The HandicappedThe HandicappedLife Unworthy of LifeLife Unworthy of Life

By: Kevin BrandonBy: Kevin Brandon

The mentally retarded, physically The mentally retarded, physically handicapped, and the insane became a handicapped, and the insane became a target of Nazi persecution in the summer of target of Nazi persecution in the summer of 1933.1933.

Around that time the law ‘Law for the Around that time the law ‘Law for the Prevention of Offspring with Hereditary Prevention of Offspring with Hereditary Diseases’ was passed.Diseases’ was passed.

The law forced sterilization on Jews who The law forced sterilization on Jews who were handicap.were handicap.

These people included, being deaf, blind, These people included, being deaf, blind, mentally retarded, physically deformed, etc.mentally retarded, physically deformed, etc.

Basically anybody who would contaminate Basically anybody who would contaminate the Aryan gene pool.the Aryan gene pool.

They were not allowed to have children. They were not allowed to have children.

This was only the beginning to Hitler's This was only the beginning to Hitler's imposed euthanasia program.imposed euthanasia program.

Hitler launched the T-4 program to get rid of Hitler launched the T-4 program to get rid of all the weak and useless Jews.all the weak and useless Jews.

Starting with mentally and physically Starting with mentally and physically handicapped children.handicapped children.

Selected victims were killed in gas Selected victims were killed in gas chambers.chambers.

Their bodies were burned in large ovens Their bodies were burned in large ovens called crematoria.called crematoria.

Another way they were gassed is a gas van.Another way they were gassed is a gas van.

The Gas ChamberThe Gas Chamber

The Gas VanThe Gas Van

The Aftermath The Aftermath

The CrematoriaThe Crematoria

Their relatives received messages saying Their relatives received messages saying that they were alright and they were coming that they were alright and they were coming back soon.back soon.

Then a week later they receive another Then a week later they receive another letter saying that they were dead.letter saying that they were dead.

275 persons have already been killed due to 275 persons have already been killed due to this process.this process.

All together 282,696 persons have been All together 282,696 persons have been killed.killed.

DefinitionsDefinitions

Mercy Killing –Killing of one person by Mercy Killing –Killing of one person by another.another.

Euthanasia-is the intentional killing by act or Euthanasia-is the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit. his or her alleged benefit.

Lesson 5 Questions Lesson 5 Questions How did the Nazis justify state-sanctioned killing ?How did the Nazis justify state-sanctioned killing ? Answer : by the euthanasia project.Answer : by the euthanasia project. Who were the first victims to be indentified as marginal human beings ?Who were the first victims to be indentified as marginal human beings ? Answer : the physically and mentally disabled children.Answer : the physically and mentally disabled children. Why did the extermination centers take elaborate precautions to conceal these mercy Why did the extermination centers take elaborate precautions to conceal these mercy

killings from the German public ?killings from the German public ? Answer :so they wont know how many people that had died in that area.Answer :so they wont know how many people that had died in that area.

Why are the topics of eugenics and euthanasia associated with the history of the Why are the topics of eugenics and euthanasia associated with the history of the holocaust?holocaust?

Answer : it had something to do with making a certain race better.Answer : it had something to do with making a certain race better. How does the impact that race education had on children of Germany help to target How does the impact that race education had on children of Germany help to target

human beings as “Life unworthy of Life” and perpetuate a cycle of prejudice within human beings as “Life unworthy of Life” and perpetuate a cycle of prejudice within society?society?

Answer : they had to answer questions about another race that was in a racial way.Answer : they had to answer questions about another race that was in a racial way. Example: The construction of a lunatic asylum costs 6 million RM. How many houses at Example: The construction of a lunatic asylum costs 6 million RM. How many houses at

15,000 RM each could have been built for that amount? 15,000 RM each could have been built for that amount?