How Propaganda and Prejudice Led to the Holocaust

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This educational video provides a crucial historical overview of the conditions in Europe and Germany that precipitated the Holocaust. Opening with archival footage from the Nuremberg Trials, it defines the Holocaust as the systematic state-sponsored murder of six million Jews and millions of others by the Nazi regime. The video juxtaposes the vibrant, diverse, and integrated lives of Jewish Europeans before the war with the rising tide of antisemitism that Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party weaponized to gain power. The content explores key historical themes including the history of antisemitism in Europe (referencing the Dreyfus Affair and pogroms), the economic and political instability of post-WWI Germany, and the systematic use of propaganda. It details how the Nazis used newspapers, posters, and films to dehumanize Jewish people, blaming them for Germany's loss in World War I and economic hardships. The video specifically analyzes the psychological mechanisms of scapegoating and how constant exposure to hateful messaging normalized prejudice among ordinary citizens. For educators, this resource serves as an essential foundation for a unit on World War II or the Holocaust. It moves beyond simple dates and battles to explain the *why* and *how* of genocide, focusing on the gradual erosion of democratic norms and the power of propaganda. It provides excellent opportunities to discuss media literacy, the dangers of stereotyping, and the fragility of civil rights, making it highly relevant for history, civics, and social emotional learning curriculums.