On March 22, 1933, the first Nazi concentration camp, Dachau, was authorized, triggering the worst genocide in modern history—the Holocaust—which ultimately sentenced 17 million innocent people to death and shattered political and emotional ties both in Europe and around the world. Today, 84 years later, the aftershocks are still potent and far-reaching. Many historians believe that due to the horrific nature of the Holocaust, it is necessary for present-day students, despite the many years that have passed, to gain a thorough understanding of these atrocious events.