Did Americans know the Holocaust was happening?

Answer 1

Yes. The US government was well aware by 1942 what was going on, and a member of the Polish resistance (Jan Karski) even pleaded face-to-face with Roosevelt to intervene. FDR replied by saying, "The perpetrators will be punished after the war". (!) Karski wrote a book on the Holocaust which appeared in America during the war and sold over 400,000 copies before the end of the war. Britain received written reports from the Polish resistance in November 1941. A Foreign Office official wrote in the margin "Bolshevist Propaganda?" To answer the question: yes, the Holocaust (though not all the detail) WAS known among the Allies by mid 1942 at the very latest. Some of the information was published. Joncey See the Related Link for "Wikipedia: Jan Karski" to the bottom for the answer.

Answer 2

Yes. The first reports about mass gassings were received in the US in early 1942 (or slightly earlier) and by the middle of the year the US administration was well aware of the situation. A courier from the Polish Resistance, Jan Karski, even managed to get a personal meeting with President Roosevelt in 1943. Karski begged him to do something about the situation. Roosevelt just kept on saying that 'war criminals and wrong-doers will be punished'. Karski replied that what was needed was immediate help, not vague promises about the future, but Roosevelt didn't seem to take the point at all. Jan Karski wrote a book about what was going on in Poland and over 400,000 copies sold in the US before the end of the war.

Answer 3

America knew a lot about the Holocaust, but did not find it necessary to take action. Same is valid for the UK. They both found it more important to win the war as soon as possible, which then in the end of course led to ending the Holocaust.

Answer 4

From late 1942, on the Holocaust was reported in the newspapers and on radio in the US, but not particularly systematically and not in much detail, as the US government was very dependent on the Polish Underground for new on this. Pamphlets appeared ... Whether this 'registered' with the public is another matter. In a war, news about battles is far more interesting.

Answer 5

1941.