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Question

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The Holocaust

In the Holocaust, Nazi Germany killed six million Jewish men, women, and children. The Nazis labeled the Holocaust the “final solution,” and they set out to kill every Jewish person on Earth. The Nazis opened concentration camps and death camps, including those at Auschwitz and Treblinka, at Bergen-Belsen and Dachau. Innocent Jewish men, women, and children were murdered in death chambers with poison gas and by other means. Jewish people were the Nazis’ primary targets. Also swept up into the murderous slaughter were millions of others, including Slavs (Poles and Soviet citizens), Roma, people with disabilities, and homosexuals.

In The Diary of Anne Frank, the Holocaust is viewed through the eyes of a fifteenyear-old Jewish girl who, for two years, hid with her family from the Nazis in an attic in Amsterdam. The diary contains Anne’s own words. Incredibly, even while she was hiding, Anne Frank wrote in her diary, “I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.” She also wrote, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Anne and her family were turned in to the Nazis, and Anne died in a German concentration camp.

Elie Wiesel, who was taken to Buchenwald camp as a boy, later described the horror of his experiences in his book Night. In his book, he paints a vivid picture of the train ride to the camp, the unimaginable human suffering and disregard for human life, and, the terrible feeling of hunger: “I was a body. Perhaps less than that even: a starved stomach.” Elie survived to write and talk about what happened.

Constructed Response Question
Analyze how the liberating soldiers felt during their encounters in the Nazi concentration camps.
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Answer 1

The liberation of Nazi concentration camps at the end of World War II was a profoundly emotional experience for the soldiers who encountered the horrific aftermath of the Holocaust. Through various accounts, it is clear that these soldiers were met with a complex array of feelings, including horror, disbelief, anger, and compassion.

Firstly, many soldiers expressed sheer shock and horror at the sight of the camps. As they entered places like Auschwitz and Buchenwald, the overwhelming stench of death, the emaciated bodies of survivors, and the remnants of the brutal conditions overwhelmed them. This surreal experience was often beyond their comprehension; they had been trained for battle but not for the sights of human suffering and atrocities on such a massive scale. Some soldiers reported being haunted by the images they witnessed, recognizing the enormity of the Holocaust and the depths of human cruelty.

Secondly, anger was a predominant emotion, directed both at the Nazis who perpetrated these crimes and at the world for allowing such atrocities to happen. Soldiers often felt a sense of indignation at the inhumanity they observed, which fueled a desire to bring justice to those who suffered. This anger sometimes manifested as a determination to ensure that such horrors would never be repeated.

Compassion also played a crucial role in their experiences. Many liberating soldiers sought to assist the survivors, providing them with food, medical care, and comfort. They recognized that the individuals they encountered were not just victims of an oppressive regime but were human beings deserving of dignity and help. The interactions between soldiers and survivors often showcased acts of kindness that underscored their humanity.

Moreover, these soldiers became witnesses to the Holocaust, carrying the burden of the knowledge of what had transpired. This burden shaped their perspectives and influenced their lives long after the war ended. Many felt a moral obligation to share these stories and ensure that future generations understood the gravity of what had occurred.

In summary, the liberating soldiers experienced a complex mixture of horror, anger, and compassion as they encountered the realities of the Nazi concentration camps. Their experiences not only changed them but also served as critical testimony to the atrocities of the Holocaust, reminding the world of the importance of memory and the fight against hatred and inhumanity.