by Lace Gilger

Created on: May 13, 2009

Is it possible that a historical event, taught in schools worldwide, never happened? It is the stance of millions of conspiracy theorists that the Holocaust, as taught to people, never happened.

Unlike many big events in world history, the Holocaust is quite recent. The Holocaust refers to the systematic genocide of six million European Jewish peoples. This occurred during WWII sometime in the 1940's and was supported by Adolf Hitler. Some in the academic world feel that the Holocaust also refers to the mass murders of gays, gypsies, and the infirm and other peoples considered undesirables by Nazi Germany. These mass murders are reported to have been accomplished by sending the undesirables to concentration camps like Dachau, and exposing them to poisonous gases in showers.

What affect does the memory of the Holocaust have on people now? People have been taught about the Holocaust in schools for decades. For some it is relegated to the same position as other historic events they had to learn about. Others have personal experiences connected to it. Then there are those who believe that the Holocaust never happened the way the masses think it did.

An interview conducted over the internet, provided information on how people feel about the Holocaust today and the idea that it may not have happened. Students in high school, college, and even foreign countries readily replied.

What does the term Holocaust mean to you?

(High school student): The term "holocaust" is synonymous around the world now with fear, hatred, death, and in general every evil thing. You'd be hard-pressed to find an average human being who doesn't associate the word "holocaust" with the word "evil". It marks a time in history that is stained with innocent human lives.

Do you know of anyone who has experienced the Holocaust?

(High school student): Yes, actually. My best friend from ninth grade, Aviva's grandmother lived in Germany and was a little girl while Hitler rose to power. There was a write-up issued for her father and they all would've been sent to either Auschwitz or Belsen, they escaped Germany to the States less than twenty-four hours before the Nazis came for them. She told us that she watched from afar as her family was tortured and killed. Out of her entire large family, she has one aunt who survived the camp at Birkenau and one young cousin who survived Auschwitz, is still alive today, and still has the brand "tattoo".

Does the Holocaust have an affect on us today?

(College Student): yes, not only do we continue to learn about it in school, but with recent genocide and whatnot, people compare the Holocaust to recent genocides.

(Finnish university student): To a certain extent, yes. There are people alive who experienced it and for whom everything is still very real. There are also those who have heard of it first-hand. Then there's the majority of us who have no connection to Holocaust, but who have learned about at school or some other way, who believe that nothing like that should happen again.

Some people believe that the Holocaust didn't exist. What do you think of that?

(High school student): I think that it is a fundamental level of stupidity, or willful ignorance that ignores the tragedy that really did occur. At least, I presume what most of the world teaches to be true is true.

This sampling provides a quick look into what the Holocaust represents to those who haven't experienced it, but had to learn it. The Holocaust has had a far reaching affect on the present and to deny its existence is offensive to those that have learned the truth of it.

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