What Was the Holocaust?
Quick Answer
The Holocaust was the planned murder of six million Jewish people by Nazi Germany and its leader, Adolf Hitler, during World War II (1939-1945). The Nazis also targeted other groups, including Roma people, disabled people, and others they considered different. It is one of the worst events in human history, and we learn about it so that nothing like it ever happens again.
Explaining By Age Group
Ages 3-5 Simple Explanation
You know how we learn that it's important to be kind to everyone, no matter what they look like or where they come from? A long, long time ago, before your grandparents were born, something very sad happened because some people forgot that lesson in the worst way.
There was a mean leader in a country called Germany named Adolf Hitler. He told people that one group of people — Jewish people — were bad, which wasn't true at all. He and his helpers hurt millions of Jewish people and other people too. It was called the Holocaust.
Many brave people tried to help. Some families hid Jewish neighbors in their homes to keep them safe. Others helped them escape to safer countries. These helpers were very, very courageous.
We learn about the Holocaust so we always remember to be kind and to stand up for people who are being treated unfairly. It reminds us that hating someone just because they're different from you is always, always wrong.
Ages 6-8 More Detail
The Holocaust was a terrible event during World War II, when the leaders of Nazi Germany killed six million Jewish people. The word 'Holocaust' means destruction by fire, and it's used to describe what happened because it was so devastating. It took place mostly between 1941 and 1945.
It all started when Adolf Hitler became the leader of Germany in 1933. He blamed Jewish people for Germany's problems, even though that wasn't true. His government passed laws that took away Jewish people's rights. Jewish children were kicked out of schools. Jewish families had their businesses and homes taken away. Things kept getting worse and worse.
Eventually, the Nazis began sending Jewish people to terrible places called concentration camps. In these camps, people were starved, forced to do hard labor, and killed. Entire families were torn apart. The Nazis also targeted Roma people, disabled people, and others they considered different. By the end of the war, six million Jewish people had been murdered.
Even during this horrible time, there were people who risked their own lives to help. Some families hid Jewish neighbors in secret rooms or attics. Others helped them escape across borders. These rescuers showed incredible bravery.
The Holocaust ended when the Allied countries — including the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union — won World War II and freed the people in the camps. After the war, many Nazi leaders were put on trial for their crimes. We learn about the Holocaust so we never forget what happened and so we work to make sure hatred like that never takes over again.
Ages 9-12 Full Explanation
The Holocaust was the systematic murder of six million Jewish people by Nazi Germany during World War II. Led by Adolf Hitler, the Nazi government didn't just allow this to happen — they carefully planned and carried it out as an official policy. The Nazis also killed millions of others, including Roma people, disabled people, political opponents, and many more. It stands as one of the greatest crimes in human history.
It didn't happen all at once. When Hitler rose to power in 1933, he started by spreading hateful lies about Jewish people, blaming them for Germany's economic problems. Then came laws stripping Jewish people of their rights — they couldn't own businesses, go to certain schools, or marry non-Jewish people. Jewish shops were destroyed in a night of violence called Kristallnacht in 1938. Each step made the next, worse step seem more possible.
During the war, the Nazis built concentration camps and death camps across Europe. Jewish families were rounded up from their homes, packed into trains, and sent to these camps. At death camps like Auschwitz, people were murdered on an industrial scale. Families were separated the moment they arrived. The conditions were beyond anything most of us can imagine — starvation, disease, forced labor, and mass killings.
The Holocaust happened not just because of Hitler, but because millions of ordinary people went along with it. Some actively participated. Many others looked the other way. That's one of the most important lessons of the Holocaust: evil grows when good people do nothing. At the same time, there were rescuers — people like Oskar Schindler and the family of Anne Frank's helpers — who risked everything to save lives.
Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who hid with her family in a secret attic in Amsterdam for two years, kept a diary that became one of the most famous books in the world. She was eventually discovered and died in a concentration camp at age 15. Her diary gives a personal, human face to the millions of people who were lost.
After the war ended in 1945, Nazi leaders were tried for their crimes at the Nuremberg Trials. The horrors of the Holocaust led to the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the phrase 'Never Again.' Holocaust Memorial Day is observed around the world to make sure future generations remember what happened — because understanding how hatred can escalate is the first step in preventing it.
Want explanations personalized for YOUR child's exact age?
Download WhyBuddy free on the App Store. Get instant, age-appropriate answers to any question your child asks.
Tips for Parents
What was the holocaust can be a challenging topic to discuss with your child. Here are some practical tips to help guide the conversation:
DO: Follow your child's lead. Let them ask questions at their own pace rather than overwhelming them with information they haven't asked for yet. If they seem satisfied with a simple answer, that's okay — they'll come back with more questions when they're ready.
DO: Use honest, age-appropriate language. You don't need to share every detail, but avoid making up stories or deflecting. Kids can sense when you're being evasive, and honesty builds trust.
DO: Validate their feelings. Whatever emotion your child has in response to learning about what was the holocaust, acknowledge it. Say things like 'It makes sense that you'd feel that way' or 'That's a really good question.'
DON'T: Don't dismiss their curiosity. Responses like 'You're too young for that' or 'Don't worry about it' can make children feel like their questions are wrong or shameful. If you're not ready to answer, say 'That's an important question. Let me think about the best way to explain it, and we'll talk about it tonight.'
DO: Create an ongoing dialogue. One conversation usually isn't enough. Let your child know that they can always come back to you with more questions about what was the holocaust. This makes them more likely to come to you rather than seeking potentially unreliable sources.
Common Follow-Up Questions Kids Ask
After discussing what was the holocaust, your child might also ask:
Why did the Nazis target Jewish people?
Adolf Hitler and the Nazis spread hateful lies blaming Jewish people for Germany's problems after World War I, including economic struggles. Anti-Jewish hatred (called antisemitism) had existed in Europe for centuries, and the Nazis took it to an extreme. They promoted the false idea that Jewish people were inferior, using propaganda to turn the public against them.
Who was Anne Frank?
Anne Frank was a Jewish girl born in Germany who moved to the Netherlands with her family to escape the Nazis. When the Nazis invaded, her family hid in a secret attic in Amsterdam for two years. Anne kept a diary during that time. The family was eventually discovered, and Anne died in a concentration camp at age 15. Her diary, published after the war, has been read by millions of people worldwide.
What is a concentration camp?
Concentration camps were prison camps set up by the Nazis where Jewish people and others were sent against their will. Prisoners were starved, forced to do back-breaking labor, and often killed. Death camps like Auschwitz were specifically built to murder large numbers of people. Millions of people died in these camps during the Holocaust.
Did anyone try to stop the Holocaust?
Yes. Some brave individuals and groups hid Jewish families, helped them escape, or smuggled children to safety. Oskar Schindler saved over 1,000 Jewish workers by employing them in his factory. Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, saved thousands by issuing them protective passports. Many rescuers risked — and sometimes lost — their own lives.
Why is it important to learn about the Holocaust?
Learning about the Holocaust teaches us where hatred and prejudice can lead when left unchecked. It reminds us that ordinary people have the power to either go along with evil or stand against it. Survivors and their families have asked the world to remember so that 'Never Again' becomes a reality, not just a phrase.
You Might Also Want to Explain
Want explanations personalized for YOUR child's exact age?
Download WhyBuddy free on the App Store. Get instant, age-appropriate answers to any question your child asks.