The 'Final Solution'

What was the 'Final Solution'?

The 'Final Solution' was the decision made by senior Nazi officials to resolve what they saw as the Jewish problem, once and for all.

When was the 'Final Solution' decision made to murder all Jews?

The 'Final Solution' was decided in January 1942 at the Wannsee Conference.

Why did the Nazis decide on the 'Final Solution'?

There were 4 key reasons why the Nazis introduced the 'Final Solution':

• ❖ As they gained more territory it brought more Jews under their control. This situation was worsened when Nazi Germany invaded the USSR in June 1941, which brought another 4 million Jews under their control.
• ❖ They wanted a more permanent solution.
• ❖ They also needed an efficient solution. Using the Einsatzgruppen to murder Jews was no longer an option. It was viewed as a waste of bullets and took too much time.
• ❖ Himmler was also concerned about the psychological impact it was having on the Einsatzgruppen.

How were Jewish people murdered during the 'Final Solution'?

Purpose-built extermination camps were created to murder Jews, including Auschwitz-Birkenau, Sobibor and Treblinka.

Who implemented the 'Final Solution'?

The head of the Gestapo, Reinhard Heydrich, was in charge of the plans for the 'Final Solution'. Camps were run by SS officers and local troops.

Where were the death camps built for the 'Final Solution'?

They were built in eastern Europe, away from Germany.

Did anyone know what was happening to Jewish people under the 'Final Solution'?

There were 4 key ways in which the Nazis kept the 'Final Solution' a secret:

• ❖ Propaganda films showed the Jews being resettled in labour camps where they were treated well and lived in good conditions.
• ❖ Eventually, Jewish people realised what was happening and in April 1943 there was an uprising in the Warsaw ghetto against being taken to the camps.
• ❖ Towards the end of war, when it was clear Germany would be defeated, the Nazis destroyed railway lines and any relevant documents.
• ❖ When Allied soldiers liberated the camps in 1945, they were shocked and horrified by what they saw.