Anti-Semitism And The Holocaust

The word “Holocaust” originates from the Greek words “holos” (whole) and “kaustos” (burned). These words were historically used to describe sacrificial offerings (History.com staff). When mentioning the Holocaust most people do not know the definition. The public almost always replaces the word with the tragic event. The event I am referring to is the mass murder of the Jewish population in Europe during world war two. This devastating event plays a huge part in our world’s history and should never be forgotten. “Like an atom bomb that disperses its radioactive fallout in the distant places, often a long time after the explosion. The holocaust continues to contaminate everyone who was exposed to it in one way or another” (Holocaust: Turning Point).

There has been evidence of hatred and hostility towards Jewish people since ancient times. For example Romans destroyed Jewish temples and forced the Jews to leave Palestine. There were also restrictions on jews throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Hitler and many others blamed the Jews for Germany’s defeat in 1918. Some say anti-Semitism was spread through Christianity for almost two millennia. Jews Were often perceived as a specific problem and annoyance to society (History.com Staff). On January 20, 1933, Hitler was named Chancellor of Germany. Hitler had the idea of creating a “pure race”, which ultimately involved the extermination of the Jewish race. His rise to power came into full effect soon affect soon after President Paul Von Hindenburg died in 1934. Hitler anointed himself as Germany’s supreme ruler (History.com Staff). What his power and authority would soon inflict was