During World War II, the Nazi regime in Germany carried out a brutal massacre of the Jewish people. In June 1941, following the invasion of the Soviet Union, the Nazis began establishing concentration camps in occupied territories, with mass killings primarily occurring in Treblinka, Lublin, and Auschwitz. The Nazis used gas chambers and crematoria to exterminate Jews, with estimates of the total number of victims reaching six million. Of the 3.25 million Jews in Poland, only 120,000 survived.
Why did Germany commit such cruel acts? Historical reasons, economic motives, and racial ideology are the main factors. Throughout history, Jews have often faced discrimination; during the 14th century, they were even blamed for the plague. In the late 19th century, Russian Jews faced residence restrictions and persecution. Economically, the success of Jewish merchants sparked fear among local German small business owners. The Nazis promoted social Darwinism, viewing Jews as an inferior race that needed to be eliminated.
Additionally, the Nazis believed that Jews were inclined towards revolution and associated them with communism to consolidate their power. Psychological analyses suggest that Hitler may have projected his hatred onto all Jews due to his mother's death at the hands of a Jewish doctor. There are differing views on who ordered the massacres, but most historians agree that Hitler was the ultimate decision-maker.
