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Line 1: + − The '''Holocaust''' was the genocide of the Jews and others during [[World War II]] by the [[Nazi]] government of [[Germany]], which played on [[Adolf Hitler]]'s widely held anti-Semitic sentiments. In addition to the genocide of 6 million Jews, several million other people were also murdered, which included Slavs, Jehovah's Witnesses, Roma, physically and mentally disabled people, common criminals, homosexuals, communists and other political opponents of national socialism were also exterminated.+ − +
Reworded introduction
[[Image:Hgdye56.jpg|right|thumb|"Selection" of Hungarian Jews at the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in May/June 1944. To be sent to the right meant slave labor; to the left, the gas chambers.]]
[[Image:Hgdye56.jpg|right|thumb|"Selection" of Hungarian Jews at the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in May/June 1944. To be sent to the right meant slave labor; to the left, the gas chambers.]]
'''Holocaust''' means "completely burnt" and derives from the Greek word ''holokauston'' - (''holos'': completely, and ''kaustos'': a sacrificial or burnt offering to a god). The term was used to describe a catstrophe but was first used to describe Hitler's persecution of the Jews (and other undesirables like gypsies, communists and homosexuals) during [[World War II]] in 1942.
'''The Holocaust''' has now evolved to refer specifically to the genocide of the European Jews by the [[Nazi]] regime of [[Germany]], which derived from [[Adolf Hitler]]'s widely held anti-Semitic sentiments. In addition to the genocide of 6 million Jews, several million other people were also murdered, which included Slavs, Jehovah's Witnesses, Roma, physically and mentally disabled people, common criminals, homosexuals, communists and other political opponents of National Socialism were also exterminated.
The records of the amount of people who were killed in the Holocaust were never fully uncovered, yet estimates have read anywhere from 11 to 12 million total victims.
The records of the amount of people who were killed in The Holocaust were never fully uncovered, yet estimates have read anywhere from 11 to 12 million total victims.
The occurrence of the Holocaust is only in [[Holocaust denial|denial]] within small groups with anti-semitic leanings. The Germans kept accurate records of the massacres.
The occurrence of the Holocaust is only in [[Holocaust denial|denial]] within small groups with anti-semitic leanings. The Germans kept accurate records of the massacres.