The holocaust originally meant "a sacrifice consumed by fire" but it now refers to the mass killing of European civilians, mainly jewish people, throughout WWII. By the end of WWI Germany was held responsible for the damage that was done during the war and the country were required to pay for that damage. This caused the country to entered into a depression. (they didn't pay this off until three months ago). The country was in need of strong leadership. As a result Adolf Hitler was elected chancellor (president) in 1933. He was a strong speaker that was well liked by the people. Hitler and his Nazi regime became very powerful by bullying and fear tactics. People that objected to Hitler or the Nazis were arrested and placed into concentration camps. Hitler, a racist, sent Jews, Gypsies, disabled people and anyone who opposed him to concentration camps. Hitler saw the 9 million Jews living in Europe as a danger to the Germans and he held them partially responsible for Germany's WW I defeat. Over time, the Jewish people were not allowed to work, ride buses, ride trains, nor own property. All Jews were required to wear the Star of David to represent that they were Jewish. This enabled the Nazis to arrest them and eventually send them to concentration camps, or death camps. At these camps the Jews were kept in horrific conditions. They were forced to work under harsh conditions and live in horrible conditions. They were often tortured and had to endure things like death marches. Most suffered from malnutrition and many died from starvation. Millions were killed in gas chambers, in mass executions and through cremation. The Jews were finally liberated from the concentration camps at the end of 1944 and in 1945 by the allied forces. Overall, 10-11 million victims were killed in these camps and 6 million of them were Jews. Sadly, over 1 and half million were children.