The Eight Stages of Genocide
1.Classification - People were distinguished by their nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, or physical features, such as nose size, eye color, skin color, or height.
Ex: "The back of our train car had Russian writing on it. ... Thieves and prostitutes."
2.Symbolization - People were called names, such as "Jew," "Aryan," or "Tutsi", and were known by the languages they spoke, the clothes they wore, or group uniforms.
Ex: "The Soviet secret police ... wore blue hats with a red border and a gold star above the brim."
3.Dehumanization - One group denies the humanity of another group and makes the victim seem subhuman by describing them as animals, vermin, or diseases.
Ex: "Soviet trucks filled the rail yard, packed with people just like ours."
4. Organization - During this stage of the genocide, organization is essential, as the whole group must know who their target is and how to wipe them out quickly and efficiently.
Ex: "My nails began to bleed from the digging."
5. Polarization - Extremists drive groups apart, passing laws about intermarriage and social interactions, as well as silencing political moderates.
Ex: "I miss papa."
6. Preparation - These are the final preparations for the genocide, in which death lists are made, weapons for the killings are stock-piled, people are forced to relocate and extermination camps are built.
Ex: "I think they're transferring you to another camp. It seems that some of the NKVD are going,too. They're packing up."
7. Extermination (Genocide) - The extermination begins and is usually lead by the government.
Ex: "Four days later, I saw his naked body, eyes wide open, stacked in a heap of corpses...White foxes had eaten into his stomach, exposing his innards and staining the snow with blood."
8. Denial - It is always found in a genocide, both during and after. Tactics of denial are usually predictable.
Ex: "Those alive cannot speak...This testimony was written to create an absolute record, to speak in a world where our voices have been extinguished...I hope they prompt you to do something, to tell someone."
Ex: "The back of our train car had Russian writing on it. ... Thieves and prostitutes."
2.Symbolization - People were called names, such as "Jew," "Aryan," or "Tutsi", and were known by the languages they spoke, the clothes they wore, or group uniforms.
Ex: "The Soviet secret police ... wore blue hats with a red border and a gold star above the brim."
3.Dehumanization - One group denies the humanity of another group and makes the victim seem subhuman by describing them as animals, vermin, or diseases.
Ex: "Soviet trucks filled the rail yard, packed with people just like ours."
4. Organization - During this stage of the genocide, organization is essential, as the whole group must know who their target is and how to wipe them out quickly and efficiently.
Ex: "My nails began to bleed from the digging."
5. Polarization - Extremists drive groups apart, passing laws about intermarriage and social interactions, as well as silencing political moderates.
Ex: "I miss papa."
6. Preparation - These are the final preparations for the genocide, in which death lists are made, weapons for the killings are stock-piled, people are forced to relocate and extermination camps are built.
Ex: "I think they're transferring you to another camp. It seems that some of the NKVD are going,too. They're packing up."
7. Extermination (Genocide) - The extermination begins and is usually lead by the government.
Ex: "Four days later, I saw his naked body, eyes wide open, stacked in a heap of corpses...White foxes had eaten into his stomach, exposing his innards and staining the snow with blood."
8. Denial - It is always found in a genocide, both during and after. Tactics of denial are usually predictable.
Ex: "Those alive cannot speak...This testimony was written to create an absolute record, to speak in a world where our voices have been extinguished...I hope they prompt you to do something, to tell someone."