Is The Holocaust Unique? Flashcards
When was the uniqueness argument a trend from?
1970s
What could arguing it was unique stem back to?
A feeling of moral obligation to the victims
What is the paradox about uniqueness?
Uniqueness is universal because everything is unique
Why did Steven Katz argue the Holocaust was unique?
Because the Nazis aimed to kill every Jew on the planet and because ideology was such an important factor
Where does the uniqueness of the Holocaust lie?
In the Final Solution
What was not enough for the Nazis?
Driving the Jews out of the Third Reich and degrading the
What was the Nazis’ goal?
The total eradication of the Jewish race
The Holocaust caused the creation of Israel, why might this lead to the uniqueness argument?
No other genocide led to the creation of a new state; to justify Israel’s existence
How did Elie Wiesel see the Holocaust?
In an almost mystical way and as something that could not be explained
What did Saul Friedländer argue about the Holocaust?
That there was an opaqueness at the core, something that could not be understood
How could technology be used to help the uniqueness argument?
The gas chambers represented a new level of technology being used for genocide
How do the lists of Jews make the Holocaust unique?
The lists of Jews to be deported and gassed are an example of German attempts at total efficiency
What happened to the Jews once they had been gassed?
It was not the end of the process and the indignity - their body parts, possessions and property were all used in a kind of Holocaust economy
How do the SS make the Holocaust unique?
It is the only genocide for which a specific organisation was set up to carry out the killing process
How do the Einsatzgruppen killings make the Holocaust less unique?
Because they were like colonial killings
What evidence is there that ideology was the driving factor for the genocide?
The killings continued even after it was clear that the war had been lost
Were the Jews a real threat to the German war effort?
No, not in the way the Tutsi and Armenians could be perceived to be
What was the Historikerstreit?
The historians’ debate in 1980s West Germany
Where did the Historikerstreit take place?
In the national press
Who was the Historikerstreit largely between?
Ernst Knölte and Jurgen Habermass
What did Knölte argue?
That the Holocaust should be compared to Communist crimes to show it was a retaliation
What was Habermass’ response to Knölte?
He thought that the uniqueness of the Holocaust needed to be maintained
Who uses the uniqueness argument now?
Zionists and conservatives to justify the existence of Israel
What does a comparison of the Holocaust need to do?
Needs to add something to the understanding of what happened
Who did the Rwandan genocide target?
Anyone who did not support the regime through the veil of race
What similarities are there between the Rwandan genocide and the Holocaust?
Both grouped their victims together before killing them
Why might the comparison between the Rwandan genocide and the Holocaust be unhelpful?
Because it would be comparing 1930/1940s Europe with 1990s Africa
Why is the comparison between the Rwandan genocide and the Holocaust helpful?
It could show theoretical reasons people might carry out genocides
Which case is most similar to the Holocaust?
The Rwandan Genocide
When did the Rwandan Genocide start?
7th April 1994
How long did the Rwandan genocide last?
Approximately 100 days
How many died in the Rwandan genocide?
Between 500,000 and 1,000,000 people
How did the genocide affect Rwanda?
It completely ruined the economy
What did Kurt Jonassohn argue about the Armenian genocida?
That it was the first modern, ideologically motivated genocide
How could Armenians be accepted into Turkish society?
By adopting their religion and language
What were most Armenians?
Defenceless peasants
How many Armenians were killed in 1895?
100,000-200,000
When did the Armenian genocide begin?
In April 1915
How did the Armenian genocide begin?
Armenian political, religious, educational and intellectual leaders from Constantinople were deported and murdered
What happened to the Armenians in May 1915?
They were deported from war centres to the deserts of Syria and Mesopotamia where they were murdered
What do Turkey claim about the genocide?
That it was a civil war and people on both sides died
What similarities are there between the Armenians and the Jews?
They were both historically separate groups
What circumstances in the Ottoman Empire made the genocide possible?
The demise of a stable government; state supported radical ideology; economic difficulties
How does the Turkish denial of the Armenian genocide lead to comparisons with the Holocaust?
Comparisons are made to gain attention for the Armenian genocide
Why were rural Armenians targeted more than urban ones?
Because the Turks were trying to destroy Armenian communities rather than Armenians as a race
How was the Ukrainian famine a genocide?
The famine was created rather than being natural and Stalin could have sent aid but chose not to.
How was the Ukrainian famine similar to the Holocaust?
The intelligentsia were murdered first
How was the Ukrainian famine different from the Holocaust?
Stalin wanted to subjugate the Ukrainians not destroy them entirely
What did Steven Katz call Stalin’s desire to subjugate the Ukrainians?
Internal colonialism
How was there a genocide of the Native Americans?
1,500,000 Native Americans died over 115 years
How did most Native Americans die?
The primary cause of death was disease brought over by the Europeans; direct murder counted for a very small proportion of the deaths
What did missionaries try to do to the Native Americans?
They tried to integrate them into the society of the colonies not eradicate them
Could the Indian Reservations the Native Americans were forced into be compared to the ghettos?
No because the Native Americans had the means to survive on the reservations, the Jews could not survive indefinitely in the ghettos
Who was the uniqueness argument prominent among?
Israeli and Jewish American historians
