The classroom lights dimmed, and the familiar sight of a television on a wheeled cart sparked excitement among students. It typically meant we were in for a movie day. However, more than three decades later, I am haunted by what I witnessed next: grainy black-and-white footage showcasing a bulldozer pushing heaps of lifeless bodies into mass graves, as if they were mere refuse. This was a scene from Night and Fog, a documentary that delves into the horrors of the Holocaust.
Recent events in Charlottesville, Virginia, brought the resurgence of white nationalist groups to the forefront. These groups marched through the city, chanting phrases like “Blood and soil” and “Jews will not replace us,” while displaying Confederate flags and Nazi insignia. These symbols are unmistakable reminders of one of the darkest chapters in human history, representing the fear, cruelty, and violence that these extremists wish to perpetuate.
The term “Holocaust,” derived from Greek meaning “sacrifice by fire,” refers to the systematic and state-sponsored persecution of six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. When Adolf Hitler ascended to power in Germany in 1933, he introduced an ideology that deemed Germans as a superior race, while labeling Jews as inferior, untrustworthy, and traitorous. Laws were enacted to isolate Jews from society, stripping them of their businesses, property, and ultimately their lives.
Under the Nazi regime, Jews were forcibly relocated into ghettos. They were required to wear yellow stars for identification, and their passports were marked with their Jewish identity. Soon after, they were packed into cattle cars and transported to concentration camps like Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. Upon arrival, meticulous records were kept, categorizing individuals as either useful for labor or destined for extermination. Those deemed unfit—children, the elderly, and pregnant women—were sent to “shower” rooms, where gas was released instead of water, killing hundreds at once. Bodies were burned in crematoriums or buried in mass graves when the number of dead exceeded the facilities’ capacity.
In 1933, Europe was home to nine million Jews; by 1945, only three million remained. The Nazis and their collaborators had murdered two-thirds of the Jewish population in Europe. While the liberation of the concentration camps revealed the shocking scale of death and suffering, it is essential to note that the Holocaust also targeted other groups, including the Roma, people with disabilities, and various political and social dissidents.
Germany has taken significant steps in confronting its past by providing reparations to Holocaust survivors and prosecuting war criminals. Today, displaying Nazi symbols is illegal, and Holocaust denial is punishable by law. Instead of honoring Nazi leaders, Germany commemorates the lives lost with monuments and memorials, including Stolpersteine—small stones laid in front of homes where Holocaust victims once lived.
Discussing the Holocaust and genocide is often uncomfortable, yet it is crucial. On the very day white supremacists rallied at the University of Virginia, Israel Kristal, the world’s oldest man and a Holocaust survivor, passed away at 114 years old. Soon, the world will lose its remaining survivors and their invaluable first-hand accounts of the atrocities they endured.
Documentaries and projects, such as Steven Spielberg’s film archive at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, are striving to preserve these stories. Yet, many Americans still lack a fundamental understanding of the Holocaust. Currently, only eight states mandate Holocaust education, highlighting a significant gap in our collective historical knowledge. The Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect has launched a nationwide initiative to ensure that students learn about the Holocaust and other genocides, with several states already committing to introduce educational legislation.
As noted by Louisiana Representative Thomas Evans (R), witnessing a student question why the Holocaust mattered to her generation was a wake-up call. It is imperative to educate ourselves and our communities about this dark chapter in history—not just to remember, but to actively combat hatred and violence. We must collectively vow to say, “not here, not now, and never again.”
Explore whether your state mandates Holocaust education, and if it does not, consider reaching out to your local legislators. For more information on the Holocaust, visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. If you’re interested in family planning resources, check out this useful post on home insemination kits.
In summary, understanding the Holocaust is vital for preventing the recurrence of such atrocities. With survivors diminishing in number, it is our responsibility to ensure that their stories and the lessons of history are preserved for future generations.