Lesson 10: Holocaust: A continent wide crime

Question 1

Overview of the role played by occupied nations during the Holocaust

(L10)

Answer 1

• Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian collaborators played a significant role in killing Jews (Eastern + South Eastern Europe)
• Many as guards in KC and CC
• Authorities helped with establishing ghettos

Question 2

Role of Vichy France in supporting the development of the Holocaust

(L10)

Answer 2

• Cooperated with Germans
• Enacted laws that restricted rights of Jews
  → defining them by their race
• Internment camps in southern France, arresting Jews before deportation and killing centers
• 77,000 Jews in June 1940 had perished, sent to internment camps or Nazi Killing centers

Question 3

Role of Croatia in supporting the development of the Holocaust

(L10)

Answer 3

• Part of Yugoslavia
• Germany invaded Yugoslavia in April 1941 → Independent state of Croatia
• Croatia = ruled by ultra-nationalist fascist movement known as Ustasa
  → “purge Croatia of foreign elements” campaign
  → Multiple groups targeted = Jews, Serbians, Muslims, Romani
• Policies were based on those introduced by Nazis in Germany
• By June 1941, Ustasa = own Concentration Camp system

Question 4

Overview of role played by axis powers during the Holocaust

(L10)

Answer 4

• Axis partners of Germany had implemented similar anti-Jewish legislation in their own nations prior to WWII
• Due to ultra-nationalist/fascist governments + long standing history of antisemitism
• Final solution implemented → nations (axis) prepared to cooperate with Nazis committing mass genocide
  → Jewish deportation
  → Robbing and murdering of Jews

Question 5

Role of Romania in the Holocaust

(L10)

Answer 5

• Deprive Jews of access to resources necessary for living
• Autumn of 1941, summer of 1942, Romanian authorities → deporting Romanian Jews
• Abandoned Jews in makeshift camps and ghettos
• Between 280-380,000 Jews killed by Romanian authorities in Transnistria between 1941-44