When we hear the term America, images of endless opportunity, "melting pot" and "Land of the Free" dominate our perception of where we live . As this nation is widely known for its freedom, generosity, and freedom, other parts of the world were not as accepting of others in the past. In the years 1941-1945, Germany was under a regime led by the Nazi Party with Adolf Hitler as its leader. This regime believed in anti-Semitism and because of this, the attempt to demolish the Jewish population took place, thus receiving the name Holocaust. The word Holocaust derives from the Greek words “holos” and “kaustos,” meaning “burned to the ground.” The Holocaust marked European history and had an impact on the lives of many families, Jewish or not. Some might call this a war to abolish the Jewish people, Jewish culture, and eliminate all memory relating to Judaism. This historical tragedy is often associated with the word genocide since the targeted ethnic group was the Jewish people, but there remains a population that denies that the Holocaust even took place. To understand whether or not this can be considered genocide, one must not only study it but be able to fully understand it. To educate others, there are an endless supply of novels, documentaries, films, diaries, and even first-hand survivors that serve as resources to help understand this important milestone in history. The film “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” is based on the novel by John Boyne and depicts life during the Holocaust era. Through this film and the knowledge gained about the Holocaust, one is able to compare and contrast a true historical event to the way it is depicted in a film intended for a critical audience. Even though...... middle of paper..... Germany could do nothing but wait. They had to wait to see if they would survive until the end of Hitler's regime or if they would be arrested and removed from their homes. Captured Jews were taken to ghettos in Poland and then transferred to concentration camps. Some of these camps subjected Jews to endless hours of labor with minimal food while waiting for them to die, while other camps put Jews in a gas chamber and killed them immediately. The Nazi Party showed no mercy and the horrific methods used for these mass murders can only prove this to be true. Upon arrival at the concentration camp, each Jew was stripped of their pride and any sense of individuality that they had prior to their arrival at the concentration camp. They were given a number, striped pajamas and shaved until they all looked just like Sha.