Nazi Germany and Its People - Persecution of Minorities Flashcards
What was the Nazi persecution of minorities?
The persecution of minorities was the deliberate attack on certain minority groups, or ‘undesirable people’, such as Jews, Roma (gypsies) or homosexuals. They believed these ‘undesirable people’ were inferior and persecution escalated over time.
Why did the Nazis start the persecution of minorities?
- They believed in eugenics. This is selective breeding to create ‘better’ humans. The Nazis believed Aryans should only breed with other Aryans to keep the race strong.
- As they believed that the Aryans were the superior race, they believed they should rule the world and therefore inferior races should be removed.
When did the Nazis carry out the persecution of minorities?
The Nazi persecution of minorities happened between 1933 and 1945.
Who were the ‘Untermenschen’ that faced persecution from the Nazis?
The Nazis believed that inferior races were ‘Untermenschen’, or sub-human, and that they were Lebensunwertes, or unworthy of life. They were part of the ‘undesirable people’.
Why did the Nazi idea of the Aryan race lead to the persecution of minorities?
The Nazis believed there was a superior race, the Aryans, who came from certain parts of Europe. They tended to have blond hair, blue eyes and were physically strong.
Why did the Nazis carry out the persecution of the Jews?
Anti-Semitism means being anti-Jewish. The Nazi persecution of minorities involved attacks on Jews because the Nazis were anti-Semitic. Hitler blamed Jews for Germany’s defeat in the First World War, and they built on existing anti-Semitic feeling that already existed in Germany.
Why did the Nazis carry out the persecution of the Slavs?
Nazis persecuted Slavic people from eastern Europe because they believed they were ‘Untermenschen’. They also wanted to expand Germany into eastern Europe and wanted Lebensraum for Germans.
Why did the Nazis carry out the persecution of the Roma?
Nazis persecuted the Roma, or gypsies, because they saw them as ‘Untermenschen’ (sub-human). Roma tended to move around and the Nazis believed they did not contribute properly to society.
Why did the Nazis carry out the persecution of homosexuals?
Nazis persecuted homosexuals because they believed they were not doing their duty in reproducing.
Why did the Nazis carry out the persecution of disabled people?
Nazis persecuted disabled people because they believed that spending money on them was a waste of resources and, if they reproduced, their offspring would pollute the Aryan race.
What was the Nazi persecution of disabled people?
The Nazi persecution of disabled people included anyone in Germany with physical or mental disabilities. The nature of persecution escalated and became worse over time. This was the first group of people to be murdered.
When did the Nazi persecution of disabled people begin?
The Nazi persecution of disabled people started in 1933 and continued until 1945.
Why did the Nazi regime carry out the persecution of disabled people?
The Nazis persecuted disabled people because they believed it was wasteful looking after them and if they reproduced, their offspring would ruin the Aryan race.
How were disabled people targeted by the persecution from the Nazis regime?
- The Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring was passed in 1933. This led to people being sterilised if they were physically or mentally disabled such as being deaf or blind, or were suffering from a psychiatric disorder such as alcoholism. By 1939, between 200,000 and 400,000 people had been sterilised.
- In 1939, the Nazis started the T4 Programme which was the planned murder of those with severe physical or mental disabilities through a massive drug overdose or starvation. It is estimated that more than 5,000 children were murdered under this programme.
- Many disabled people were also subjected to medical experiments.
What was the Nazi persecution of homosexuals?
The Nazi persecution of homosexuals was an attack on gay men. Generally, lesbians were not considered a threat to the Nazi regime. The nature of the persecution escalated over time and became worse.
Why did the Nazi regime carry out the persecution of homosexuals?
The Nazis persecuted homosexuals because it was believed they were failing in their duty to reproduce and needed to sexually conform.
When did the Nazi persecution of homosexuals begin?
The Nazi persecution of homosexuals started in 1933 and continued until 1945.
How were homosexuals targeted by Nazi persecution?
- Laws against homosexuality were passed in 1935. As a result, the number of men imprisoned for homosexuality increased tenfold from approximately 800 in 1934 to 8,000 in 1938.
- Many homosexuals were sent to concentration camps. It is estimated that about 60%, or 5,000, of all homosexual prisoners died.
- Homosexuals were experimented on in the camps and were castrated.
What was the Nazi persecution of Roma?
The Nazi persecution of Roma, or gypsies, was the attack on a group of people that were itinerant (moved around) and were considered inferior. The nature of the persecution escalated over time.
Why did the Nazis target Roma Gypsies for persecution?
The Nazis persecuted Roma, or gypsies, because they saw them as ‘Untermenschen’ or sub-human. The Roma tended to move around and the Nazis believed they did not contribute enough to society.
When did the Nazi persecution of Roma begin?
The Nazi persecution of Roma or gypsies started in 1933 and continued to 1945.
How were Roma Gypsies targetted by Nazi persecution?
- After Hitler became chancellor, more Roma were arrested and sent to concentration camps.
- Many Roma, or gypsies, were forcibly sterilised so they could not have children.
- Some Roma, or gypsies, were held in special camps from 1936.
- The Decree for Combating the Gypsy Plague was issued by Himmler on 8th December, 1938. This set up a nationwide database of all Roma. It was used to round up Roma and put them in concentration camps.
- In October 1939, a decree was issued banning the movement of Roma, or gypsies.
- The Decree for the Resettlement of the Gypsies was passed on 27th April, 1940 and aimed to deport all Roma from Germany within one year.
What was the Nazis’ persecution of Jews?
The Nazi persecution of the Jews was an attack on people of Jewish descendent or anyone the Nazis classed as a Jew. The nature of the persecution escalated and became worse over time.
Why did the Nazis persecute the Jews?
The Nazis were anti-Semitic, which is why they persecuted Jews. They considered all Jewish people to be ‘Untermenschen’, or sub-human. Hitler blamed them for Germany’s defeat in the First World War.
When did the Nazi persecution of the Jews begin?
The Nazi persecution of Jews started in 1933 and continued to 1945.
How were the Jews persecuted by the Nazis?
- In April 1933, the Nazis organised a one-day boycott of Jewish shops. Nazi SA men stood by the doors of the shops to intimidate people so they would not buy goods.
- In 1933, Jews were forced out of jobs in the law, the civil service, dentistry, journalism, teaching and farming.
- In September 1935, the Nuremberg Laws were passed. Firstly, the Reich Citizenship Law stated Jews couldn’t be citizens. Secondly, the Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honour made it illegal for Jews to marry non-Jews.
- During Kristallnacht, the SA and ordinary Germans attacked Jewish shops, homes and synagogues. Synagogues were burned, approximately 100 Jews were murdered, and 20,000 Jewish men were sent to concentration camps.
- In 1940, all Jews in the countries Germany had invaded were forced to live in concentration camps or ghettos.
- From January 1942, the Nazis start to prepare the ‘Final Solution’. This was the murder of all Jews in Germany, and the lands the Nazis controlled, by working Jews to death as slave labour or by murdering them in concentration camps.
