By: Kinsey Barry F block Featured Article: The Holocaust: The Truth...
The Gruesome Truth.
Kinsey Barry| F block| Mrs. Holland
Holocaust: The Truth... Jan 30, 1933 – May 8, 1945
The Holocaust
The largest genocide in our world's history was the holocaust, over 6 million jews were killed and close to 11 million people in all were murdered by the Nazis. The Holocaust occurred mainly in Germany but also took part in France. It lasted for 11 years, from January 30, 1933 to May 8, 1848. It was one of the largest genocides in history, killing nearly 12 million people,
targeting mainly European Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses, Homosexuals, Spanish Republicans, etc...The Holocaust was a devastating time in our world's history. Some key factors in the holocaust destructive demolition were the many concentration camps, the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup, and how the aftermath deeply affected the european society as well as the rest of the world.
Concentration Camps
Concentration camps played a large part in murdering thousands of Jews. Concentration camps were imprisonment camps that held and tortured their inmates, by starving, physically abusing, and working many of the inmates to death. The focus point of many concentration camps were the gas chambers. In just one camp they usually had up to 6 chambers, there were usually 4 large chambers that could hold up 2,000 inmates and 2 smaller ones that could hold close to 900 inmates. These gas chambers, when in use, released deadly poison mixtures. The most common ones being Zyklon B., the tenth deadliest substances known to mankind. Many inmates also suffered from being worked to death in recreational yards. In the recreational yards the prisoners suffered from heat, dehydration, and extreme working conditions, for example being whipped while lifting heavy mounds of dirt and rubble. Many experienced the pain and devastation in those concentration camps. A significant amount of deaths were related to the physical abuse that occurred in the camps. The torture methods used often included forcing the prisoners to stand outside their barracks for over 48 hours, being deprived of food, water, and communication with others, unable to move until told otherwise. Many also suffered from diseases being spread from diarrhea, and the diseased corpses, which laid near by. One main method of torture was having a target line up, the guards would randomly choose x amount of innocent inmates and 1 “guilty” inmate who has committed some act of crime. All the prisoners are lined up face forward against a wall for hours on
end, every few hours guards would stop by and shoot one of the unsuspecting prisoners, mentally torturing the remaining few, by making them wonder their time of death until its occurrence. These horror stories are clearly stated in my historical fiction story “Sarah’s Key” and in many online sources including The Holocaust Teacher Resource Center and The Holocaust: A Learning Site for Students. In the stories and facts told in the evidence it clearly explains many of the torture methods, use of recreational yards, the gas chambers, etc… The concentration camps were a horrific part of the holocaust genocide, but also a key player in the war, hopefully a key event to never be repeated.
The Vel' d'Hiv Roundup
Vel' d'Hiv Roundup that started the imigration of nazi’s into France. The Vel' d'Hiv Roundup was the start of the roundups in France, The French soldiers started a mass arrest of many french Jews. Once they had collected as many as possible they crowded them into the Vélodrome d'Hiver (Winter Vélodrome) A bicycle vélodrome and stadium. Many families were crowded in the dome, most of which who died and suffered tremendous losses. The Velodrome was established in 1909 on July 17th. Its original intent was for indoor bike racing cycle track and sports stadium, It later was used in the roundup as a containment area over many days. The Vel' d'Hiv Roundup was the being of the Nazi’s invading France. The Vel' d'Hiv Roundup started late in the night on July 16, 1942, “B eginning at 4:00 a.m. on 16 July
1942, 13,152 Jews were arrested.” Soon after the Vel' d'Hiv
Roundup the Nazi’s and French police started roundups in both the northern and southern zones of France, they also conducted many public town shootings and hangings. The living conditions in the Velodrome were horrific. Many took their own lives in the velodrome so they were unable to suffer what was coming after the roundup. The velodrome housed 10 lavatories. Of the 10, 5 were closed off because they had windows that could be used for an escape. The prisoners were given close to no water given by Quakers and the Red cross, and no food was supplied. The Red Cross was allowed to send a few nurses and doctors, some of which died from contagious diseases being spread in the
velodrome. The velodrome had a glass roof which was painted blue to try to not attract bomb navigators, the windows on the roof and within the velodrome were nailed shut to prevent escape. This raised the temperature in the velodrome very high making it hard to breath and move, this dehydrated many, killing most. In my book “Sarah’s Key” She is part of the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup. Her and her family are taken to the velodrome and kept there for many days, she watches many commit suicide and countless other murdered by the French police. On page… she explains how the living conditions were hot, crammed, distressing, and some what scarring. The evidence shows how the living conditions were unbearable and a very human thing to do to do many people. Since these events the velodrome has been dismantled and the presidents since have apologized countless times, hopeful to prevent such event in the future.
The Aftermath The aftermath of the Holocaust was scarring and deeply devastating for most of the european society. The aftermath of the holocaust was arguably one of the worst parts of the genocide. Mostly because many were reuniting with their lost loved ones or not… Many had no home to return to, and many were still not wanted in areas of germany and france. Countless victims were displaced. The war left millions of refugees, including many Jews who had lost most or all of their family, friends, and possessions. Often these refugees couldn't return to their formal towns, cities, states, communities because of the physical destruction. Jews also faced the problem of being unwanted in a majority of germany. Several anti-jewish riots broke out i n many mainly polish cities, these rallies and riots spiraled and ended up killing many surviving jews. The survivors of the holocaust lost most of their possessions during the war, so when they had return over 40% of them were living below the poverty line. This caused many to fall ill due to poor living conditions, unable to provide health care, and unable to afford proper drinking water. The cancer rate in holocaust survivors is nine times higher than in a regular citizen due to the victim's
experience of starvation and extreme stress. In many of the websites I read, They obviously stated the aftermath effects and problems for example how the cancer rate in holocaust survivors are nine times more likely to get cancer then a regular citizen. It shows how many suffered even after the war had ended and Hitler was killed. The aftermath of the holocaust affect many, many more than just the jewish population. It took a large toll on a majority of Europe.
In Conclusion… The Holocaust was a horrific bloodshed in our world's history. These are just three examples of how horrible the holocaust genocide was. The concentration camps, the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup, and how the aftermath, both physical and emotional, effected the european nations and the rest of the world greatly.