Transcript The Final Solution

THE FINAL SOLUTION
Kristallnacht (Nov. 1938) “Night of
Broken Glass” where 1000’s of Jewish
homes, businesses, and synagogues
destroyed; 300 killed
 (Nazis begin deportation of Jews to
concentration camps)


Final Solution (June 1941) – Planned
extermination of Jews in concentration
camps. (extermination camps located in
Poland)
Nazi Actions/Policy

Ghettos-City districts that were enclosed which
forced Jews to live under miserable conditions

Separated Jews from non-Jewish population

Nazis established over 400 ghettos to control and
segregate population (largest was Warsaw ghetto
in Poland; 450,000 Jews in 1.3 sq. miles)
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After 1941, Jews deported from ghettos to
concentration camps
From Ghettos to Camps

Hitler first mentioned removal of Jews from
Europe in 1919

Throughout the 1930’s Hitler believed mass
emigration of Jews was the answer (coerce
the Jews to leave)

In ‘39, discussion to create a “reservation”
for Jews in Poland or to deport all Jews to
Madagascar in May 1940

In July 1941, the “final solution” began to be
implemented (mass extermination became
official Nazi policy)
The Jewish Question

After 1941, mobile killing units aimed at entire
Jewish communities (shooting/gas vans)
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Mobile units proved inefficient at killing large
number of individuals
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Extermination camps established in Poland (use
of carbon monoxide gas or zyklon B); These are
different from the 100’s of work camps that
already existed

Recently reported that over 42,000 camps
existed across Europe
The Camps

Arrivals would undergo “selection” (women,
children and unfit to the “left” and certain
death, able-bodied to the right, 3rd group
included “twins” for experiments)

Others sent for work had heads shaved,
registered with numbered tattoo, in many
instances gold fillings removed

Forced-Labor designed to starve. Conducted
to help German cause of war
The Prisoners

250 barracks (housing 800-1000 in each)
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
No running water/sanitary equipment inside barrack
Wooden beds with a thin blanket for sleeping (3 ft. x.
3ft.)
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Roll call (usually lasted 4 hrs.)
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Meals consisted of soup, small piece of rotted bread,
small piece of rotted cheese
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Mass graves located inside camp (100,000 bodies)
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Malnutrition, Typhus, Corpses posed serious problems
Conditions inside the camp