I don't dispute that 6 million Jews died in Nazi death camps, but I'm curious as to what method was used to

Question

arrive at this figure?

Answer 1

Here is a website that chronicles much of the history.

http://www.holocaustchronicle.org/index.html

I believe, from what I have learned the numbers that were killed was derived by reading record books that the Nazi's kept. They kept very detailed records, writing names, dates of birth, gender, etc. of each person that came through the concentration camps. Family and friends reported the missing over the years, and then the actual count of bodies in the mass graves that were dug, also gave them numbers. Put all of this recorded data together and I believe the estimates are pretty accurate.

Answer 2

Well besides body counts and eye witness accounts. The Nazi's kept extremely accurate records or their deeds. It was a lot like a store keeper keeping books. While some of these records were destroyed the Allied forces were extremely successful at finding such records. If you research the Nurumberg (sp?) trials you should be very successful in finding out more about the proof used to arrive at these figures.

Answer 3

Nazis kept very good records, they used IBM tabulation machines to compile lists of anyone with Jewish blood back to great grand parents. We still have most of the records. In areas where we don't we know the Jewish population of European cities from censuses, we know the populations were rounded up (Warsaw, Marseilles and most of Europe) and deported to the gas chambers. We know who survived there for the difference between the ones who survived and the ones who lived there are the ones who dided

not body counts are they were bruned. Borrow Shindlers list it gives you an idea of how the camps were run, even better read the book

Answer 4

Mostly census reports and eyewitness accounts. I think the Germans even kept reports on how many people were killed or died, but not sure about that. I do know that they also say there were about 5 million Christians and members of other sects killed as well, but you never hear about those.

Answer 5

some were worked 2 death from lack of food and bad conditions. some were killed by the prison gaurds. in the "death camps" they would have them take showers but the showers shot out this deadly chemical i froget the nam, something X i think, well anyway then they would take the bodies and through them into incinerators like it was nothing.

Answer 6

A mix of Nazi records (the ones that weren't destroyed), and reports from citizens after the war was over.

"Yea, there was a family of 3 next door that vanished."

That sorta thing.

Answer 7

The Nazi's kept meticulous records....Not to mention the fact that the Jews who did survive could attest to who in their family was missing.

Answer 8

The Nazis kept records of the people they killed.

Let's not forget that they killed another three million Catholics (many were Gypsies), intellectuals and homosexuals.

Answer 9

That's a great question. I would love to know this as well. I was reading this....check out the link.....
http://www.mtsu.edu/~baustin/holo.html

It's not an answer to your question but a look at the numbers and now it's got me thinking the same thing, numbers!

Answer 10

counting bodies maybe?

nationwide census?

Heck, the nazis probably kept records of how many jews went in and out, otherwise it would probably be easier for them to escape.