“Five million non-Jews died in the Holocaust.”
It’s a statement that shows up regularly in declarations about the Nazi era. It was implied in a Facebook post by the Israel Defense Forces’ spokesperson’s unit last week marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day. And it was asserted in an article shared by the Trump White House in defense of its controversial Holocaust statement the same day omitting references to the 6 million Jewish victims.
It is, however, a number without any scholarly basis.
Bloody hell, I did NOT know this.
“No more than half a million”
Holy shit.
My God, it’s true. I only just heard of this for the first time. Wiesenthal just MADE UP the “5 million” figure, when we have actual records for only about one-tenth of that number of non-Jews in the camps. He wanted the non-Jews who ran Europe’s governments to feel more directly involved and victimized so they would support his Nazi-hunting project.
And Elie Wiesel warned him: “First they will speak of 6 million Jews and 5 million non-Jews. Soon they will speak of 11 million victims, some of whom were Jews. And then they will speak of 11 million victims without even mentioning the Jews.”
This is so unbelievably dangerous. You can’t go bullshitting MILLIONS OF HOLOCAUST VICTIMS. It will embolden people to think and suggest that the other millions are bullshit too.
My mind is blown
Holy shit…
I admit to a tiny bit of skepticism and would believe these numbers for non-Jews, non-Romani. But every serious estimate I’ve seen of Romani victims is 0.5-1.5 million, with the larger number seeming more likely.
But for non-Jews and non-Romani, I certainly believe the number is that much lower than people usually mention.
‘Remember the 11 million’? Why an inflated victims tally irks Holocaust historians
Thoughtfulfangirling 