6 - Final Solution & Wannsee

Question 1

Context??

Answer 1

Ideological goals of the Nazis fixed before 1933

Watershed moment for Anti-Semitic persecution: Reichskristallnacht
Hitler: explicitly linked WW2 to Jews (race war)
End of 1941: realisation hit regarding Soviets (invasion failing)
Approx. 7 million Jews under Nazi control - new radical policies needed

Question 2

What was the wansee conference??

Answer 2

Original plan: December 1941 but was delayed - Pearl Harbour +
Soviet counter-offensive at Moscow

Eventual date: 20th January 1942

Common misconception regarding conference: idea of Final Solution was formed there
Truth: Decision already taken - Conference held to inform bureaucrats and key Nazis of the decision

Question 3

Who was Reinhard Heydrich??

Answer 3

Head of Reich main security office and was responsible for orchasrtaing jewish mass killings.
Chaired the Conference
Architect of final solution - Ordered to create answer to Jewish Question

Called the Butcher of Prague

Question 4

What was the outcome??

Answer 4

Events afterwards seem to prove purpose of Wannsee was to clarify evolved plan for deportations to the East
Heydrich’s opinion: meeting was great success
Deportation of Jews: no longer to vague destinations, but to specific camps (extermination)
Feb 1942 - Feb 1943: 50+% of all Jews died