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The Holocaust was the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of
approximately six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. "Holocaust" is a word of
Greek origin meaning "sacrifice by fire." The Nazis, who came to power in Germany in January
1933, believed that Germans were "racially superior" and that the Jews, deemed "inferior," were
"life unworthy of life." During the era of the Holocaust, the Nazis also targeted other groups
because of their perceived "racial inferiority": Roma (Gypsies), the handicapped, and some of the
Slavic peoples (Poles, Russians, and others). Other groups were persecuted on political and
behavioral grounds, among them Communists, Socialists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and
homosexuals.
approximately six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. "Holocaust" is a word of
Greek origin meaning "sacrifice by fire." The Nazis, who came to power in Germany in January
1933, believed that Germans were "racially superior" and that the Jews, deemed "inferior," were
"life unworthy of life." During the era of the Holocaust, the Nazis also targeted other groups
because of their perceived "racial inferiority": Roma (Gypsies), the handicapped, and some of the
Slavic peoples (Poles, Russians, and others). Other groups were persecuted on political and
behavioral grounds, among them Communists, Socialists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and
homosexuals.
TOTAL LOSSES FROM THE HOLOCAUST
COUNTRY TOTAL PERCENTAGE JEWISH POPULATION IN 1933
POLAND 2,700,000 (44%) 3,000,000
RUSSIA (USSR) 2,100,000 (34%) 2,525,000
HUNGARY 550,000 (9%) 445,000
GERMANY 160,000 (2.63%) 565,000
CZECHOSLAVAKIA 143,000 (2.35%) 357,000
ROMANIA 120,919 (1.97%) 980,000
HOLLAND 102,000 (1.67%) 160,000
FRANCE 76,134 (1.25%) 225,000
AUSTRIA 65,459 <1% 250,000
YUGOSLAVIA 65,000 _ 70,000
GREECE 59,185 _ 100,000
BELGIUM 28,518 _ 60,000
ITALY 6,513 _ 48,000
ALBANIA 591 (0.09%) NA
LOSSES DUE TO THE HOLOCAUST
