if people or institutions treat behaviour as being acceptable or normal, it results in the behaviours at the next level becoming more accepted
when we challenge those biased attitudes and behaviours in ourselves, others and institutions, we can interrupt the escalation of bias and make it more difficult for discrimination and hate to flourish
as you go up the pyramid the “hate“ increases with the top being genocide and the bottom is prejudiced attitudes
it’s easier to speak out or intervene when the hatred is at its lower levels as it can discourage others from joining in before it becomes a bigger problem

Definition of the Holocaust

The holocaust was the systematic, state-engineered genocide of the Jewish people by Nazi Germany and its collaborators, resulting in the murder of approximately 6 million Jewish people, including one and a half million children. At the same time, other groups were persecuted by the Nazi regime and their collaborators

Judaism

The central principle of this monotheistic faith is the belief in on God: the all-knowing, all-powerful and ever-present
Community is central to belief
- the jewish prayer book uses we and ours in prayers rather than I and mine
- A lot of Jewish religious life is based around the home and family - shabbat is a family experience
- Respect for parents and grandparents is stressed
Prayers traditionally happen 3 times a day
- Must come from the heart
- A place of worship is a synagogue
Judaism is very diverse, there are many people who identify as Jewish without necessarily believing in, or observing in any jewish law.

Shabbat

A holy day, observing it is an important custom which is considered a gift from god
A day of rest and spiritual enrichment
Occurs each week from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday

Spiritual resistance

The Germans forbade religious services in most ghettos, so mamy Jews prayed and held ceremonies in secret - in cellars, attics and back rooms - as others stood guard
In Warsaw alone in 1930, 600 Jewish prayer groups existed
Rabbinical authorities adjudicated religious disputes on the basis of religious law and attempted to adapt this law to the changed and difficult circumstances in which the community found itself
Prayer helped sustain morale, reaffirmed a cultural and religious identity and supplied spiritual comfort
Many Orthodox Jews who opposed the use of physical force viewed prayer and religious observances as the truest form of resistance

Evolution of the Nazi Party

In jan 1919, shortly after the end of the first world war, Anton Drezler founded the german workers’ party
the part initially met weekly in a beer hall in Munich and advocated a range of extremist ideas, including hostility to the Treaty of Versailles, nationalism concern about the nation’s moral standards and changing culture, and extremist antisemitism
On 24 feb 1920, the german worker’s party changed its name to the national socialist german worker’s party (NSDAP), more commonly referred to as the Nazi Party
They were in extreme economical conflict so something like this was inevitable (?)
they also lost the war so they were looking for somebody to blame

Adolf Hitler

in 1919, Adolf Hitler joined the newly formed German Workers’ party after attending one of their meetings
Hitler was a charismatic speaker and he was soon invited to join the party committee
He became responsible for recruitment and propaganda and organised large party rallies, where he would give speeches
Hitler pushed for an overhaul of the party structure, replacing the democratic committee with a single leader who would have ultimate control over(a dictator)
This proposal was rejected
On 11 July 1920, after a disagreement about merging with another party, Hitler resigned and left the party
Histler stated he would only return if he was made party chairman, with dicatorial powers
realising the loss of their main speaker could potentially ruin the party, Anton Drexler and the commitee afteed to Hitler’s demands and hitler became party chairman

Hitler’s Rise

Political	Economic	Social
The treaty of Versailles		Frustration

Wall street crash

germany was particularly badly affected because of it’s dependence on American loans from 1924 onwards. As the loans were recalled, the economy in Germany sunk into a deep depression
Wages feel by 39% from 1929 to 1932
People in full time employment fell from 20 million in 1929, to just over 11 million in 1933
In the same period, over 10,000 businesses closed every year
As a result of this, the amount of people in poverty increased sharply
the depression associated economic failure and a decline in living standards with the weimar democracy
When combines with the resulting political instability, it left people feeling disillusioned with the Weimar Republic’s democracy and looking for a change

Electoral Success

The nazi party gained very little in the 1928 elections
They won just 2.6% of the vote, gaining them 12 seats in the Reichstag
In 1930, the Nazis attracted eight times more votes than in 1928
They managed to secure 18.3% of the vote, and 107 seats in the Reichstag
In February 1932, Hitler ran against Hindenburg to become president
The propaganda campaign presented Hitler as a new, dynamic and modern leader for Germany
To emphasise this point, Hitler flew from venue to venue via aeroplane
Hitler lost the election with 36.8% of the vote to Hindenburg’s 53%
Despite losing, people now viewed Hitler as a credible politician
Following another Reichstag election in July 1932, the Nazis became the largest party with 230 seats and 37.3% of the vote
Hitler was not immediately appointed chancellor after the success of the July 1932 elections, despite being leader of the largest party in the Reichstag
It took the economic and political instability (with 2 more chancellors failing to stabilise the situation) to worsen, to convince Hindenburg to appoint Hitler
Hitler was sworn in as the chancellor of Germany on the 30 January 1933
The Nazis were now in power

Which of these factors was most important in Hitler’s rise to power?

The global economic situation (great depression). Germany’s domestic economic and political condition. Hitler’s skill as an orator and propagandist

Nazi in power

In 1933 , the Nazi part and its leader Adolf Hitler, gained power in Germany
The Nazis won power by promising to revolutionise the country and restore its best qualities
By the end of 1934 Germany had become a 1 party state under Nazi control
Adolf Hitler declared himself not only the nations chancellor but also its fǔher

What is the origin of increased persecution (1933-1939)

Nazi Beliefs about Jews

The Nazis had strong beliefs about race
they believed that Germans were part of an Aryan ‘master race‘ that was naturally superior compared to all others
Jews were one of many races, alongside groups such as Sinti and Roma, who were regarded by the nazis as ‘inferior‘
The Nazis argued that ‘inferior‘ races could corrupt the German Aryan master race and weaken the country
They were determined to create a Volksgemeinschaft - a “national community“ or literally a “people’s community“
In his book Mein Kampf, Hitler described the foundation he sought for the national community, a foundation based on false myths about race:
- Everything we admire on this earth today - science and art, technology and inventions - is only the creative product of a few peoples and originally perhaps one race [the “Aryans“]
- On them depends the existence of this whole culture
- If they perish, the beauty of this earth will skink into the grave with them
The nazis championed antisemitism and regarded Jews, unlike most other ‘inferior’ and regarded Jews, unlike most other inferior races, as mortal enemies of Germany and Europe
It was believed that Jews shared responsibility for every problem faced by Germany were part of an international Jewish conspiracy (secret plans to do something bad) which mainly targeted Germany

How is increased persecution spread and embodied?

Isolating Germany’s Jews

Antisemitic persecution began very quickly after the Nazis came to power in Germany
Nazi persecution of jews continued throughout their years in power but also changed in nature over that time
Violent against Jews was not very common in Germany from 1933-1937
Instead during these years the Nazis forced multiple actions to isolate Jews from the rest of the German society

To spread: Propaganda

Propaganda was one of the most important tools the Nazis used to shape the beliefs and attitudes of the German public
through posters, film, radio, museum exhibits and other media, they bombarded the German public with messages designed to build support for and gain acceptance of their vision for the future of Germany
Propoganda relies on
- half truths or lies
- omitting information selectively
- simplifying complex issues or ideas
- emotions and advertising a cause
- attacking opponents
- targeting desired audiences