Holocaust vocabulary

annex

The building added on to the main building

antisemitism

prejudice against Jews

armistice

An agreement to stop fighting, typically used to establish a cease-fire

aryan

A term used by the Nazis to describe a supposed "master race" characterized by Northern European physical traits, often associated with notions of racial superiority.

concentration camp

A facility where Jews and other targeted groups were imprisoned, subjected to forced labor, and often killed during the Holocaust.

discrimination

The unfair treatment of individuals based on their identity, such as race, religion, or gender, which was prevalent during the Holocaust.

fascism

A social and political ideology that has as its primary guiding principle that the state or nation is the highest priority, rather than personal or individual freedoms.

fuhrer

The title used by Adolf Hitler, meaning "leader" in German, referring to his role as the head of state and government in Nazi Germany.

genocide

The systematic extermination of a particular group of people, often targeted based on ethnicity, nationality, or religion, as seen during the Holocaust.

gestapo

The secret police of Nazi Germany, responsible for identifying and eliminating opposition to the regime and enforcing loyalty through terror and intimidation.

ghetto

A section of a city where a minority group, particularly Jews during the Holocaust, was forced to live in overcrowded and poor conditions, often isolated from the rest of the population.

kristallnacht

A violent anti-Jewish pogrom that occurred in Germany and Austria on November 9-10, 1938, marked by the destruction of synagogues, Jewish businesses, and widespread arrests.

lebensraum

A Nazi policy aimed at acquiring "living space" for Germans, advocating territorial expansion in Eastern Europe at the expense of other nations.

nazi

A member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, led by Adolf Hitler, which governed Germany from 1933 to 1945 and promoted fascism, anti-Semitism, and the expansion of German territory.

pogrom

A violent riot aimed at the massacre or persecution of a particular ethnic or religious group, particularly Jews, often involving property destruction and killings.

ration

A limited share of food, supplies, or resources distributed to individuals during wartime or periods of scarcity.

scapegoat

A person or group unfairly blamed for problems or negative outcomes, often used to divert attention from the real issues.

segregation

The enforced separation of different racial or ethnic groups, often in social, legal, or institutional contexts, leading to discrimination and inequality.

ss-schutzstaffel

The paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, responsible for many of the atrocities during the Holocaust and tasked with protecting Nazi leaders.

third reich

The period of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945, characterized by totalitarian rule, aggressive expansionism, and the implementation of policies that led to the Holocaust.

wermacht

The unified armed forces of Nazi Germany, which played a major role in World War II and were involved in various military operations during the Holocaust.