The Holocaust
Nikhil Weigel
The Gas Chamber and Its Significance
During the period of time known as the Holocaust, which took place in 1933-1945, the German group known as the Nazis led by Adolf Hitler took action on the Jewish community of Europe. Hitler despised the Jewish people because he was convinced that they were responsible for Germany’s fall from grace, which he felt was his duty to restore. The significant technological advancements during this era in Germany were not peaceful therefore, but violent, fueled by the Nazis’ hatred. One extremely noteworthy example of a technological advancement during the time was the development and implementation of the gas chambers. Rudimentary gas chambers were invented 100s of years ago during the Haitian Revolution, but were heavily modified and advanced by the Germans in the late 1930s. They were proposed at a Nazi committee as a solution to kill much faster and more effectively, as pressure was mounting on them from other countries to end the terror and suffering. The Germans wanted to eliminate as many Jewish people as they possibly could before the international community brought it to a end, so the gas chambers were their solution. Essentially, the German gas chambers were enclosed, airtight, rooms located at the concentration camps, which were large and empty, meaning many people could be locked in at a time. The rooms were so densely packed with people, that often 150 were forced in at a time. Pipes went through the chambers, which released poisonous gas, killing the victims instantly, or taking up to half an hour to do so. The gas most commonly used was hydrogen cyanide, which was in the form of a pellet. When the pellet came in contact with air however, it turned to a gas which was toxic to breathe in. Gas chambers were a more effective than using the old fashion method of shooting people or starving them. Therefore, the gas chambers killed far more people than any other single kind of weapon used by the Nazis, since it was so much more advanced. An estimated 1.75 million Jewish people were eradicated by them. This advancement was a clear result of a group of people who were deeply conflicted, and developed methods of ending lives rather than improving them. It's clear that if the gas chamber was never introduced, countless lives could have been spared.
Locations of Gas Chambers
Below is the location of all of the concentration camps, as well as the death camps during the Holocaust. Almost all of these contained some sort of gas chamber, whether it be the one described earlier, or a lesser known kind
Gas Chamber Images
Famous Quotes About the Gas Chambers
"It's in the history books, the Holocaust. It's just a phrase. And the truth is it happened yesterday. It happened to my mother. I never met my grandmothers or my grandfathers. They were all wiped up in the gas chambers of Nazi Germany."
- Gene Simmons
In front of the gas chamber was a dressing room. On its walls was written in all languages: "Put shoes into the cubbyholes and tie them together so you will not lose them. After the showers you will receive hot coffee." Here the poor victims undressed themselves and went into the chamber. There were three columns for the ventilators, through which the gas poured in.
- Unknown
- Gene Simmons
In front of the gas chamber was a dressing room. On its walls was written in all languages: "Put shoes into the cubbyholes and tie them together so you will not lose them. After the showers you will receive hot coffee." Here the poor victims undressed themselves and went into the chamber. There were three columns for the ventilators, through which the gas poured in.
- Unknown
Explanation of How the Gas Chambers Actually Worked
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The video describes the gas which the Nazis used to kill massive amounts of people, and an in depth explanation of how the gassing actually occurred. It goes over the main method as well as less common kinds of gas chambers.
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