Here are some of the main causes of death among Jews during the Holocaust:
1. Gassing: The Nazis used poison gas, primarily Zyklon B, to kill millions of Jews in extermination camps like Auschwitz-Birkenau, Treblinka, Sobibor, and Belzec. Victims were herded into gas chambers, where the gas was released, causing swift asphyxiation and death within minutes.
2. Starvation: The Nazis deliberately withheld food, leading to widespread starvation in ghettos and concentration camps. Jews were given meager rations, often consisting of bread, soup, and scraps, which were inadequate to sustain life. Many prisoners succumbed to hunger, malnutrition, and the effects of extreme deprivation.
3. Disease: Unsanitary conditions, overcrowding, and lack of access to medical care resulted in rampant outbreaks of diseases such as typhus, dysentery, and tuberculosis. Due to the poor hygienic conditions and the weakened state of the prisoners, many died from these infections.
4. Beatings and Torture: Jewish prisoners were subjected to brutal beatings and torture by Nazi guards and kapos (Jewish prisoners who collaborated with the Nazis) as a means of control and punishment. Many victims died from the physical injuries inflicted during these acts.
5. Medical Experiments: Nazi doctors and scientists conducted medical experiments on Jewish prisoners in concentration camps. These experiments involved torture, disfigurement, and the injection of lethal substances, resulting in the deaths of thousands of victims.
6. Overwork: Prisoners in concentration camps were forced to perform backbreaking labor, often in extreme weather conditions and with inadequate food and rest. Many died from exhaustion, injuries, or malnutrition resulting from the grueling work.
7. Freezing to Death: Some Jews were killed by exposure to harsh weather conditions, especially during the winter months. In certain camps, prisoners were intentionally left outside for extended periods in freezing temperatures, leading to hypothermia and death.
8. Genocide by Bullets: In addition to gas chambers, the Nazis also used mass shootings to execute millions of Jews. These murders took place in killing centers like Babi Yar in Ukraine, where tens of thousands of Jews were shot into mass graves.
It is essential to remember that the main objective of the Nazis was to exterminate the Jewish population and that various methods of killing were employed systematically to achieve this goal.