Nearly two-thirds of young Americans are unaware of the Holocaust

Perhaps even more shocking, more than 1 in 10 believe Jews caused the Holocaust. Almost half of Millennials/Gen Z could not name a single concentration camp or ghetto. Almost a quarter believed the Holocaust was a myth and at least 12% said they definitely have not heard of the Holocaust

“The results are both shocking and saddening and they underscore why we must act now while Holocaust survivors are still with us to voice their stories,” said Gideon Taylor, President of the organization.

Taylor continues to state, “We need to understand why we aren’t doing better in educating a younger generation about the Holocaust and the lessons of the past. This needs to serve as a wake-up call to us all, and as a road map of where government officials need to act.”

This was the first ever 50-state survey on Holocaust knowledge.

The states with the highest Holocaust Knowledge Scores are: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Maine, Kansas, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Iowa, and Montana.

The states with the lowest Holocaust Knowledge Scores are: Alaska, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, and Arkansas.

Data was collected from 1,000 interviews nationwide. 200 interviews were conducted in each state with young adults aged 18 to 39 selected at random.

The mission statement of the Claims Conference is deeply pertinent to this survey and the results.

Across six decades, our mission has been to provide a measure of justice for Jewish Holocaust victims, and to provide them with the best possible care.

Going forward we must ensure that future generations learn the lessons of the Holocaust to preserve the memory of those who suffered so much and those who were lost.

We know the horrors of the Holocaust can never be repaired and must never be forgotten. And we believe survivors of the Holocaust deserve recognition for their suffering and to live out their lives with dignity.

To learn more about the Claims Conference and Holocaust history. visit www.claimscon.org