This first-ever state-by-state survey revealing how little Millennials and Gen Z know about history and the Holocaust is cause for great worry both culturally and educationally, as a new wave of anti-Semitism now overtakes America and Europe…

World War II began with Germany’s invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939; the United States entered only after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. By war’s end on May 7, 1945, the Nazis had murdered 11 million souls, 6 million of them Jews, including 1-1/2 million Jewish children.

Nevertheless, this survey of 11,000 Millennials and Generation Z discovered that:

  • 10% could not recall ever hearing the word Holocaust.
  • 63% did not know that 6 million Jews had been killed, with more than 50% saying fewer than 2 million.
  • Despite more than 40,000 concentration camps and ghettos, about 50% could not name even one.
  • While 90% believed that the Holocaust had taken place, 7% were not sure, and 3% denied it ever happened.
  • 11% believed Jews caused the Holocaust; that number jumped to 19% in New York which has the largest Jewish population in the U.S.
  • More than 50% reported having seen Nazi symbols on social media and/or in their communities.
  • 22% thought the Holocaust was associated with World War I, not WWII; 10% had no idea, 5% said it was during the Civil War, and 3% said the Vietnam War.

About such startling figures, Greg Schneider, executive vice president of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany says, “If we let these trends continue for another generation, the crucial lessons from this terrible part of history could be lost.”

And he further reminds us that, “Education is the best way to prevent ignorance and to prevent hate.”

Take heed.

To learn more about the survey, click here.