A-Z Vocabulary Terms
Aryan- A term the Nazi’s used, a pure German “blood.” The term “non-Aryan” was used to name Jews.
Buchenwald- A place near Weimar in Germany. It opened in July 1937 as a concentration camp.
Chelmno- Nazi extermination camp in Poland that was established in 1941. Approximately 150,000 Jews were murdered there between 1941 and 1944.
Dehumanize- To deprive of human qualities. Hitler dehumanized Jews by taking away their religion, education, and basic civil rights.
Eugenics- A “scientific theory” that Germans used to tell the difference between themselves with other races. Eugenics also was taught in schools in Germany during the Holocaust.
Führer- Meaning leader. This was also Adolph Hitler’s title.
Ghetto- The definition these days is a section of a city, especially a thickly populated slum area with economic struggles. However, the real term for ghetto is a section of a city where Jews were required to live.
Holocaust- This word is from the Greek holokauston which meant a sacrifice totally burned by fire. Today, the term means the planned extermination of about six million European Jews and millions of others by the Nazis.
Israel- A state created for people following the Holocaust and the recognition the movement were subject to a great deal of persecution. This state has 7.766 million people living in it.
Judenrein- The term used to describe if a Jew was clean. The Nazis used this word usually during deportation.
Kristallnacht- German used for “night of the broken glass”. On November 1938 Nazis destroyed and looted Jew shops.
Labour Camp- A camp where Jews and other prisoners were forced to labour. Here everyone had jobs (not like a regular job that people have these days, but cruel jobs, and if they didn’t work fast enough, they’d be out to death) even kids had jobs!
Mein Kampf- German for "My Struggle”. It’s a book that Hitler wrote covering all of the things that he wanted to do to “fix” Germany.
Nazi- It was founded after World War I. And it was eventually taken over by Hitler in 1921.
Operation Barbarossa- The code name for the German invasion of the Soviet Union. And it began on June 22, 1941.
Propaganda- False information used by a government or political party. They were used to plan to rule the opinions of the population.
Quicklime- A chemical mostly known as calcium oxide or caustic lime. It’s a white powder that burns skin on contact. Nazis would place several inches of this powder on the bottom of cattle cars to burn off the Jew’s skin.
Refugee- Someone who, because of war or another disaster, is forced to leave the place where they live. Also, usually they become homeless.
Swastika- The Nazi symbol. Some called it Hakenkreuz (hook-cross), based on an ancient good luck symbol from India.
Typhus- A disease carried by lice or fleas that resulted in many deaths. These deaths were mostly in labour and concentration camps.
Umschlagplatz- Literally means a “distribution center.” The place in the ghetto where the Jews gathered for deportation to Treblinka.
Volkswagen- Now and days, we know this as a famous car brand. However back during the Holocaust, it was Hitler’s attempt to make a car available which German families could afford.
Winston Churchill- His life was a course of events. All leading to his stand against Adolph Hitler's threat to control Europe.
X-Rays- These were used in medical tests in the woman’s camp in Birkenau. Some doctors used x-rays to sterilize their already sanitized victims, and they still had very painful deaths shortly after.
Yellow Star (Jewish Badge) - A Jewish “ID” worn on their arm or chest that Germans demanded Jews to wear. And, if they refused to wear it they would be killed immediately.
Zyklon B- (Hydrogen cyanide) Pesticide used in some of the gas chambers. Nazis used this to kill Jews in death camps.
Buchenwald- A place near Weimar in Germany. It opened in July 1937 as a concentration camp.
Chelmno- Nazi extermination camp in Poland that was established in 1941. Approximately 150,000 Jews were murdered there between 1941 and 1944.
Dehumanize- To deprive of human qualities. Hitler dehumanized Jews by taking away their religion, education, and basic civil rights.
Eugenics- A “scientific theory” that Germans used to tell the difference between themselves with other races. Eugenics also was taught in schools in Germany during the Holocaust.
Führer- Meaning leader. This was also Adolph Hitler’s title.
Ghetto- The definition these days is a section of a city, especially a thickly populated slum area with economic struggles. However, the real term for ghetto is a section of a city where Jews were required to live.
Holocaust- This word is from the Greek holokauston which meant a sacrifice totally burned by fire. Today, the term means the planned extermination of about six million European Jews and millions of others by the Nazis.
Israel- A state created for people following the Holocaust and the recognition the movement were subject to a great deal of persecution. This state has 7.766 million people living in it.
Judenrein- The term used to describe if a Jew was clean. The Nazis used this word usually during deportation.
Kristallnacht- German used for “night of the broken glass”. On November 1938 Nazis destroyed and looted Jew shops.
Labour Camp- A camp where Jews and other prisoners were forced to labour. Here everyone had jobs (not like a regular job that people have these days, but cruel jobs, and if they didn’t work fast enough, they’d be out to death) even kids had jobs!
Mein Kampf- German for "My Struggle”. It’s a book that Hitler wrote covering all of the things that he wanted to do to “fix” Germany.
Nazi- It was founded after World War I. And it was eventually taken over by Hitler in 1921.
Operation Barbarossa- The code name for the German invasion of the Soviet Union. And it began on June 22, 1941.
Propaganda- False information used by a government or political party. They were used to plan to rule the opinions of the population.
Quicklime- A chemical mostly known as calcium oxide or caustic lime. It’s a white powder that burns skin on contact. Nazis would place several inches of this powder on the bottom of cattle cars to burn off the Jew’s skin.
Refugee- Someone who, because of war or another disaster, is forced to leave the place where they live. Also, usually they become homeless.
Swastika- The Nazi symbol. Some called it Hakenkreuz (hook-cross), based on an ancient good luck symbol from India.
Typhus- A disease carried by lice or fleas that resulted in many deaths. These deaths were mostly in labour and concentration camps.
Umschlagplatz- Literally means a “distribution center.” The place in the ghetto where the Jews gathered for deportation to Treblinka.
Volkswagen- Now and days, we know this as a famous car brand. However back during the Holocaust, it was Hitler’s attempt to make a car available which German families could afford.
Winston Churchill- His life was a course of events. All leading to his stand against Adolph Hitler's threat to control Europe.
X-Rays- These were used in medical tests in the woman’s camp in Birkenau. Some doctors used x-rays to sterilize their already sanitized victims, and they still had very painful deaths shortly after.
Yellow Star (Jewish Badge) - A Jewish “ID” worn on their arm or chest that Germans demanded Jews to wear. And, if they refused to wear it they would be killed immediately.
Zyklon B- (Hydrogen cyanide) Pesticide used in some of the gas chambers. Nazis used this to kill Jews in death camps.