The Holocaust: Crimes Against Humanity

The holocaust was the most unique genocide in history. The Nazis wanted to exterminate all Jewish people, or anyone who they thought were inferior, for example: homosexuals, the handicapped, and etcetera. The Nazis committed horrible crimes that dehumanized people, for example, genocide. During the holocaust, many dehumanizing acts known as crimes against humanity were committed. Crimes against humanity are war crimes, genocide, terrorism, and other hate crimes (“Introduction to crimes against humanity” 133). These are horrible crimes that make people seem less like people because the value of life is not taken seriously; many crimes against humanity were committed during the holocaust. “The extermination of the Jews during WWII, for example was deemed a crime against …show more content…
They wanted to do it because they thought these people were inferior to them. The Nazis also pursued partial genocide against the handicapped, homosexuals, poles, soviet prisoners of war, and gypsies. (Hurvits, Par. 1). This proves that the Nazis felt as if they were better than these people and that they were of lesser value and should not be on this Earth because of their opinions. There were specific disturbing acts committed against the Jews. There was killing, physical harm, forcing them to live under horrible conditions, and many other things (“Defining the Terms: Genocide”, Par. 4). There was severe physical harm to the Jews like beating them, sending them to gas chambers, and shooting them. Not only was there physical harm, but also mental, and cultural. “Causing severe bodily harm to Jews, forcibly transferring Jewish children to another religious or national group, destroying Jewish cultural treasures or values” (“Defining the Terms: Genocide”, Par. 4). This shows that the Nazis truly were doing horrible things to try to hurt Jewish culture, and harm them