Unfortunately, half of Americans are pretty fuzzy on it. Here’s what you need to know:
The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of Jews by the Nazis and their collaborators leading up to and during World War II. Six million Jewish people died – this includes nearly 2 out of every 3 in Europe.1
Jews across North Africa were also persecuted, imprisoned in concentration camps or murdered, and other marginalized groups were also targeted by the Nazis in Europe.2
The Nazis’ crimes against humanity are incredibly well-documented – overwhelming evidence helped convict Nazi leaders in court following World War II.3 And yet… denial, distortion and misinformation about the Holocaust not only persist, but they also help enable further antisemitic beliefs and hate-based violence.4
Increase Knowledge – and Prevent Antisemitism and Hate – in Three Critical Steps
Listen to Survivors
Millions of lives were lost, but there were survivors. Their first-hand accounts provide a vast historical record.
The USC Shoah Foundation has the world's largest collection of filmed testimonies, containing over 50,000 survivor and witness accounts. Countless written testimonies exist as well, including Yad Vashem's Pages of Testimony, USHMM documents, and more. Some survivors and their families have taken to social media to share their stories directly.
Watch Out for Misinformation
The messages, images, information and experiences you engage with every day – so much of which is taking place online – help shape beliefs, attitudes, values and identity. It’s pretty amazing to have an endless amount of information at our fingertips. But unfortunately, there’s a whole lot of bad that comes with the good. Knowing how to sift through it all is critical.
Stop and Think: What is Being Said and Why?
Holocaust denial, distortion, and trivialization are the most common forms of misinformation. They include making comparisons or claims that downplay the events of the Holocaust, accusing Jews of using the Holocaust for their own gain, and even casting blame on Jews themselves. Distorting the facts of the Holocaust is ultimately about excusing antisemitic beliefs and hate-based violence.
Fact-Check. Fact-Check. Fact-Check.
Misinformation of all types thrives on social media. Even people we trust make mistakes and have probably shared content that includes misinformation. When it comes to the Holocaust, the truth is easy to find – remember, it was extremely well-documented. The resources below have you covered.
Stop the Spread.
Don't engage with or share content you haven’t fact-checked. It’s not easy, but it is that simple.
Learn more about the Holocaust and fact-checking claims:
Support Holocaust Education
Learning about the Holocaust benefits everyone. In addition to gaining important historical knowledge, it cultivates more empathetic, tolerant and engaged young people.5
It can be uncomfortable and challenging, but it’s important to understand and learn from our history. Right now in particular we are witnessing levels of anti-Jewish attitudes and antisemitic incidents not seen in decades. More than ever, we need future generations to understand the dangers of remaining silent, apathetic and indifferent to antisemitism and other forms of hate.
Explore Echoes and Reflections
Dynamic programs like Echoes & Reflections (a partnership of ADL, the USC Shoah Foundation and Yad Vashem) leverage survivor and witness testimony to inspire critical thinking and discussion, and are available for schools and educators to bring the lessons of the Holocaust to all students.
Footnotes:
- https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/remaining-jewish-population-of-europe-in-1945
- https://www.yadvashem.org/holocaust/about/outbreak-of-ww2-anti-jewish-policy/north-africa-and-middle-east.html
- https://www.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%2520Word%2520-%25205887.pdf
- https://www.yadvashem.org/holocaust/holocaust-antisemitism/rozett-denying-history.html
- https://echoesandreflections.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/College-Survey-Summary-Article-September-2020-a.pdf