Holocaust
Definition
The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored genocide carried out by Nazi Germany and its collaborators from 1941 to 1945, during which six million Jews were murdered.
Analogy
Imagine a school bully who not only targets one specific student but also convinces others to join in on the bullying. Now magnify this scenario millions of times over, with the bully being Nazi Germany and the targeted student representing the Jewish population during World War II.
Related terms
Shoah: Shoah is another term for the Holocaust, derived from a Hebrew word meaning 'catastrophe' or 'destruction'. It's often used within Jewish communities when referring to this horrific event.
Nazi concentration camps: Nazi concentration camps were places where Jews, along with other groups deemed undesirable by the Nazis (such as Romani people, disabled individuals, political dissidents), were imprisoned under brutal conditions. Many died due to starvation, disease, forced labor or execution.
Genocide: Genocide refers to acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. The Holocaust is one of history's most notorious examples of genocide.
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