Explore diverse experiences of people during the Holocaust
Read a last letter thrown from a deportation train. Page through a handwritten diary. View photos and films of families living under Nazism. Hear the testimony of an American liberator. Discover the richness of first person accounts by:
- Learning about the Holocaust from selected primary sources with historical context;
- Uncovering surprising connections using tags like activism, propaganda, family, and health and hygiene;
- Reading diaries and documents in their original language with side-by-side translations.
Americans and the Holocaust
How Did Americans Respond to the Refugee Crises of the 1930s and 1940s?
Nazi persecution led tens of thousands of Jews to flee Europe, many seeking a new life in the United States during the 1930s. A few years later, the end of the war in Europe left millions of "Displaced Persons"—Jews and non-Jews alike—looking abroad for safety from the war's devastation.
Two collections in Experiencing History explore the opinions and decisions of US citizens and policymakers amidst global calls for humanitarian action:
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Jewish Perspectives on the Holocaust
View diaries, letters, testimonies, art, and other media that highlight Jewish responses to persecution and genocide.
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Americans and the Holocaust
Explore primary sources that depict politics and society in the US from the early 1930s, the Holocaust and World War II, and the postwar period.
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Everyday Life: Roles, Motives, and Choices During the Holocaust
Find sources that explore the difficult choices and new social and political pressures confronted by individuals during the Holocaust.
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