The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators during World War II, from 1941 to 1945. It also targeted other groups, including Romani people, disabled individuals, Polish people, Soviet prisoners of war, and others deemed "undesirable." The genocide was marked by horrific events such as mass shootings, concentration camps, and extermination camps. The Holocaust remains a profound reminder of the consequences of hatred, intolerance, and discrimination.