The Holocaust was a horrific genocide perpetrated by the Nazi regime from 1941 to 1945, during which approximately six million Jews and millions of others were systematically murdered. Here are four key groups that were affected and the reasons why the Nazis targeted them:
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Jews: The primary targets of the Holocaust, Jews were seen by the Nazis as racially inferior and a threat to the so-called Aryan race. Propaganda portrayed Jews as responsible for Germany's social and economic problems, particularly after World War I. The Nazis propagated deeply ingrained anti-Semitic stereotypes, leading to widespread discrimination, violence, and ultimately the genocidal extermination of Jews throughout Europe.
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Roma (Gypsies): The Roma were another ethnic group targeted by the Nazis, who viewed them as racially inferior and socially undesirable. Like Jews, they were subjected to forced sterilization, internment in concentration camps, and mass murder. The Nazis believed that the Roma undermined Aryan society and sought to eliminate them to purify the population.
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Disabled Individuals: The Nazis targeted people with disabilities under their "euthanasia" program, which aimed to eliminate those deemed "life unworthy of life." This included individuals with physical and mental disabilities. The regime viewed them as a burden to society and believed that their elimination would enhance the genetic health of the Aryan race.
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Political Dissidents and Others: The Nazis also persecuted political opponents, including communists, socialists, trade unionists, and other activists who opposed the regime. They sought to consolidate power and eliminate any resistance to their totalitarian rule. Additionally, groups such as homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others who did not conform to Nazi ideology were similarly targeted for persecution and extermination.
Overall, the Nazis aimed to create a racially "pure" society by eliminating groups they considered undesirable or threatening to their vision of a racial hierarchy.