🔎 Shoah – Holocaust Research Tutorial

Revision Date(s)

🎯 Scope and Focus

In an effort to build a tutorial on researching the Holocaust era, this guide includes pointers to information provided on ManyRoads to help navigate the confusion that is the legacy of this catastrophic historical period. This tutorial also shares anecdotes on some research experiences, provides links, site synopses, and sets research expectations.

Listen to this article’s “Life in the Past Lane” Podcast!
Podcast Show Notes: Holocaust Tutorial Notes.pdf Holocaust Tutorial Notes.pdf (206 KB)

Holocaust research is unique and can be very challenging, frustrating, and disturbing. This tutorial concentrates on four crucial populations and aspects of the Holocaust, focusing on some of the largest groups targeted by the National Socialists (Nazis) for elimination/extermination/removal.

Population Estimated Number Murdered
Jews Some 6,000,000
Disabled (T4) Around 250,000 People with disabilities living in institutions
Sinti/Roma (Gypsies) Some 196,000 – 220,000
Homosexuals Approximately 5,000 – 15,000

Note: This tutorial does not address all targeted groups, which include Jehovah’s Witnesses (around 1,900 murdered) and repeat criminal offenders/so-called asocials (more than 70,000 murdered).

đŸ›Ąïž Background and Foundational Skills

Like most genealogy or family history research, Holocaust Research requires building upon a good, sound foundation to achieve optimal results with minimal frustration.

Genealogical and Geographic Competency

The Adventure Begins: Unexpected Discoveries

Sometimes genealogy research leads to unexpected places, challenging assumptions and destroying illusions. The information and facts you seek may not all be found where you expect.

An Example of Moral Collapse: A casual search for information on the former area of Zeyer in Kreis Elbing uncovered communications between the East- and West Prussian Mennonite Community and Adolf Hitler in 1933, expressing deep gratitude and pledging joyful cooperation in the building of the German Reich. Further research revealed the existence of two Stutthof Concentration Sub-camps in the Zeyer area, one of which was run by Mennonites, demonstrating that atrocious activities were "everywhere" and "ordinary".

The single most important document enabling the Holocaust was Reinhard Heydrich’s letter to Martin Luther on 26 November 1941, inviting officials to the Wannsee Conference to discuss the "overall solution to the Jewish question in Europe" (The Final Solution).

đŸ’» Important Internet Resources

Collectively, these sites offer a wealth of data, but it is crucial to remember there is no single, universal, complete repository. Any guidance provided is almost always incomplete; source data is rarely complete, indexed information may be inaccurate, and data may be repeated across sites.

I. Premier Holocaust Institutions

II. Genealogical and Statistical Databases

III. Specialized & Academic Resources

📚 Related Guidance and Links

Tutorial Pages (ManyRoads)

Holocaust Research Materials (General)

Holocaust Maps

Holocaust and Mennonite History

Credits and Licensing

Compiled by Mark Rabideau, Opa & Professional Genealogist.

All materials licensed: CC BY-ND 4.0 by eirenicon llc.

This primary Shoah–Holocaust Research document is now fully structured and sourced according to the style established in the preceding guides.

Since you mentioned having additional documents to upload, would you like to provide the details for your next document?