Group 1 Charlie Matt H Shane Bastian Arthur

Group 1 Charlie, Matt H, Shane, Bastian , Arthur Group 2 Nelson, Varun, Tony Usman Group 3 Jack R, Cameron, Charley, Dom , Ian Group 4 Calvin, Jack H, Philip, Lucas, Bashir Group 5 Matt C, Alex, Hanyang, Robert

WWII: The Holocaust • Anti-semitic aspects of WWII • Recognising history as a construct • The myth of the holocaust and the factors contributing to it Overview Holocaust Theatres of War Manhattan Project Canadian Perspective Marshall Plan Legacies History on Film

Anti-Semitism in WWII Recall from our discussion on fascism § § Racist characteristics Opposition to political and cultural liberalism Extreme nationalism Scapegoating Events, Policies and Ideologies § § § § Boycott of Jewish business (April 1, 1933) “Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service” (April 7, 1933) Nuremberg Laws (1935) “Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honour (September 15, 1935) Reich Citizenship Law (1935) Segregation, Contract Awarding, Doctors, Names, Schooling (1938) Kristallnacht (November 9 & 10, 1938) Final Solution (January 20, 1944)

Anti-Semitism in WWII

The Holocaust: § Refers to the wholesale destruction of European Jewish population in WWII § OED: some contemporary usage in 1940 s, specific historian application in 1950 s § Shoah (Hebrew) § But what is the Holocaust? § Historical event? § Defining myth? § Archetype?

The Holocaust: People

The Holocaust: Places

The Holocaust as Mythology

The Holocaust as Mythology • A central part of Jewish consciousness → “primary ethnic marker” (pg 12) • A defining archetype → “The defining moment between good and evil. . . against this single occurrence one would assess all other deeds” (pg 13) • A “ruling symbol in our culture” → “The most talked about and oft-represented event of the 20 th Century” • Myth • Not necessarily false… an event that “evokes strong sentiments, and transmits and reinforces basic societal values” • Now exists as a story separated from the historical event… in other words, it is a constructed narrative

The Holocaust as Constructed Mythology Group Number Article Pages Focusing Question 1 1 -4 (end of What has changed in terms of how the Holocaust has been par. 2) acknowledged and remembered over space and time? 2 4 -7 Of what value are myths in the communication of historical events? 3 7 -12 (end of first full par. ) What prompted the predominance of the Holocaust mythology? 4 12 -15 (end What function does the Holocaust mythology fulfill? of quote) 5 15 -19 What is the impact of tourism, profit and business on mythologies like the Holocaust?

History as a Construct § Of what value are historical events once they have superseded their strictly factual nature? Of what value archetypal myths such as the Holocaust? § If history is a product that is bought, packaged and sold, what is our role as consumers of that product? § In the biological, intellectual sense? § In the economic sense? “Whether presented authentically or inauthentically, in accordance with the historical facts or in contradiction to them, with empathy and understanding or as monumental kitsch, the Holocaust has become a ruling symbol in our culture. I am not sure whether this is good or bad, but it seems to be a fact. ” Yehuda Bauer (pg 18) Homework: 250 word response on wikispace