Who were the six million?
Exploring Jewish life before the Holocaust
In 1933, 9.5 million Jewish people lived in Europe. Jewish people had lived in Europe for over 2,000 years and there were Jewish communities in every European country. The figures on the map show Jewish populations in 1933 in those countries later controlled or occupied by the Nazis.*
Using this map, you will discover where Jewish people lived and how they lived. You will hear from individuals about their family life and their communities as they were before the Holocaust.
Click on the following countries to find out more about this diverse and vibrant history of communities, families and individuals:
Refection questions:
- Which country had the oldest Jewish community?
- Which country had the largest Jewish community?
- What similarities can you identify between Jewish communities?
- What differences can you identify between Jewish communities?
- Which adjectives would you use to describe Jewish life in Europe before the Holocaust?
* The population figures on the map are based upon detailed research by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
The figure for the Channel Islands is approximate and is thought to be somewhere between 30 to 50 persons.
