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The word 'Holocaust' comes from the Greek word 'Holokauston' meaning "a burnt sacrifice to God". This term today usually refers to large scale attempts of execution of murder also known as "genocide." What made the "Holocaust" conducted by the Germans in World War II distinguish it from all other cases of "genocide" was their systematic way |
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they carried out their executions, kept records of killings, and even a list of who to kill next. In addition to mass killings the Germans also conducted experiments on their victims. The full extent of the atrocities that happened in these camps was not even known until after the war. The two basic types of camps the Germans used to conduct the "Holocaust" were Extermination and Concentration. At Concentration Camps captives were forced to work in deplorable conditions. Disease and starvation were common under horrifying conditions. The Extermination Camps were self explanatory. Prisoners were executed and buried in mass graves or cremated. People even had their heads shaved before entering gas chambers to make clothing from their hair. A small number of prisoners were used at these camps to dispose of dead bodies. Beside Jewish people anyone that was a threat to to German leadership, Gypsies, Slavic people, homosexuals, and even handicapped were executed during this time. Anyone that did not fit the stereotype that the Germans chose to idealize were simply wiped out. Below is a list of facts about this horrific time: Extimated Death Toll of the Holocaust
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