History of Antisemitism and the Holocaust

The systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.

Antisemitism is prejudice, discrimination, or hostility directed at Jews.

The Roman Empire used violence against Jews in 63 BCE to force them to convert to Roman polytheism.

The early Christian Church blamed Jews for the death of Jesus Christ, leading to increased prejudice and distance between the two groups.

The Weimar Republic was the government of Germany after World War I. It was overwhelmed by economic challenges like hyperinflation and debt.

The Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh reparations on Germany after WWI, leading to economic hardship and hyperinflation.

The Weimar Republic was unable to effectively address the economic issues resulting from the Treaty of Versailles, contributing to social unrest that Hitler exploited.

Hitler capitalized on the economic hardships and social unrest in Germany to gain support. He promised to restore Germany's power and blamed Jews for the nation’s problems.

The government structure of the Weimar Republic, comprised of three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.

The process in the Weimar Republic where voters elected parties, and the number of seats in the Reichstag (parliament) was determined proportionally to the vote percentage.

The president of the Weimar Republic, holding significant power over the military, could dissolve the Reichstag and call for new elections.

The head of government in the Weimar Republic, responsible for day-to-day operations.

The political party founded by Adolf Hitler, originally called the German Workers' Party, later renamed to National Socialist German Workers' Party.

Adolf Hitler's manifesto written while he was imprisoned for the failed Beer Hall Putsch. It outlined his goals for a German empire and his antisemitic ideology.

The private army of the Nazi party, known for their brown uniforms.

Hitler's first attempt to seize power in 1923. It involved a failed coup in Munich, leading to his imprisonment.

Hitler combined the roles of Chancellor and President, becoming the supreme leader of Germany. This cemented his absolute power and established an authoritarian dictatorship.

The SS was originally Hitler's bodyguard but grew into a powerful Nazi paramilitary force, responsible for enforcing Nazi ideology and carrying out atrocities.

As the head of the SS, Heinrich Himmler was second only to Hitler in power. He played a key role in the Holocaust, overseeing the concentration camps and genocide.

A series of discriminatory laws passed in Nazi Germany aimed at stripping Jews of their citizenship, rights, and ultimately their humanity. These laws laid the foundation for systematic persecution.

A violent pogrom in which Nazis destroyed synagogues, Jewish businesses, and attacked Jewish people. It marked a significant escalation of anti-Semitism in Germany.

A German word meaning "free of Jews." This concept reflected the Nazi ambition to create a racially pure Germany, expelling Jews from their territories.

The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938, a significant step in Hitler's expansion of his empire and his vision of Lebensraum.

A region of Czechoslovakia with a significant German-speaking population, which Germany annexed in 1938. This event displayed the growing Nazi aggression and led to widespread international concern.

The legislative body of the Weimar Republic, which burned down in 1933, giving Hitler a pretext to establish an emergency regime.

Passed in Germany during the Weimar Republic, Article 48 gave the Chancellor the power to override the Reichstag during times of emergency, allowing Hitler to seize control of the government after the Reichstag fire.

The leader of Germany during the Weimar Republic, who had control over the military and could dissolve the Reichstag. He appointed Hitler as Chancellor, a decision with fateful consequences for Germany.

The head of government in the Weimar Republic, who ran day-to-day affairs. This position was crucial for Hitler's rise to power, as he was appointed Chancellor in 1933.

The German word for 'living space,' used by Nazi ideology to justify territorial expansion and the conquest of land belonging to other nations, particularly in Eastern Europe.

The first concentration camp established by the Nazis, set up in 1933 outside Munich. It was a detention center that served as a model for future camps and was used to imprison, torture, and ultimately kill political opponents and minorities.

The leader of the Sturmabteilung (SA), or 'Storm Troopers', who was killed by Hitler on June 30, 1934, during the Night of the Long Knives. He posed a threat to Hitler and had to be eliminated to secure absolute control.

A night of political assassinations in Germany, where Hitler eliminated his political rivals and potential threats, including leaders of the Sturmabteilung (SA), securing his absolute power in the Nazi regime.