Borns Jewish Studies Program

A global symbol of suffering and mass murder, the Holocaust is a foundational event in modern history. Constant references to the Nazi genocide appear in newspapers, art, and popular culture around the world, with many individuals making comparisons to the Holocaust in contemporary society. Yet, how exactly did the Holocaust really happen, and how did the Nazi regime come to murder approximately eleven million people over the course of four years? This course will examine the history of the Holocaust, from its origins in the years immediately after the First World War to its legacy and memory in the present day. Special attention will be paid to the various actors during this era, including victims, perpetrators, collaborators, and neighbors. We will also explore responses to the genocide from around the world, including the responses of Allied powers and ordinary people. Through an emphasis on primary source documents produced between 1918 and 1945, we will examine how the world experienced, and remembers, one of humanity’s most horrendous historical moments.

S26