Studying history often means writing about specific events and their impact on society. And arguably, one of the most significant and world-changing events of the 20th century that students are often right about is the Holocaust.
When a teacher assigns you a Holocaust essay, they are testing your knowledge of the subject and your ability to express yourself clearly and concisely. While you may understand the events surrounding the Holocaust, writing about them can be a much more challenging process.
Fortunately, we’ve created this handy writing guide that details everything you need to know in order to write an excellent Holocaust essay. You’ll also find 80 Holocaust essay topics to help get your writing started.
Different Ways to Write a Holocaust Essay
When it comes to writing a Holocaust essay, there are many possible writing styles depending on the instruction of the teacher. Each will have unique requirements, but the tips in this guide will apply to all writing styles about the Holocaust.
Argumentative Essay About the Holocaust
The goal of an argumentative essay is to convince your reader that your opinion is valid by providing convincing evidence. In terms of the Holocaust, your thesis could argue that the Allies could have done more to stop the genocide.
Your job in this type of essay will be to present evidence and facts to support your argument while also refuting any counter arguments. This type of writing requires a lot of research as you’ll need to back up your claims with credible sources.
Descriptive Essay About the Holocaust
A descriptive essay asks you to describe something, often a person, place, or object. For example, when writing about the Holocaust, you could describe the events that took place in concentration camps such as Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Your goal is to provide as much detail as possible to help your reader understand what you’re describing. This type of essay often uses emotional language to help the reader feel the full impact of the events being described.
Narrative Essay About the Holocaust
A narrative essay tells a story, usually from the author’s perspective. For example, when writing about the Holocaust, you could tell the story of a specific victim or survivor.
Your goal is to provide a firsthand account of the events while also sharing your own insights and feelings about what happened. This type of essay can be challenging to write if you don’t have personal experience with the Holocaust, but it’s still possible to write a moving and impactful narrative.
Cause and Effect Essay About the Holocaust
A cause and effect essay looks at why something happened and the effects that resulted. So, for example, in terms of the Holocaust, you could write about the causes of antisemitism in Europe, which led to the genocide.
Your job is to explore the causal relationships between events and explain how they led to specific effects. This essay often relies heavily on historical evidence to support your claims.
Expository Essay About the Holocaust
The goal of an expository essay is to inform your reader about a specific topic. For example, when writing about the Holocaust, you could provide a detailed overview of the events that took place.
Your job is to present the facts clearly and concisely without offering your own opinion or interpretation. This type of essay requires extensive research as you’ll need to include a lot of information in a limited amount of space.
Tips for Writing a Holocaust Essay
No matter what type of essay you’re writing, some general tips will help you write a successful paper.
1. Do extensive research
This is probably the most important tip for writing any type of history essay, but it’s especially important when writing about the Holocaust. There are so many different events and stories surrounding the Holocaust that it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
Before you start writing, take some time to learn about the different aspects of the Holocaust that you could write about. Then, once you have a general understanding of the topic, you can narrow down your focus and do more specific research.
2. Find reliable sources
When you’re doing your research, it’s important to find reliable sources that you can trust. There are a lot of different sources available on the internet, but not all of them are created equal.
Make sure to look for sources published by reputable organizations or universities. You should also try to find sources based on eyewitness accounts or primary documents whenever possible.
3. Be respectful
When you’re writing about such a sensitive topic, it’s important to be respectful of the people affected by the events. Avoid using offensive language or making generalizations about groups of people.
It’s also important to avoid making any statement that could be construed as Holocaust denial. Even if you’re just writing an academic essay, your reader will likely have strong emotions about the subject matter.
Writing a Holocaust Essay Thesis
Remember that you’ll need to include a thesis statement in your essay. A thesis statement is a one-sentence summary of your paper that tells the reader what your paper is about. Some great examples of a thesis statement for a Holocaust essay include:
“Years of antisemitism and populist politics in Europe led directly to the Holocaust.”
“The stories of Holocaust survivors provide a unique and personal perspective on one of the darkest periods in human history.”
“Compared to other genocides, the Holocaust was characterized by its industrial efficiency and use of modern technology.”
Each of these thesis statements provides a specific focus for your paper that you can use to guide your writing. Once you have a thesis statement, you can start outlining the rest of your paper.
80 Holocaust Essay Topics
Consider using any of these 80 Holocaust essay topics to help you write your own paper.
Holocaust Essay Topics About Concentration Camps
- What was everyday life like in a concentration camp?
- How did the Nazis choose who would be sent to concentration camps?
- What were the most common types of work prisoners were forced to do in concentration camps?
- How did the living conditions in concentration camps lead to disease and death?
- What was the role of the SS in running concentration camps?
- How did some prisoners manage to escape from concentration camps?
- What was the fate of concentration camp guards captured by the Allies?
- How did the Allies liberate the concentration camps?
- What was done with the concentration camps after the war?
