<p>Jews from <a href="/narrative/10727">Subcarpathian Rus</a> get off the deportation train and assemble on the ramp at the <a href="/narrative/3673">Auschwitz-Birkenau</a> killing center in occupied Poland. May 1944. </p>

Discussion Questions

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Organized by theme, these discussion questions examine how and why the Holocaust happened. They are designed to help teachers, students, and all citizens create discussion and encourage reflection about the Holocaust.

Browse all Discussion Questions

What made it possible?

How and why did ordinary people across Europe contribute to the persecution of their Jewish neighbors?
Discussion Question How and why did ordinary people across Europe contribute to the persecution of their Jewish neighbors?
How did the Nazis and their collaborators implement the Holocaust?
Discussion Question How did the Nazis and their collaborators implement the Holocaust?
What conditions, ideologies, and ideas made the Holocaust possible?
Discussion Question What conditions, ideologies, and ideas made the Holocaust possible?
What does war make possible?
Discussion Question What does war make possible?
How did German professionals and civil leaders contribute to the persecution of Jews and other groups?
Discussion Question How did German professionals and civil leaders contribute to the persecution of Jews and other groups?

Responses

How did the United States government and American people respond to Nazism?
Discussion Question How did the United States government and American people respond to Nazism?
How did leaders, diplomats, and citizens around the world respond to the events of the Holocaust?
Discussion Question How did leaders, diplomats, and citizens around the world respond to the events of the Holocaust?
Which organizations and individuals aided and protected Jews from persecution between 1933 and 1945?
Discussion Question Which organizations and individuals aided and protected Jews from persecution between 1933 and 1945?

After the war

How did postwar trials shape approaches to international justice?
Discussion Question How did postwar trials shape approaches to international justice?
What have we learned about the risk factors and warning signs of genocide?
Discussion Question What have we learned about the risk factors and warning signs of genocide?

Other Topics

How did different goals and political systems shape racism in Nazi Germany and the United States?
Discussion Question How did different goals and political systems shape racism in Nazi Germany and the United States?
How did the shared foundational element of eugenics contribute to the growth of racism in Europe and the United States?
Discussion Question How did the shared foundational element of eugenics contribute to the growth of racism in Europe and the United States?
What were some similarities between racism in Nazi Germany and in the United States, 1920s-1940s?
Discussion Question What were some similarities between racism in Nazi Germany and in the United States, 1920s-1940s?

Thank you for supporting our work

We would like to thank Crown Family Philanthropies and the Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation for supporting the ongoing work to create content and resources for the Holocaust Encyclopedia. View the list of all donors.