The Holocaust Flashcards
What does Anti-Semitism mean?
Any hostility toward, or discrimination against, Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group.
What types of prejudice did Jews face historically?
Violence, scapegoating, and legal discrimination.
What historical event caused Jews to be seen as rivals to early Christians?
The establishment of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire.
By the year 1000 CE, what was the religious landscape of Europe?
Almost everyone in Europe was Christian.
What were some false accusations made against Jews during the Middle Ages?
Jews were wrongly blamed for killing Jesus and poisoning wells during the Black Death.
What laws were often passed against Jews in different countries?
Laws that restricted jobs, forced them to live in ghettos, and required them to wear identifying clothing.
What happened to Jewish communities in Europe during times of crisis?
They were often scapegoated and faced brutal persecution.
What significant event occurred regarding Jews in England in 1290?
King Edward I ordered all Jews to leave the country.
When were the laws expelling Jews from England removed?
In 1655.
What tragic event occurred in York in 1190?
Around 150 Jewish people died after being trapped in a tower.
What accusation was made against Jews during the Black Death in 1348?
Jews were accused of poisoning wells.
What does the term ‘pogrom’ refer to?
Violent riots aimed at the persecution of Jews.
Fill in the blank: __________ became the first European country to expel Jewish people.
England
What was the consequence of the harvest failure in Russia in 1885 for local Jews?
They were blamed for the famine and ordered to leave.
True or False: The relationship between Jews and non-Jews was always peaceful throughout history.
False
What was one reason for the increasing anti-Jewish sentiment in England during the 1100s?
Jews were wrongly accused of murdering Christian children.
What did Jewish people have to do to identify themselves in some countries?
Wear hats, badges, or certain items of clothing.
What was a common result of Jewish expulsions from various countries?
Movement of Jewish refugees across Europe and beyond.
What was the Holocaust?
The mass killing of approximately six million Jews across Europe during World War II (1939-1945) by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.
What did the Nazis intend to do regarding Jewish life in Europe?
Totally destroy Jewish life in Europe.
Define genocide.
Any act committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.
What was the fate of Jews in Europe before the end of World War II?
Two-thirds of Jews who lived in Europe before the war were killed, including approximately 90 percent of all Jewish children.
What groups, besides Jews, were persecuted by the Nazis?
Roma and Sinti people, disabled people, gay men, Jehovah’s Witnesses, political opponents, Polish and Soviet civilians, and prisoners of war from the Soviet Union.
Estimate the number of Roma and Sinti people murdered during the Second World War.
Approximately 500,000.
True or False: The Holocaust only targeted Jewish people.
False.
Fill in the blank: The defeat of Nazi Germany and its allies in 1945 brought the _______ to an end.
killings.
What percentage of Jewish children were killed during the Holocaust?
Approximately 90 percent.
What year did Adolf Hitler and the Nazis come to power in Germany?
1933.
What significant event occurred in March 1933 regarding Jewish shops?
A boycott of Jewish shops was organised for one day
This was one of the first public acts of anti-Semitism under the Nazi regime.
What law was enacted in April 1933 concerning public service?
A law removed all Jewish and political opponents from public service
This marked the beginning of systematic exclusion of Jews from various professions.
What happened to Jewish school children in April 1933?
The number of Jewish school children was reduced and controlled
This action aimed to limit Jewish influence in education.
What action was taken in October 1933 regarding Jews and the media?
Jews were removed from the media
This was part of a broader effort to control public perception and information.
What was the significance of May 1935 for Jewish individuals in the military?
All Jews were removed from the army
This exclusion further marginalized Jews in German society.
What were the Nuremberg Laws introduced in September 1935?
- ‘The Reich citizen law’
- Law for the protection of German Blood and German Honour
These laws institutionalized racial discrimination and defined citizenship based on ethnicity.
What did ‘The Reich citizen law’ declare?
Only those of German or related blood were eligible to be German citizens
This law excluded Jews and other non-Aryans from citizenship.
What was forbidden by the Law for the protection of German Blood and German Honour?
Marriages and sexual relations between Jews and Germans were forbidden
This law aimed to maintain the ‘purity’ of the German race.
What financial assistance was withdrawn in March 1936?
Withdrawal of financial assistance for Jewish children
This action added economic pressure on Jewish families.
What was implemented in October 1936 regarding Jewish teachers?
Jewish teachers were forbidden to teach non-Jewish children
This further isolated Jewish individuals from society.
What significant educational restriction was imposed on Jewish individuals in 1937?
Jewish people were unable to gain a university degree
This restriction limited educational opportunities for Jews.
What happened to Jewish doctors in 1938?
Jewish doctors lost their license to work
This trend soon extended to all lawyers and professional jobs.
What requirement was imposed on Jewish individuals regarding their wealth in 1938?
All Jews must tell the government how much wealth they have and where it is
This was part of the Nazi regime’s effort to confiscate Jewish property.
What changes were made to Jewish names in 1938?
Jewish women must have ‘Sara’ and Jewish men ‘Israel’ in their name
This was a means of further identifying and segregating Jews.
What stamp was required on Jewish passports in 1938?
A red ‘Jew’ stamp must be in all Jewish passports
This marked Jews for discrimination and increased scrutiny.
What restrictions were placed on Jewish children in 1938?
All Jewish children were banned from attending German schools
This aimed to eliminate Jewish influence in education.
What were park benches and shops designated for in 1938?
Park benches and shops were designated ‘for Aryans only’
This was part of the broader policy of segregation.
What distinctive clothing was forced upon Jews?
Jews were forced to wear a Star on their clothes
This served as a visible marker of their identity and status.