed.

Weimar Republic

Germany's democratic government from 1918 to 1933.

Key weaknesses of the Weimar Republic

40 parties over 14 years (division), Hyperinflation and poverty, Treaty of Versailles resentment, No militarization allowed.

Nazis rise to power

Gained influence through elections and coalition building; used propaganda, intimidation, and crises like the Reichstag Fire.

Beer Hall Putsch

A failed Nazi attempt to overthrow the Bavarian government in 1923.

Mein Kampf

Hitler's manifesto written in prison outlining his racist ideology and political vision.

Reichstag Fire

Used to blame communists and justify emergency powers, leading to dictatorship.

Coalition government

A government formed by multiple parties. Hitler joined one in 1933 before taking total control.

Volkisch Movement

A German ethno-nationalist movement focused on racial ancestry and national pride.

Exclusions of the Volkisch Movement

Jews, Romani, homosexuals, and other "foreign elements."

Jewish conspiracy tropes from Nazi ideology

1. 'Christ killers' / religious enemies 2. Control of media/finance 3. Revolutionary agitators causing unrest.

Nazi Party founder

Hitler joined the DAP, became its leader, and rebranded it as the NSDAP (Nazi Party).

SA and SS

Nazi paramilitary groups; SA loyal to the Party, SS loyal to Hitler.

Nuremberg Laws (1935)

Banned marriage between Jews and Germans, Only Aryans could be citizens, Legally defined racial status and exclusion.

Concentration camps

Used to imprison, punish, and eliminate targeted groups under brutal conditions.

Types of Nazi camps

Prison camps, Concentration camps, Death camps.

Victims of the Nazis besides Jews

Romani, Homosexuals, Socially deviant individuals, Political opponents, Others excluded from the "Volk."

Nazi Germany's major goals by 1939

Reject Treaty of Versailles, Remilitarize, Expand empire, Promote Aryan racial ideology, Employ Germans for war effort.

Infamous genocides

Holocaust, Rwandan Genocide, Darfur, Armenian Genocide, Khmer Rouge, Holodomor, Great Leap Forward.

example of stage 1 genocide

Classification - Aryans vs other

example of stage 2 genocide

Symbolization - Nuremberg Laws

example of stage 3 genocide

Dehumanization - Stereotyping Jews

example of stage 4 genocide

Organization - SA/SS formation

example of stage 5 genocide

Polarization - Propaganda & laws

example of stage 6 genocide

Preparation - Legal exclusion and targeting

example of stage 7 genocide

Extermination - Mass killings during war

example of stage 8 genocide

Denial - (Not detailed in notes).