- Antisemitism: Antisemitism, or hatred of Jews, has a long history in Europe and has been used to justify discrimination and violence against Jews for centuries. This hatred was prevalent in Germany and Austria before the Holocaust, and Hitler used antisemitic propaganda to gain support for his policies.
- Scapegoating: The Nazis used Jews as a scapegoat for the problems facing Germany after World War I. They blamed Jews for the country's economic difficulties, political instability, and social unrest.
- Racism: The Nazis believed in the superiority of the Aryan race and saw Jews as inferior. They wanted to create a "pure" German society, free from Jewish influence.
- Conspiracy theories: The Nazis promoted various conspiracy theories about Jews, including the belief that Jews were plotting to take over the world. These theories were propagated through propaganda and used to justify the persecution of Jews.
- Political opportunism: Hitler used antisemitism to rally support for his political party, the Nazi Party. By scapegoating Jews, he was able to unite Germans behind a common enemy and consolidate power.
The Holocaust was a systematic and industrialised genocide carried out by the Nazi regime against the Jewish people. It resulted in the deaths of approximately 6 million Jews.