Episodes of coordinated violence against Jewish communities, including the rounding up of Jews for deportation to ghettos, concentration camps, or killing centers.

Literally, a Hebrew term for "union" or "organization." Also may refer to the "World Agudath Israel" (Hebrew: אגודת ישראל), usually known as the Agudah, which was establi [..]

Founded in 1914, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, often referred to as the “Joint,” was a major relief and rehabilitation agency before, during, and after the Holocaust. The JDC’s ope [..]

The appell was a camp roll call. Its purpose was not merely to count the prisoners but also to weaken, humiliate and intimidate them.

Derived from a Sanskrit word meaning “noble,” the term was used in Nazi pseudo-scientific jargon to denote a race which had supposedly superior blood and culture. During the Holocaust, “Aryan” came to [..]

A single concentration camp barrack.

Literally, “block elder.” These were inmates in charge of a single concentration camp barrack.

A professional criminal in the Nazi camps (Berufsverbrecher).

A term used for certain prisoners inside Nazi concentration camps during World War II in various lower administrative positions. Capos received more privileges than normal prisoners. They were often c [..]

An area of Birkenau where the possessions of newly arrived inmates were stored. It was so named because Canada was thought to be a country of great riches. The items were sorted and sent back to Germa [..]