Key themes in Holocaust history

The amount of information on the Holocaust is staggering. In an effort to help teachers navigate this material and organize their knowledge, five key themes are addressed in this chapter.
1. Chronology matters - the Holocaust was a step-by step process
2. Jews were at the centre of the Nazi processes of destruction, but there were other targets too
3. The Holocaust was linked to World War II
4. The Holocaust was a global event
5. Everyon involved - whether a victim, witness, rescuer, collaborator or perpetrator - was a human being
Addressing these themes offers some ways to respond to questions frequently asked by students and others