(Courtesy of Claims Conference) The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) today released the first-ever, eight-country Index on Holocaust Knowledge and Awareness, exposing a global trend in fading knowledge of basic facts about the Holocaust. The countries surveyed included the United States, United Kingdom, France, Austria, Germany, Poland, Hungary and Romania.
The majority of respondents in each country, except Romania, believe something like the Holocaust could happen again today. Concern is highest in the United States, where more than three-quarters (76%) of all adults surveyed believe something like the Holocaust could happen again.
Shockingly, some adults surveyed say that they had not heard or weren’t sure if they had heard of the Holocaust prior to taking the survey. This is amplified among young adults ages 18-29: France (46%), Romania (15%), Austria (14%) and Germany (12%). Additionally, while Auschwitz-Birkenau is the most well-known camp, nearly half (48%) of Americans surveyed are unable to name a single camp or ghetto established by the Nazis during World War II.
While overall awareness about the Holocaust is high across the majority of the countries surveyed, Holocaust distortion is also high. Overall, a majority of all populations surveyed did not know that six million Jews were killed during the Holocaust. Twenty percent or more respondents in seven out of the eight countries surveyed believe two million or fewer Jews were murdered during the Holocaust. Respondents in Germany fared the best with this question but still a surprising 18% of respondents from Germany believe that two million or fewer Jews were killed during the Holocaust.
Across countries surveyed, respondents aged 18–29 are more likely to believe that the number of Jews killed during the Holocaust has been exaggerated.
Overall, Americans and Hungarians are most likely to report that Holocaust denial is common in their countries.
Nearly half of adults in the U.S., Hungary, France and Germany report that Holocaust distortion is common in their country.
Across countries, when asked if they had encountered Holocaust denial or distortion while on social media, nearly half (47%) of Polish adults said “yes.” In Austria and Hungary, this number was 38%; in Germany, 37%; in the U.S., 33%; in Romania, 25%; in the U.K., 23%; and in France, 20%.
Gideon Taylor, president of the Claims Conference, said, “The alarming gaps in knowledge, particularly among younger generations, highlight an urgent need for more effective Holocaust education.”
Across all countries, an overwhelming majority of adults surveyed, (nine in 10 or more), believe it is important to continue teaching about the Holocaust. In the U.S. and Poland, this number was 96%; in the U.K. and Germany, 94%; in France and Romania, 93%; in Hungary, 91%; and Austria, 90%. Likewise, there is a strong desire for Holocaust education in schools. The U.S. was the highest with 95% of all adults surveyed, 93% in Poland; 92% in the U.K.; 91% in France; 88% in Hungary; 87% in Germany; 84% in Austria; and 78% in Romania.
Greg Schneider, Claims Conference executive vice president, said, “With the Holocaust survivor population rapidly declining, we are at a critical and irreversible crossroad. Survivors, our most powerful educators, will not be with us much longer — and this index is a stark warning that without urgent and sustained action, the history and lessons of the Holocaust risk slipping into obscurity. This is our final chance, our last moment in history, to honor their legacy by ensuring that our commitment to remembering their experiences is unshakable and unwavering.”
Matthew Bronfman, index task force lead, said, “As we continue to understand better where Holocaust education is working and where it requires attention. Holocaust education is important. Now our task is clear; we must take this mandate and make it happen.”
