It is important to note that the term "Holocaust" is capitalized when referring to this specific historical event.
Here's a breakdown of what the word encompasses:
* Genocide: The systematic, planned extermination of a national, racial, ethnic, or religious group.
* European Jews: Primarily targeting Jewish people living in Europe, though other groups were also persecuted.
* Nazi Germany: The regime led by Adolf Hitler, responsible for initiating and carrying out the Holocaust.
* Collaborators: Other countries and individuals who aided the Nazi regime in its persecution.
The Holocaust resulted in the deaths of approximately 6 million Jews, along with millions of other victims, including Roma, gay men, disabled people, and political opponents.
While "holocaust" can be used as a general term for a great destruction by fire, its specific meaning is strongly linked to the historical genocide of European Jews.