What happened to people during the Holocaust?

1. Germany of course lost almost its entire Jewish population, which had played a key role in its cultural, academic and scientific life before 1933. 2. For younger Germans in particular, coming to terms with the fact that they are members of the nation that committed this appalling act of genocide (and that unleashed WWII in Europe) has made it very difficult for them to be proud of their nationality in any ordinary sense.