- How do concentration camps serve as a symbol of the Holocaust?
Holocaust Essay Topics About Nazi Ideology
- What was the role of propaganda in Nazi Germany?
- How did Adolf Hitler rise to power in Germany?
- What were the fundamental components of Nazi ideology?
- How did the Nazis use education to indoctrinate children?
- How did the Nazis use the media to control public opinion?
- What was the role of the Nazi Party in the government and society?
- How did the economic policies of the Nazi regime impact everyday Germans?
- What was the role of religion in Nazi Germany?
- How did the Nazis persecute and marginalize different groups of people?
- What was the role of the police and military in Nazi Germany?
Holocaust Essay Topics About Life in Nazi Germany
- What was life like for Jews in Nazi Germany?
- What was life like for Romani people in Nazi Germany?
- What was life like for gay men in Nazi Germany?
- What was life like for political dissidents in Nazi Germany?
- How did the Nazis use the law to persecute different groups of people?
- How did the economic policies of the Nazi regime impact everyday Germans?
- What was the role of the Nazi Party in the government and society?
- How did the Nazis use education to indoctrinate children?
- How did the Nazis use the media to control public opinion?
Holocaust Essay Topics About Resistance and Rescue
- What was the role of resistance movements in Nazi Germany?
- How did some Jews manage to escape from the Nazis?
- How did Gentiles help Jews during the Holocaust?
- What was the role of the Church in rescuing Jews during the Holocaust?
- How did ordinary citizens risk their lives to rescue Jews during the Holocaust?
- What was the role of the Allied powers in rescuing Jews during the Holocaust?
- How did the Holocaust impact resistance movements in other countries?
- What lessons can we learn from those who resisted Nazi Germany?
- How can we honor the memory of those who resisted Nazi Germany?
- What would have happened if more people had resisted Nazi Germany?
Holocaust Essay Topics About the Aftermath of the Holocaust
- How did survivors of the Holocaust cope with their experiences?
- What was the role of psychology in helping survivors of the Holocaust?
- What was the role of art in helping survivors of the Holocaust?
- What was the role of literature in helping survivors of the Holocaust?
- How did the Holocaust impact the development of Israel?
- How did the Holocaust change how we think about human rights?
- How has the memory of the Holocaust been used for political purposes?
- How has the memory of the Holocaust been used to promote tolerance and understanding?
- How has the memory of the Holocaust been used to fight racism and bigotry?
- What can we learn from the Holocaust about the need for vigilance in protecting human rights?
Holocaust Essay Topics About Antisemitism
- How is antisemitism seen in the modern-day world?
- What can social media companies do to help reduce antisemitism?
- How can schools help to reduce antisemitism?
- What can governments do to reduce antisemitism?
- What is the relationship between antisemitism and other forms of bigotry?
- Examine anti-Semitic texts and manifestos to understand the motives for hatred.
- What impact does antisemitism have on Jewish people today?
- How can we learn from the Holocaust to help reduce antisemitism globally?
- What role did antisemitism play in the Holocaust?
Holocaust Essay Topics About Legislation and Memorials
- How has the Holocaust been memorialized?
- What are some of the most effective Holocaust memorials?
- How can we make sure that the memory of the Holocaust is never forgotten?
- Should there be laws against Holocaust denial?
- What impact do Holocaust memorials have on survivors and their families?
- How can we make sure that the Holocaust is never repeated?
- What lessons can we learn from the Holocaust about the need for vigilance in protecting human rights?
- What role do Holocaust memorials play in promoting tolerance and understanding?
- What responsibility do governments have in protecting Holocaust survivors and ensuring that the memory of the Holocaust is never forgotten?
- What responsibility do individuals have in protecting Holocaust survivors and ensuring that the memory of the Holocaust is never forgotten?
- How can we make sure that future generations never forget the lessons of the Holocaust?
Holocaust Essay Topics About WWII
- Create a persuasive argument that the Holocaust could have been prevented if the USA had taken action sooner.
- Was the Holocaust a result of Hitler’s hatred of the Jews, or was it based on a different emotion or political goal?
- What impact did the Holocaust have on the course of WWII?
- How might WWII have ended differently if the Allies had not intervened in the Holocaust?
- What role did the Holocaust play in the development of the atomic bomb?
- How did the Holocaust change the way we think about warfare?
- How did the Holocaust impact the development of international law?
- Analyze the effectiveness of the Nazi propaganda machine in light of the Holocaust.
- What can we learn from the Holocaust about the need for international cooperation to prevent genocide?
- What responsibility do nations have to intervene to prevent genocides like the Holocaust?
With these 80 Holocaust essay topics, students should be able to write Holocaust essays that are both thoughtful and insightful. Remember to choose a topic that is both interesting and one that you feel passionate about. Also, be sure to research your topic thoroughly before beginning to write. By taking the time to do this, you will be able to write an informative and well-written essay.
