The classroom lights dimmed, and the familiar sight of a television cart wheeled in signaled a movie day—a moment we students always looked forward to. Yet, over three decades later, I still vividly remember the harrowing black-and-white documentary that played: “Night and Fog,” which depicted chilling footage of bulldozers pushing countless bodies into mass graves as if they were mere refuse. This was a stark introduction to the horrors of the Holocaust.
Recently, Charlottesville, Virginia, was the epicenter of violence as white nationalist groups assembled, chanting phrases like “Blood and soil” and “Jews will not replace us,” brandishing Confederate and Nazi flags adorned with ominous swastikas. These symbols serve as a chilling reminder of one of the darkest chapters in human history—genocide. The ideologies embraced by these white nationalists echo the same hatred and violence that led to the Holocaust.
The term “Holocaust” derives from Greek, meaning “sacrifice by fire.” It represents the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and extermination of six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its accomplices. Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in 1933 was marked by an ideology that vilified Jews, branding them as inferior, treacherous, and a threat to the so-called “master race.” This led to laws designed to segregate Jews, ultimately stripping them of their rights, businesses, and lives.
The Nazis forcibly relocated Jews into ghettos, marking their identities with yellow stars sewn onto their clothing. Soon, these individuals were crammed into cattle cars and transported to concentration camps such as Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. Upon arrival, meticulous records were kept, and people were classified. Many were deemed unfit for labor and sent to the gas chambers, where they were met with a horrific end. As crematoriums became overwhelmed, mass graves were dug to accommodate the sheer volume of bodies.
In 1933, Europe had nine million Jews; by 1945, only three million remained, with two-thirds of the Jewish population extinguished. While the Holocaust primarily targeted Jews, the Nazis also exterminated approximately 200,000 Roma (Gypsies), people with disabilities, as well as individuals deemed politically or socially undesirable, including communists and homosexuals.
Germany has made efforts to confront its past, providing reparations to Holocaust survivors and prosecuting war criminals. Today, displaying Nazi symbols is illegal, and Holocaust denial is a prosecutable offense. Instead of commemorating the perpetrators, Germany honors the victims, with memorials in nearly every town, and significant sites like Auschwitz serving as museums to educate future generations.
Discussing the Holocaust and genocide may feel uncomfortable, but it is crucial. On the same day white supremacists marched at the University of Virginia, the world lost its oldest man, Israel Kristal, a Holocaust survivor who lived to be 114. Soon, the world will be devoid of Holocaust survivors, and we will lose the chance to hear their profound stories of survival and loss.
Filmmakers are racing against time to document these narratives, with projects like Steven Spielberg’s film archive at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum working to keep history alive. However, many in the U.S. remain unaware of the Holocaust. Currently, only eight states mandate Holocaust education in schools. How can we prevent history from repeating itself if we ignore the past?
The Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect has launched a nationwide project to promote genocide education, ensuring students learn about the Holocaust and other atrocities. Legislators from various states are advocating for such education, with Louisiana Representative Jake Thompson (R) sharing a poignant story of a student questioning the relevance of historical events that occurred before their lifetime. It’s a reminder of our responsibility to instill knowledge of our shared history.
White nationalists in the U.S. are not merely expressing differing political views; they aim for the eradication of anyone they perceive as a threat. Their motives are rooted in violence, and it is our duty to educate ourselves and future generations about the Holocaust—both to honor the past and to actively combat hatred. We must stand firm and declare: not here, not now, and never again.
For more resources on the Holocaust, visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.