Historical Context
The Holocaust was a key event that took place in Europe during World War II.
World War II began on September 1, 1939 with Germany's invasion of Poland, and lasted through September 2, 1945. The war was fought between the Axis countries and the Allies, more information on which can be found in Key Group Involved.
The Eastern world was in political unrest in the mid-1930s. Italy invaded Ethiopia, the Spanish Civil war took place, Japan invaded China, the USSR, and Mongolia. Additionally, Germany also began to grow in power. Adolf Hitler rose to power and headed the Nazi political party. Using political propaganda, he became the Fuhrer of Germany, and began to slowly take over the countries that surrounded him.
On September 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland and this is seen to be the start of the World War II. On September 3, 1939, France and Britain declared war on Germany. September 17 led to the USSR's invasion of Poland as well, and Poland became split between Germany and the USSR. In November, the USSR also invaded Finland, and this led to France and Britain to view the USSR as a member of the Axis countries. Germany continued to invade European countries and in 1940, Denmark and Norway also feel to Nazi rule.
On June 10, 1940 Italy invaded France and thus declared war on France and Britain. The year of 1940 also brought with it Germany attacking Britain. Now, what about the US. Well, the US continued to remain neutral and avoided the conflict until later. In the meantime, Japan and China were at war and there was a Japanese blockade on China.
After continued invasions in Europe, the growing power of the Nazi and Japanese forced, and the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the US finally declared war on Japan. In response Germany and the Axis powers all declared war on the US, and now the US was officially involved.
During all of this, as Germany increased in power and size, Adolf Hitler came up with his infamous "Final Solution." This was his attempt to rid the world of anyone who did not fit the perfect Aryan-culture and look. To do so, he set up many work camps and concentration camps across Europe. Jews and others were taken first into Ghettos where they were essentially quarantined and forced to live under specific constraining rules. As the concentration and work camps were built, they were then taken out of the Ghettos and brought to work in the work camps and concentration camps. The conditions were horrid and the people who were taken there were essentially guaranteed to die. People dug their own graves, were killed at random, and the Nazis used many people in medical experiment that usually involved death. Hitler's mass killing was carried out in the concentrations camps where people were told they they were going to shower, but instead were poisoned. This mass killing was done efficiently and like a factory where many groups were brought in and cleared out every day. Famous camps include, Auschwitz, Treblinka, Bergen Belsen, Buchenwald, and Warsaw.
These haunting events only begin to fully contextualize the horrible events of the Holocaust.
World War II began on September 1, 1939 with Germany's invasion of Poland, and lasted through September 2, 1945. The war was fought between the Axis countries and the Allies, more information on which can be found in Key Group Involved.
The Eastern world was in political unrest in the mid-1930s. Italy invaded Ethiopia, the Spanish Civil war took place, Japan invaded China, the USSR, and Mongolia. Additionally, Germany also began to grow in power. Adolf Hitler rose to power and headed the Nazi political party. Using political propaganda, he became the Fuhrer of Germany, and began to slowly take over the countries that surrounded him.
On September 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland and this is seen to be the start of the World War II. On September 3, 1939, France and Britain declared war on Germany. September 17 led to the USSR's invasion of Poland as well, and Poland became split between Germany and the USSR. In November, the USSR also invaded Finland, and this led to France and Britain to view the USSR as a member of the Axis countries. Germany continued to invade European countries and in 1940, Denmark and Norway also feel to Nazi rule.
On June 10, 1940 Italy invaded France and thus declared war on France and Britain. The year of 1940 also brought with it Germany attacking Britain. Now, what about the US. Well, the US continued to remain neutral and avoided the conflict until later. In the meantime, Japan and China were at war and there was a Japanese blockade on China.
After continued invasions in Europe, the growing power of the Nazi and Japanese forced, and the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the US finally declared war on Japan. In response Germany and the Axis powers all declared war on the US, and now the US was officially involved.
During all of this, as Germany increased in power and size, Adolf Hitler came up with his infamous "Final Solution." This was his attempt to rid the world of anyone who did not fit the perfect Aryan-culture and look. To do so, he set up many work camps and concentration camps across Europe. Jews and others were taken first into Ghettos where they were essentially quarantined and forced to live under specific constraining rules. As the concentration and work camps were built, they were then taken out of the Ghettos and brought to work in the work camps and concentration camps. The conditions were horrid and the people who were taken there were essentially guaranteed to die. People dug their own graves, were killed at random, and the Nazis used many people in medical experiment that usually involved death. Hitler's mass killing was carried out in the concentrations camps where people were told they they were going to shower, but instead were poisoned. This mass killing was done efficiently and like a factory where many groups were brought in and cleared out every day. Famous camps include, Auschwitz, Treblinka, Bergen Belsen, Buchenwald, and Warsaw.
These haunting events only begin to fully contextualize the horrible events of the Holocaust.