The word “Holocaust,” comes from the Greek words “holos” which means whole, and the word “kaustos” which means burned, was historically used to describe a sacrificial offering burned on an altar. Ever since 1945, the word holocaust has taken on a new meaning. The holocaust is now known as the mass murder of 6 million European Jews as well as members of some other persecuted groups, such as Gypsies and homosexuals, having killed 11 million people total. The Nazis thought Jews were racially superior and they were a threat towards the Germans.
During the holocaust many innocent citizens died throughout this time. Jewish people were not the only ones targeted but many others were as well. The Nazi army targeted people such as Gypsies, Homosexuals, Jehovah’s witnesses, and the disabled for persecution. Whoever tried to resist the Nazi will also be forced to labor or even murder. “By 1945, the Germans and their collaborators killed nearly two out of every three European Jews as part of the Final Solution.” Millions of Jewish people were killed because the Germans felt that they were a threat. During the holocaust about 11 million people died and six million of those people were jews. “Between two and three million Soviet prisoners of war were murdered or died of starvation, disease, neglect, or maltreatment.” These inhumane acts had scared so many people. So many family members were lost to the holocaust. The holocaust was such a bad time for Jewish people and many others, this deadly time period will never be forgoten.
