How many people were killed in the Holocaust?

Holocaust deaths

The word generally refers to the deaths of Jews, but often other victims of Nazi Germany are often also included. (It is also often used to describe the genocide of the Armenians in 1915-1917 by the Ottoman Turkish régime).

Although the exact figure will never be known, here are estimates:

• The figure of 11 million people dead is often given but it is completely unclear where this figure comes from, and how it is calculated. It is far too low. One also encounters the range 11-17 million.
• 6 million of these were Jewish (close to two thirds of Europe's Jewish population) and about one quarter of these were children under 15.
• Up to 270,000 were Roma/Sinti (Gypsies).

In addition, Hitler targeted homosexuals, Communists and other political dissidents, most Slavs, Jehovah's Witnesses, dissidents, some Protestant pastors and Catholic priests, black people, the mentally and physically disabled, and others. The figures include the camps as well as the mass graves in the countryside, killings in the street, organized mass shootings (such as Babi Yar, etc.) and basically, any person singled out for their race, religion, political beliefs, or their sexual orientation.

There are approximately 250 Holocaust museums and centers around the world where you can learn more, as well as extensive information elsewhere on the Internet.

• Jews- 5.9 million
• Soviet POW's- 3.3 million
• Non-Jewish Poles- 1.8-2 million
• Romanis ('gypsies')- 220,000- 270,000 (but even the higher figure may be too low)
• Disabled- 200,000 - 250,000
• Homosexuals- 5,000 - 15,000
• Jehovahs Witnesses- 2,500 - 5,000