ConflictEurope

The Holocaust

Jul 2, 1941 – May 8, 1945

A genocide planned with bureaucracy and railway timetables

In depth

What distinguishes the Holocaust from earlier mass killing is its industrialisation and bureaucratisation: the genocide required railways, population registers, chemical industry and thousands of people performing partial tasks. That is why it stands so central in postwar thinking about responsibility, obedience and what modern states are capable of. The word "genocide" was coined in 1944 in order to describe it.

For children

Nazi Germany murdered around six million Jews, and in addition Roma, disabled people, gay people and political opponents. It was organised as a bureaucratic system, with lists, trains and camps.

Connects to

The Second World WarSep 1, 1939 – Sep 2, 1945
The United Nations is foundedOct 24, 1945
The Treaty of VersaillesJul 2, 1919

Part of Terra Saga — the story of Earth on a timeline. terrasaga.org