Holocaust and WWII Test

FOR THE PROTECTION OF GERMAN BLOOD AND GERMAN HONOUR Moved by the understanding that purity of the German Blood is the essential condition for the continued existence of the German people, and inspired by the inflexible determination to ensure the existence of the German Nation for all time, the Reichstag [German national legislature] has unanimously adopted the following Law, which is promulgated herewith: Article 1. 1) Marriages between Jews and subjects of the state of German or related blood are forbidden. Marriages nevertheless concluded are invalid, even if concluded abroad to circumvent this law. 2) Annulment proceedings can be initialed only by the State Prosecutor. Article 2. Extramarital intercourse between Jews and subjects of the state of German or related blood is forbidden. The Law takes effect on the day following promulgations [official announcements] September 15, 1935 At the Reich Party Congress of Freedom The Führer and Reich Chancellor [signed] Adolf Hitler The Reich Minister of the Interior [signed] Frick The Reich Minister of Justice [signed] Dr. Gürtner The Deputy of the Führer

From GERMANY. Telegram (en clair) from Sir G. Ogilvie Forbes (Berlin), D. BY TELEPHONE. 10th November, 1938. R. 5.5 p.m. 10th November, 1938. No. 685. IMPORTANT. My telegram No. 661. I have just returned from a tour of Friedrichstrasse and city districts where Jewish shops are being smashed and looted by youths in plain clothes, followed by large and smiling crowds including soldiers and others in party uniforms. Police were taking no notice. Only exception was the premises of Messrs. Israel, a big department store partly British-owned which was guarded by police with fire brigade standing by. His Majesty's Consul-General who visited these premises informs me that enormous damage has been done to stock and fittings. According to Mr. Israel store was attacked early this afternoon by a crowd which included S.S. men in uniform. Business offices owned by Jews are also being entered and smashed up apparently with impunity. Similar attacks on Jewish property are said to be taking place all over Germany. His Majesty's Consul Dresden reports that a British Jew from Leipzig has asked for asylum in the Consulate as Jews in Leipzig are being beaten up. I have taken immediate steps with the Under Secretary of State for the safeguarding of British subjects. Chief Rabbi of Berlin has been arrested and seven synagogues have been burnt. The facts that these attacks began only after midnight last night and that Jewish shops and offices have been systematically signalled out indicate that this action was deliberately planned.

Partial transcript of an audio recording. Captain John H. Baker served with Company B, 260th Infantry of the 65th Division of the 3rd Army USA and witnessed the liberation of Ohrdruf and Mauthausen camps Q: Can you talk about specific buildings or places? A: Let’s see if we can find a picture that will show you an outside picture of this camp. Q: [Flipping through pictures] This one right here? A: This one right here. This is from a distance of probably 200 yards from the exterior of the camp, to give you a brief overall picture of it. In these buildings, there would be bunks stacked two or three high, and we would find these people lying around, mostly skin and bones. You just couldn’t believe that they were still living. First thing you’d want to do was maybe try to help them, but they were too far gone. They are not paying much attention to us, because they don’t understand what is going on. They no doubt by this time have been mentally affected. If you gave them something to eat there probably would be a terrible reaction from them, because they hadn’t had anything to eat in so long. There was so little we could do for them when you first went into a camp of this nature. This is a problem for those who would have better knowledge of how to handle those still living. This is a problems for the medics that were following us. Q: Did you see anything else other than the barracks? Any work camps? You have pictures of a gallows there. I am looking for general type of description. Did you see any actual cremations, physical things? A: Yes. I saw several crematoriums at one or two camps that I went through. However, I don’t know how these people in these pictures that I am showing you here were exterminated, whether they were worked to death or what. From these pits and piles of ashes and bones and decayed flesh, I do not know the number that had been exterminated—died or killed—there. That would have to be determined by someone else who stayed around longer.