What Was the Holocaust?
The Holocaust was a genocide in which about 6 million Jews, Gypsies, and homo-sexuals were killed. This horrific event took place during World War II when anti-semitism was common throughout Europe, especially in Nazi occupied Germany. This event was not just a one time mass killing, it was spread over many years and in total 6 million innocent people were murdered. Nazi soldiers would bring large groups of Jews throughout Europe to mass killing centers called concentration camps. Here, Jews were forced to work without pay and were treated inhumanely. Soldiers would kick, punch, and even shoot Jews that weren't working hard enough. The Jews wouldn't even be fed for days at a time and would die of the harsh conditions they lived under. Not only was the Holocaust a harsh time for Jews, it affected homosexuals and gypsies, too.
An image of Jewish men in standing together in the center of a concentration camp.
An image of Jewish women resting and socializing after a long, hard day.