Friday, January 27, 2012

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

I found out that today is the International Holocaust Remembrance Day as designated by the United Nations.  One of the few things I actually agree on with them.

I know that today, if you ask most young people on the street what was the Holocaust, or even "Who is Adolf Hitler", you will probably get a stumped look or a confused look from the person.  Don't believe me?  Go here and watch for yourself.  It's actually disheartening to see.

From Wiki.Answers.com:
The word Holocaust generally refers to the deaths of Jews, but often other victims of Nazi Germany are often also included.
Although the exact figure will never be known, here are estimates:
  • The figure of 11 million people dead is often given but it is completely unclear where this figure comes from, and how it is calculated. It is far too low. One also encounters the range 11-17 million.
  • 6 million of these were Jewish (close to two thirds of Europe's Jewish population) and about one quarter of these were children under 15.
  • Up to 270,000 were Roma/Sinti (Gypsies).
In addition, Hitler targeted homosexuals, Communists and other political dissidents, most Slavs, Jehovah's Witnesses, dissidents, some Protestant pastors and Catholic priests, black people, the mentally and physically disabled, and others. The figures include the camps as well as the mass graves in the countryside, killings in the street, organized mass shootings (such as Babi Yar, etc.) and basically, any person singled out for their race, religion, political beliefs, or their sexual orientation.
There are approximately 250 Holocaust museums and centers around the world where you can learn more, as well as extensive information elsewhere on the Internet.
  • Jews- 5.9 million
  • Soviet POW's- 3.3 million
  • Non-Jewish Poles- 1.8-2 million
  • Romanis ('gypsies')- 220,000- 270,000 (but even the higher figure may be too low)
  • Disabled- 200,000 - 250,000
  • Homosexuals- 5,000 - 15,000
  • Jehovah's Witnesses- 2,500 - 5,000
If you get a chance today, or any day for that matter, go to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and look at their website.  Start with the following video.


Let us NEVER forget what happened. For those who forget the past are doomed to repeat the past. Eric

1 comment:

serena said...

Holocaust is definitely the most horrible times in the history of Germany. Completely hoping that it will never happen again.

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