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There were 11 million victims of the Holocaust (or 6 million Jewish victims and 5 million non-Jewish victims) The number 11 million is a fictitious number on a number of levels. “11 million Jews” is the population census that is mentioned in the 16th copy of the Wannsee Protocol, notes taken by Eichmann (January 20, 1942), only... Read More

Holocaust Misconceptions There were 11 million victims of the Holocaust (or 6 million Jewish victims and 5 million non-Jewish victims) The number 11 million is a fictitious number on a number of levels. “11 million Jews” is the population census that is mentioned in the 16th copy of the Wannsee Protocol, notes taken by Eichmann (January 20, 1942), only about the Jews. The issue also seems to be the differentiation between victims based on NSDAP race policy versus civilian deaths during war (i.e.: victims of genocide or casualties of war) if the latter, the correct number is probably between 30-35 million deaths, maybe more. The death toll on the territory of the former Soviet Union is generally regarded to be about 27 million including Soviet military. It is best when referencing the total number of victims of the Holocaust to say 6 million Jews and millions of others. All Holocaust organizations are making a united move to adhere to this message, and we must maintain a consistent record as a center of Holocaust education. Hitler was elected to political office (Often used to emphasize the power/importance of your vote; or the need to vote) Hitler was not elected to office. By the end of 1932 the Nazis were the largest party in the German parliament (Reichstag), and the Nazis formed a coalition government with the conservative German Nationalists in 1933. The Nazis had 3 members of the cabinet, and the conservatives had 9. Hitler was appointed chancellor by President von Hindenburg, and not elected. In the last relatively free election in March of 1933, Hitler received 37% per cent of the vote. “The Final Solution” was decided at the Wannsee Conference While thousands of Jews were murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators or died as a direct result of discriminatory measures instituted against Jews during the initial years of the Third Reich, the systematic murder of Jews, or “The Final Solution” began with the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 – killing entire Jewish communities mainly through shooting or gas vans. In ninety minutes, on January 20, 1942, fifteen mid-level Nazi officials met to ensure the cooperation of various administrative departments to make the killing that was already happening more efficient. It is important to note that while the “Holocaust by bullets” was inefficient and psychologically draining on its perpetrators, the killing centers did not replace the mobile killing. In fact, the Einsatzgruppen continued its actions well into 1943. Number & Types of Camps Between 1933 and 1945, Nazi Germany and its allies established more than 40,000 camps (slave labor (30,000); concentration (980); POW camps (1,000); “care” centers; internment and killing centers (6)) and other incarceration sites. The perpetrators used these sites for a range of purposes, including forced labor, detention of people thought to be enemies of the state, and mass murder. The total number of sites is based upon ongoing research in the perpetrators’ own records. The Allies could have saved more Jews Perhaps, but most of the killing occurred while Germany appeared to be winning the war. By mid-March 1942, the Nazis and their collaborators, had killed 20-25% of the Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust. By the time the war turned in favor of the Allies, February 1943, the Germans and their collaborators had killed 75-80% of the Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust. In addition, 75% of the Jews killed in the Holocaust perished before the tide of war turned in the Battle of Stalingrad. Further, half of all Holocaust victims came from interwar Poland. Poland was in the core area of German-occupied territories during the war and remained out of reach from Allied forces till 1944. The decision to systematically kill all Jews – men, women, and children – was implemented extraordinarily quickly, at a time when Germany was at a zenith of military success, and when the Allies could do almost nothing to stop it. The Role of Hitler – Precision of Language Such phrases as “Hitler’s War,” “Hitler’s Holocaust,” “Hitler’s army,” “Hitler did this or decided this…” are easy statements to make. While we do not want to ignore or negate the crucial role that Hitler played, overemphasizing his role leads to “The ‘One Man’ or “Evil Man’ Theory,” namely that the Holocaust was the result of a single individual (Hitler’s) will, plan, ideas and drive. We then unintentionally ignore the many collaborators and bystanders, and as a result might have our visitors conclude that the Holocaust was “an aberration, something that was the result of ‘one sick individual,” a view counterproductive to developing an accurate understanding of the Holocaust. Norwegian non-Jews wore paper clips to express solidarity with Norwegian Jewry Between 1,700 and 1,800 Jewish people were living in Norway when the Nazis occupied the country in June 1940. Most Jews were living in the capital city of Oslo at that time, and all but 200 Jews were No...

Holocaust Misconceptions - Illinois Holocaust Museum