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Effects of the Holocaust The extermination of Jewish people from Europe during the period of World War II, better known as the Holocaust, left long term effects on the Jewish population. Jews lost about one-third of their total population, were displaced and faced horrifying psychological effects as an aftermath of witnessing genocide. Americans usually use the term Holocaust, but Jews use a different word – Shah, a word of Hebrew origin, meaning “calamity” or “destruction” (Paratroop).
Destruction is exactly the end result hat the Holocaust had on the Jewish population; millions died but many of those who survived had demons of their own after suffering through a living Hell. Millions of Jews were killed during the Holocaust, no matter what age, gender, health conditions or social class. After the Reichstag building in Berlin, home of Germany’s parliament, was burnt to the ground on February 27, 1933, the Decree for the Protection of the People and the State was signed by German president Paul von Hindering (Paratroop).
The decree was suggested by Germany’s chancellor, Doll Hitler, and stated that the German government could go to any means to protect homeless from a perceived threat. Jews were seen as a danger to the Nazi regime and were imprisoned then eventually killed. During The Holocaust, nearly six million of the seven and a half million Jews occupied in Europe before World War II were killed by the Nazi regime. Many Jews were placed into concentration camps located in Auschwitz-Firebreak, Trebling, Isobar, Belize, Coalman and Managed.
An estimated three million Jews were killed in these camps, an estimated 1. 4 million were killed in established Ghettos and around 700,000 were killed through other various tactics (Paratroop). The majority of those who survived the Holocaust found that they had no place to go after being freed. Many Jews cringed at the thought of returning back to the certain parts of Europe they once called home, where they were still not accepted, and were beaten upon arrival at organized anti-Jewish riots (The Aftermath of the Holocaust).
With limitations on where and how many Jews could immigrate, many ended up fleeing to Western European territories or formed organizations all over Europe to help each other establish themselves again. Jews who wished for more opportunity to immigrate also formed organizations, such as the Sheer’s ha-Pellet and The Jewish Brigade Group (The Aftermath of the Holocaust). These groups pushed for an opportunity to Join a new homeland and with the establishment of the State of Israel, this became a possibility.
As many as 170,000 Jews Immigrated to Israel and nearly 41 ,OHO Jews Immigrated to the United States after quota restrictions were loosened (The Aftermath of the Holocaust). Even after emigrating from their former country and starting a new life, the traumatic effects from the Holocaust still haunted those involved. After being members or friends who had survived, and soon enough realized that the majority of heir loved ones were gone. After returning home only to see the ashes of what remained or all of their belongings robbed, many of the survivors were devastated (Williams).
The Holocaust took something, if not everything, away from every individual involved with the genocide and left them with a feeling of emptiness. The vision of the life Jews knew before World War II was shaken. While under the Nazi regime, Jews constantly felt like prey and were always alert for danger at the camps and in the ghettos. Any normal response to being treated inhumanely would mean ruder – therefore acting out with vengeance or aggression was constantly suppressed. When these feelings are suppressed for a prolonged amount of time, a paranoid feeling can become deeply rooted (Williams).
The effects of the Holocaust on the Jewish population are immense and everlasting. Those who experienced the tragic event first hand are not only impacted, but generations following the event will always remember by the mass murders of innocent generations. Although the mission of the Holocaust was to eliminate the Jewish population, in some ways the genocide has made them stronger as a whole. Survivors bonded with each other over the tragic event and honored those who were taken in vain.