holocaust notes

World War I and Germany

World War I significantly impacted Germany, leading to the creation of the Weimar Republic.
The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to pay reparations, leading to humiliation and perceived weakness.
Hitler's early proposals (1922-1923) addressed these issues, highlighting them as reasons for Germany's problems.

Antisemitism predates Hitler; it was a centuries-old issue, particularly among Christian Europeans.
Religious differences between Jews and Christians contributed to this divide.
Jews were often assigned a lower status in various European kingdoms.
Hitler revived antisemitism, blaming Jewish people for Germany's weakness and suffering.
The Jewish population in Germany was a minority.
Hitler created a "common enemy" to gain power, a tactic seen in many other situations.

Hitler became Chancellor in 1933, working alongside the President.
Upon the President's death in 1934, Hitler abolished the presidency and declared himself "Fuhrer" (leader).
Germans began to experience order, security, and job creation.

Joseph Goebbels orchestrated events to link the Nazi government to Germany's imperial past.
Nazi-controlled newsreels conveyed the impression that the army supported Hitler.
Military support was staged to appear strong and unified.
Fanatical enthusiasm, cheering crowds, music, and marching contributed to a sense of national pride.
Germany no longer appeared weak or humiliated.

After Hindenburg's death in August 1934, Hitler abolished the office of president.
Hitler declared himself Führer and Reich Chancellor, becoming the absolute dictator.
The armed forces swore an oath of allegiance to Hitler.
Civil servants, teachers, police, parliament members, and the judiciary swore an oath of loyalty to Hitler, not to any constitution.

The Nazi regime initiated public works projects to boost economic recovery and reduce unemployment.
Examples include building new roads (Autobahns) and buildings.
These projects provided jobs and gave people a sense of purpose.
Infrastructure improvements facilitated connectivity within Germany and potential military expansion.
These achievements overshadowed radical Nazi policies for some Germans.
The state was prioritized over the individual, aligning with fascist ideology.

In 1935, Germany openly defied the Treaty of Versailles by reinstituting the draft and increasing its military strength.
The Nazis aimed to create a racially pure Germany to dominate Europe.
Racial struggle was central to Nazi ideology, with superior races battling inferior ones.
Non-Germans and Jews were excluded under the new exclusionary, race-based laws.
Heinrich Himmler and the SS led the ideological battle.
Racist ideas were taught in schools.
Jews, Slavs, blacks, and Roma were labeled racially inferior.
People with mental or physical disabilities were deemed unworthy of life.
Scientists and medical professionals used pseudoscientific theories to justify racial classifications.

Schools were given new curriculum, controlling what could and could not be taught.
The idea of using race as science was not new.
The US had been creating these hierarchies of race.
Enslaving people was supported because of some of these ideas.
Apartheid happened after World War Two

Before the Nazis, Jews had full rights of citizenship, but after 1933, the German government gradually excluded Jewish people from public life and public education.
Newly established Jewish private schools provided a safe learning environment for some.
By 1938, Jewish people had been isolated and segregated from society.
Between 1933 and 1939, the German government enacted laws to define, segregate, and impoverish Jewish people.
The goal of Nazi propaganda was to demonize Jews and encourage Germans to see them as dangerous outsiders.

In March 1938, German troops moved into Austria, breaking the Treaty of Versailles.
The annexation was well-received in Austria.

On November 9, the Nazi party orchestrated anti-Jewish violence throughout Germany.
Jewish businesses were vandalized, and synagogues were burned.
Over 7,000 Jewish-owned businesses were vandalized.
The German police did not stop these actions.
The nationwide violence that occurred damaged or destroyed more than 250 synagogues.

After Kristallnacht, many Jewish people tried to leave Germany.
They froze their assets as a law to say Jewish could not have bank accounts.
A new law by that year required Jewish people to surrender their old passports, which would only be valid after getting the letter j was stamped on them.
Another law then prevented the flight of capital owned by Jews when the economics ministry froze all Jewish property and assets.
Many countries had immigration quotas and would only take so many people from a certain country.
Families were separated as people tried to save their kids. They sent individuals to London or other parts of Europe.