Four women and two men, wearing warm coats and carrying luggage walk past two stern look policemen. Above, six neighbors of varying ages watch what’s happening below.

Some Were Neighbors

How was the Holocaust possible? The central role of Adolf Hitler and other Nazi leaders in the murder of six million Jews is indisputable. But they could not carry this out alone. The Nazis had help from millions of ordinary people across Europe.

Some Europeans acted out of hatred for Jews, but many others weighed various pressures and incentives in responding to the plight of the victims. Amid war and upheaval, a range of motivations—fear, greed, opportunity—led people to make choices that often had deadly impact.

How did individuals respond to the persecution and murder of their Jewish classmates, coworkers, neighbors, and friends? How did relationships and roles shape their decisions? What drove a rare few to risk helping the victims?

Background: German officials round up Jews for deportation as neighbors look on. Lörrach, Germany, October 1940. Stadtarchiv Lörrach

Hitler Youth humiliate Jews by forcing them to clean city streets in Vienna, 1938.

Yad Vashem

For Educators

Please visit the Teacher Resources page for information related to teaching with Some Were Neighbors. This page includes the key messages of the exhibition, the Museum’s definition of the Holocaust, a class activity, and more.