The ‘Final Solution’ Flashcards
When did WW2 stop going the Nazi’s way and what was the expectation vs reality on how the nazis would respond?
1942-3 (turning of the tide)
. Expectation: nazis would slacken fight against Jews and focus on allies
. Reality: mass killings given higher priority than military needs
- intensified nazi propaganda war against Jews
When did Goebbel’s deliver his total war speech, signalling the fragility of Germany in WW2?
Spring 1943, after German surrender at Stalingrad in February 1943
What are examples of when the Nazi war against Jews intensified as Germany were losing the war?
. Autumn 1943: surge of anti-Jewish propaganda as Germany were pushed back by the red army and Germany suffered mass bombing campaign
. Summer 1944: another anti-Jewish surge as allies landed in France
What was operation Reinhard?
Code name for German plan to murder the Jews in the general government
- there were approximately 2 million Jews there at the time
Which camps were initially established to carry out operation Reinhard and how many died here?
. Bełżec
. Sobibór
. Treblinka
Around 1.5 million Jews were killed in these centres
When was operation Reinhard and how brutal was it?
Autumn 1941 - 1.7 million Jews killed in the operation
Who directed operation Reinhard between autumn of 1941 to late summer of 1943?
SS General Odilo Globocnik
When were the goals of operation Reinhard sent to Hitler?
January 1944
What were the goals of operation Reinhard that Himmler was informed of?
. ‘Resettle’ (murder) the Jews of the general government
. Exploit the skilled or manual labour of some polish Jews before killing them
. Secure the personal property of Jews
. Identify and secure alleged hidden and immovable assets such as factories
What was the connection between the Aktion T4 programme and operation Reinhard?
. Most camp personnel at Reinhard camps were from T4 operation
. Christian Wirth came from the programme, who became inspector general for the operation
. Brought killing experience and cremation technology
. Used pure, bottled carbon monoxide to kill
What is the difference between killing centres and concentration camps?
Killing centres have the aim of murder and annihilating all ‘degenerates’, while concentration camps primarily act as detention and labour centres for ‘re-education’
When were Reinhard camps established and how were most Jews deported here treated?
1942, most were sent to gas chambers immediately
Where was poison gas first used for mass murder of Jews?
Chelmno in 1941 (in the Warthegau)
- mainly for Jews, but Roma too were gassed in mobile gas vans
What was the largest death camp?
Auschwitz-Birkenau complex
How equipped was Auschwitz-Birkenau by spring 1943?
Had four gas chambers in operation
What was the structure of the main Auschwitz camp (Auschwitz I)?
Was a labour camp, so Jewish prisoners faced a selection process:
. If good for work, would do forced labour
. Majority of Jews sent straight to gas chambers
What was significant about Birkenau camp in the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex?
It was the killing centre of the complex:
. Used poisonous gas Zyklon B
. By November 1944 - more than 1 million jews, 10s of thousands of Roma, poles, and prisoners of war were killed there
What are transit camps?
Where prisoners were detained prior to deportation to other Nazi camps
- this was especially seen in German-occupied countries during WW2
What were the conditions of transit camps?
Similar to concentration camps:
. Unsanitary
. Poor facilities
. Overcrowded
Often run by local collaborators for Nazis such as French police in Drancy
What was the key moment where the implementation of systematic murder of Jews was decided?
Wannsee conference - 20th January 1942
When was the Wannsee conference meant to happen and why was it delayed?
December 1941:
. Military crisis caused by soviet counter-offensive at Moscow in first week of December
. Pearl harbour and entry of Japan and USA into war
It is interesting that as the war seems to worsen for the Nazis, they continue to hold the meeting for the final solution as if it should still be an obvious priority. Clearly the Nazis were desperate to complete the ideological part of the war
Was the Wannsee conference the first time the final solution had been discussed?
Absolutely not, it was only a meeting to inform senior bureaucrats of their roles in implementing the final solution. These roles had been planned long before.
- the decision was actually brought up originally most likely around the time of the beginning of operation Barbarossa
Which leading Nazis weren’t in attendance at the Wannsee conference and why?
Hitler and Himmler, most likely so that if the conference was uncovered, they wouldn’t have to take responsibility for the decisions made and Hitler could still maintain credibility as the Fuhrer
Who was the chairman of the Wannsee conference and what was his role?
Reinhard Heydrich
- received orders from Goering to organise preparations for the ‘Final Solution’ to the ‘Jewish question’
- some speculate the order was driven by Hitler secretly
- some speculate that Heydrich was ‘empire building’, acting on his own initiative to achieve power and authority, particularly to impress Hitler (managerial Darwinism)
