09/01/2026
Today, September 1, 1939, World War II began. On the eve of the war, Poland's Jewish population was approximately 3.3 million, the largest in Europe; however, this dynamic and multifaceted Jewish community was changed forever exactly 87 years ago after N**i Germany invaded Poland, thus beginning World War II. During the ensuing years, 6 million Jews were murdered and infamous names like Auschwitz, Treblinka, and Sobibor were forever etched into world history. Approximately, only 380,000 Polish Jews survived. Against all odds after the war, Jewish Holocaust survivors from all over Europe created new lives. They became our friends, neighbors, and above all, teachers who continue to warn us about the dangers of antisemitism and remind us of the resilient Jewish spirit.
As the school year begins, HERC is as steadfast as ever in our mission to teach the lessons of the Holocaust to diverse audiences, especially students in grades 5 - 12. World War II is often the entry point for Holocaust education in Wisconsin Schools which is why HERC provides world class resources and professional guidance that remind tomorrow’s leaders that every victim of N**ism had a name and a personal history.
Learn more about how WWII started and how the Holocaust evolved from it.
Watch a video on World War II and the Holocaust by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Students will gain an understanding over how World War II started and how the Holocaust evolved from it.
