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The Holocaust - An Introduction (II): The Final Solution

Approx. 7 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course provides an introduction to the history of the Holocaust, its causes and its lasting impact. Students will gain an understanding of the events leading up to the Holocaust, the Nazi ideology behind it, and the experiences of the victims and survivors.

Key Learning Points

Gain a deeper understanding of the events leading up to the Holocaust
Learn about the Nazi ideology behind the genocide
Explore the experiences of the victims and survivors
Examine the lasting impact of the Holocaust on the world today

Job Positions & Salaries of people who have taken this course might have

Historian
- USA: $63,100
- India: ₹6,12,078
- Spain: €29,000
Museum Curator
- USA: $45,000
- India: ₹7,96,076
- Spain: €24,000
Educator
- USA: $45,000
- India: ₹4,97,658
- Spain: €22,000

Learning Outcomes

Understand the events leading up to the Holocaust
Analyze the impact of Nazi ideology
Evaluate the experiences of victims and survivors

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

No prior knowledge of the Holocaust is required
A willingness to engage with difficult subject matter

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online
Self-paced

Similar Courses

The Holocaust: An Introduction
The Holocaust: The Destruction of European Jewry
The Holocaust: Contemporary Issues and Debates

Notable People in This Field

Elie Wiesel
Primo Levi
Anne Frank

Related Books

Description

The Holocaust was an inconceivable historical event, which forever robbed Western culture of its innocence. As civilized human beings, we fail to understand how events of such horror could have taken place, and how an idea so inhumanly warped could have spread like wildfire through an entire continent, instigating the systematic annihilation of millions of Jews.

This free online course was produced jointly by Tel Aviv University and Yad Vashem – the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. This course is the second of the two courses and covers three themes in its three weeks: Week 1: The Final Solution We’ll look at the cultural and mental processes that paved the way to the comprehensive and systematic mass murder of Jews in Europe – that is, the Final Solution. As part of this hard lesson we will discuss the various characteristics of the murder sites and death camps, and reveal selected aspects of the horror that occurred in them. Week 2: Jewish and Non-Jewish Responses to the Holocaust We will try to explore questions regarding knowledge about the application of the Final Solution, as well as a variety of responses and annihilation of victims, local populations and perpetrators. Week 3: The End of the War We will dedicate this lesson to the events that occurred in the last years of the Holocaust, as well as questions of memory, commemoration and future research. We strongly recommend that you register for "The Holocaust - An Introduction (I): Nazi Germany: Ideology, The Jews and the World" as well (https://www.coursera.org/learn/holocaust-introduction-1/home/welcome). Taking both parts of the course would enable you to obtain a fuller and more comprehensive knowledge about The Holocaust. This online course is offered in an innovative, multi-level format, comprising: Comprehensive lectures by leading researchers from Tel Aviv University and Yad Vashem. A wealth of voices and viewpoints presented by guest lecturers Numerous documents, photos, testimonies and works of art from the time of the Holocaust. Novel learning experience: Crowdsourcing – involving the learners themselves in the act of collecting and shaping information, via unique, exciting online assignments.

Outline

The Final Solution and the Drive for Eliminating All Jews and All Perceived Jewish "Influences"
Course trailer
Introduction
Early “solutions” of the Jewish problem
The final solution: who decided, when and how?
Killing Sites
Camp Universe
Last Unit
Before we begin
Ian Kershaw, “Hitler’s Role in the ‘Final Solution’”
Christopher Browning, "Initiating the Final Solution: The Fateful Months of September-October 1941"

Jewish and Non-Jewish Responses to the Holocaust
What (and when) was known to the Jews in occupied Europe?
Jewish Reactions in the face of death - Leadership
Jewish Reactions in the face of death - Resistance
Jewish Reactions in the face of death - Rescue
Reactions of non Jews to the Holocaust
How was it humanly possible?
Nechama Tec, "Jewish Resistance: Facts, Omissions and Distortions"
Jan Grabowski, “Rural Society and the Jews in Hiding: Elders, Night Watches, Firefighters, Hostages and Manhunts”
Jan Grabowski, "Rescue for Money: Paid Helpers in Poland, 1939-1945"
Alina Skibińska and Jakub Petelewicz, “The Participation of Poles in Crimes against Jews in the Świętokrzyskie Region”
Mid-course quiz

The Free World, the last months, the Aftermath and the Implications
Did the world remain silent?
The End: Year 1944
The Anguish of Liberation
Memory, commemoration and long term effects
Holocaust research - what is still unknown + facing the future
The Holocaust - An Introduction
David Silberklang, " The Allies and the Holocaust: A Reappraisal"
David Bankier, "The Germans and The Holocaust: What Did They Know?"
What have you learnt in this course?

Summary of User Reviews

This course on the Holocaust Introduction is highly recommended by many users. It provides a comprehensive overview of the Holocaust and its impact, and is presented in a clear and engaging manner. One key aspect that many users found good is the depth and quality of the course material.

Pros from User Reviews

Comprehensive overview of the Holocaust and its impact
Clear and engaging presentation
Quality and depth of course material
Interactive quizzes and activities
Expert instructors with deep knowledge of the subject

Cons from User Reviews

Some users found the course material too dense
Lengthy lectures can be overwhelming
Limited opportunities for interaction with instructors and peers
Lack of diversity in perspectives presented
Not suitable for those looking for a more introductory-level course

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