The Museum’s Permanent Exhibition The Holocaust spans three floors of the Museum building. The exhibition is divided into three parts: “Nazi Assault” (opening floor), “Final Solution” (middle floor), and “Last Chapter” (final floor). The narrative begins with images of death and destruction as witnessed by American soldiers during the liberation of Nazi concentration camps in 1945. Most first-time visitors spend an average of two to three hours in this self-guided exhibition. Recommended for visitors 11 years of age and older.

Between 1933 and 1945 the United States government, American organizations and institutions, and private individuals responded in a wide variety of ways to the news of Nazi persecution, the refugee problem, and the events leading up to and including the Holocaust. Explore the links on this page to find out more about American responses.

The Opening Floor: The Nazi Assault 1933-1939

• The Nazi Book Burnings
• 1936 Olympic Boycott Debate
• American Organizations and Nazi Germany
  • German American Bund
  • American Jewish Congress
• Refugee Crisis: The Evian Conference
• The St. Louis

The Middle Floor: The "Final Solution" 1940 to 1945

• Why Wasn't Auschwitz Bombed?

The Final Floor: Last Chapter

• Liberation of the Camps
• Jewish Refugees during World War II
• Rescue
• Postwar Justice