WHAT IS GENOCIDE?

Definition of Genocide

Geno – race Cide – killing Genocide – acts committed

with the intent to destroy in whole, or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. (This definition was created by the United Nations in 1948)

Where have genocides occurred?

The Herero Genocide, Namibia

The Armenian Genocide, Ottoman Empire

The Ukrainian Famine

The Nanking Massacre

The World War II Holocaust, Europe

The Cambodian Genocide

The East Timor Genocide

The Mayan Genocide, Guatemala

Iraq

The Bosnian Genocide

The Rwandan Genocide

The Darfur Genocide, Sudan , 2003-present?

Holocaust Overview

Occurred from 1942 – 1945 in Europe, led by Hitler and the Nazi regime in Germany.

The Nazis believed the Aryan (pure blooded Germans) race was superior Jewish people and other “undesirables” such as homosexuals, people with physical and mental disabilities, and various non-Aryan ethnic groups.

Ukrainian Genocide Overview

Occurred from 1932 – 1933 in Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union), and was led by Josef Stalin.

Josef Stalin intentionally caused a famine which killed ~7 million Ukrainian people to keep them from starting a nationalist uprising.

Nanking Massacre Overview

In December of 1937, the Japanese Imperial Army marched into China's capital city of Nanking and proceeded to murder 300,000 out of 600,000 civilians and soldiers in the city under orders of

The massacre lasted for six weeks and is considered the worst atrocity of World War II in the Pacific Theater.

Cambodian Genocide Overview

During the Khmer Rouge period (1975 – 1979) Cambodia became communist.

The leaders of the Khmer Rouge (communist) party killed approximately 2 million people who were associated with the former government, considered intellectuals or going against communism as well as anyone in the following categories: ethnically Vietnamese, Chinese, or Thai, Buddhists, Christians, or Muslims.

Iraq Genocide Overview

The Kurdish people had been persecuted for many years by the Turks, but in 1988 Saddam Hussein’s regime made them the target of chemical warfare and attacks from other biological weapons.

Over 5000 Kurdish people were killed in the attacks.

What will you be expected to do?

1. Select the three genocides you wish to study.2. See teacher for information about the

genocide(s) you’ve selected.3. Gather information about the genocide(s) on

your worksheet.4. Complete Level 1 activities until you’ve reached

the desired amount of points. Then move on to the higher levels.

You may work with a friend on Level 1 activities but everyone is expected to complete their own work and be able to demonstrate their knowledge of the information independently.