20 votes

What Americans know about the Holocaust: Fewer than half can correctly answer multiple-choice questions about the number of Jews who were murdered or the way Adolf Hitler came to power

11 comments

  1. [2]
    chkiss
    Link
    These numbers mean little without context. What do Americans know about other historical events? What percentage of Europeans could answer the questions correctly? I certainly wouldn't jump to the...

    These numbers mean little without context. What do Americans know about other historical events? What percentage of Europeans could answer the questions correctly? I certainly wouldn't jump to the conclusion that Americans may be falling for Holocaust-denying conspiracy theories without answering some more questions.

    That the plurality got every question right was surprising to me.

    25 votes
    1. tildez
      Link Parent
      I agree. And maybe I'm insensitive but knowing the number of millions of jews killed reeks of high school level rote memorization. I've visited the Holocaust museums in DC and Chicago and I don't...

      I agree. And maybe I'm insensitive but knowing the number of millions of jews killed reeks of high school level rote memorization. I've visited the Holocaust museums in DC and Chicago and I don't know what the number is off the top of my head. I don't think that necessarily makes me ignorant on the topic.

      21 votes
  2. [4]
    HoolaBoola
    Link
    The "how many Jews were killed" question sucks, to be honest. The options should be on different scales, like "6 million", or "60 million", "600 thousand". It portrays Jews as the only or the most...

    The "how many Jews were killed" question sucks, to be honest.

    1. The options should be on different scales, like "6 million", or "60 million", "600 thousand".

    2. It portrays Jews as the only or the most important group targeted back then. Nevermind the millions of Roma, gays (or suspected), disabled etc. Sure, Jews are the first thing that comes to mind, but to ask a question like that proves the ignorance of the person asking.

    22 votes
    1. mat
      Link Parent
      It's worth watching Lindybeige's video Forgetting the Holocaust on the subject of how the Nazi exterminations are sometimes talked about. It's not what it might sound like from the title, he is no...

      It's worth watching Lindybeige's video Forgetting the Holocaust on the subject of how the Nazi exterminations are sometimes talked about. It's not what it might sound like from the title, he is no way a Holocaust denier, but I had no idea just how many other groups were involved and often don't get counted.

      11 votes
    2. [2]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. HoolaBoola
        Link Parent
        Yeah, I in no way want to downplay the atrocities done to Jews, but rather bring up the other groups. I think it's just plain racism how different the treatment has been after WW2. Jews got their...

        Yeah, I in no way want to downplay the atrocities done to Jews, but rather bring up the other groups. I think it's just plain racism how different the treatment has been after WW2. Jews got their own nation with full support from the world's greatest military, very public apologies etc, whereas the Roma and other groups continue to be harassed to this day (of course, anti-Semitism is also still a thing, sadly. Even among world leaders!).

        European Union officials censured both the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 2007 for forcibly segregating Romani children from regular schools.

        In August 2008, Hammarberg noted that "today's rhetoric against the Roma is very similar to the one used by Nazis and fascists before the mass killings started in the thirties and forties. Once more, it is argued that the Roma are a threat to safety and public health. No distinction is made between a few criminals and the overwhelming majority of the Roma population. This is shameful and dangerous".

        (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiziganism)

        11 votes
    3. DrStone
      Link Parent
      This is how the US public education system portrays it in my experience. The other groups get lumped together in a passing mention, comparatively.

      It portrays Jews as [...] the most important group targeted back then.

      This is how the US public education system portrays it in my experience. The other groups get lumped together in a passing mention, comparatively.

      4 votes
  3. [3]
    mrbig
    (edited )
    Link
    This reminded me of how, years ago, some comedy-reporters used to "ambush" politicians in Brazilia to ask tricky questions about geography and demographics. Most got it wrong, and the show framed...

    This reminded me of how, years ago, some comedy-reporters used to "ambush" politicians in Brazilia to ask tricky questions about geography and demographics. Most got it wrong, and the show framed that as an embarrassment for our political establishment.

    I always found it silly to expect busy congressmen to know hundreds of facts and figures by heart. They have aides, libraries and computers, don't they? We have many reasons to hate our politicians, but a lack of memorization skills is not one of them.

    13 votes
  4. mrbig
    Link
    I have watched numerous WWII documentaries and probably wouldn't get it right either.

    I have watched numerous WWII documentaries and probably wouldn't get it right either.

    8 votes