Holocaust Memorial Assembly
Rights Respecting Schools Award
‘You have the right to be protected from being
hurt and mistreated, in body or mind.’
Article 19
The Holocaust
What is the Holocaust?

The term "Holocaust," originally from the
Greek word "holokauston" which means
"sacrifice by fire," refers to the Nazi's
persecution and planned slaughter of the
Jewish people. The Hebrew word "Shoah,"
which means "devastation, ruin, or waste," is
also used for this genocide
It is estimated that 11
million people were killed
during the Holocaust. Six
million of these were Jews.
 The
Nazis killed
approximately two-thirds of
all Jews living in Europe.
 An
estimated 1.1 million
children were murdered in
the Holocaust
Treaty of Versailles

Armistice first brought an
end to fighting in world
war 1, however it was
not until the treaty of
Versailles was signed
that Britain and Allies
could be certain of
peace.
Treaty of Versailles

The treaty gave Germany many ties which
they had to follow, the largest of these being
the 6.6billion which had to be paid back, as a
result of starting the war.
Rise of the Nazi’s
How was Hitler able to gain power which led to the
holocaust?
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He was a great speaker
The great depression of 1929 created poverty and
unemployment, which made people angry and turned towards
the extremist political parties such as the Communists and
Nazis during the depression.
Propaganda campaign was very effective and it won support
for the Nazis.
German people were still angry about the Treaty of Versailles
and supported Hitler because he promised to overturn it.
Industrialists gave Hitler money and support.
How did Hitler’s Hatred Start?
Many theories exist of how Hitler’s hatred
began. Below is two of these.
 Hitler’s hatred for Jews was first sparked
when his mother died at the hands of a
Jewish doctor
 Hitler blamed Jews for the collapse of the
Germany economy and the defeat to
Germany of World War 1
Beginning of the holocaust
“Night of Broken Glass”
Zigi’s Story
Prior to visiting Auschwitz we attended a
seminar in Glasgow, in which we were
privileged enough to hear Zigi Shipper (who
himself was a prisoner at Auschwitz
concentration camp) tell his account of the
war. We would like to share this with you
today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVMKHM-8GaQ
Reflection of Zigi’s story


From this we learn the pain and misery the Jewish
people endured and how fortunate Zigi is to have
survived. This really brings home that people from all
walks of life were affected by the war.
This story really opens our eyes to the fact that
survival was just circumstance and that in order to
stop history repeating itself we need to make people
aware of it to try and protect our future.
Auschwitz History

The request for Auschwitz to be
established as a concentration camp
happened within months of the Nazi
occupation of Poland. By the end of
1940 the camp was functioning
On 27th January 1945 the Red Army
liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Nazi Concentration and Death Camps
Auschwitz 1

This what lies above
the entrance to
Auschwitz 1. this
shows that the
prisoners thought
that they were
coming to a better
life as the translation
is “work sets you
free”
Auschwitz 1
Of the 6 tones
of human hair
found at
Auschwitz, 2
tonnes are on
display
Auschwitz 1
Auschwitz 1
Auschwitz 1
As a result of the
levels of defense and
security that would
have been present in
these concentration
camps, it would have
been nearly
impossible to escape
Auschwitz Birkenau

On approach to
Auschwitz
Birkenau you are
greeted by the
railway tracks
which approach
the most well
known building in
Auschwitz
Auschwitz Birkenau
The vast scale and
nature of this camp is
evidently visible when
looking from above
Auschwitz Birkenau

This picture highlights how little has changed
within Auschwitz
Living conditions in Auschwitz
Living conditions in Auschwitz
Extermination by Charlotte Delbo
 “Them
that begin by burning
books, end by burning men”
Heinrich Heine