What would you consider extermination to a mass group of innocent people? This act is considered genocide; the Holocaust was an act of genocide of slaughter on a mass scale of a group of Jewish people. Over 6 million jews were killed (11 facts, 1) Opposing people believe the Holocaust should not be classified as a genocide, however, the Holocaust should be considered an example of genocide based on the UN’s definition, the stages of genocide, and the specific evidence provided in the memoir Night.
The first reason the Holocaust should be considered an act of genocide is; The United Nations, Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, explains genocide whether in war or time of peace, that it is illegal under international law, which they will use to stop and to discipline (United Nations 1). The memoir Night by Elie Wiesel, presents how inhumane the Holocaust was to Jews. Wiesel states, “ How was it possible that men, women, and children were being burned and that the world kept silent?” (Wiesel 32). These quotes are important because, they explicitly state how the Holocaust is an act of genocide, and the definition of genocide.
…show more content…
Stanton stated, the process followed a specific set of stages known as “The 8 Stages of Genocide.” Hitler and his Nazi party followed these specific set of stages, and this is a reason the Holocaust should be considered genocide. “ When extermination begins, it quickly becomes the mass killing legally called genocide.” (Stanton 3). At that time we knew nothing about the Nazis' extermination methods. “At that time we knew nothing about the Nazis' extermination methods.” (Wiesel 20). These quotes support the claim of the Holocaust being considered a form of genocide by stating the stages of genocide and the