Final answer:
Most Holocaust victims resided in Eastern Europe, particularly in Poland, which had a Jewish population of around 3 million. Many lived in culturally distinct communities and faced severe anti-Semitism, contributing to their vulnerability during the Holocaust.
Step-by-step explanation:
The majority of the victims of the Holocaust resided in Eastern Europe, with a significant concentration in Poland. Poland alone had a Jewish population of roughly 3,000,000, accounting for approximately 10% of the total Polish population. Many of these Jewish communities were unassimilated, with their own cultural practices, language (Yiddish), and often facing rampant anti-Semitism, which made their situation dire once the German forces invaded.
The concentration of Jewish populations in Eastern Europe, including in the Soviet Union, Hungary, and Romania was significant prior to World War II. However, the brutality of the Holocaust was such that those living in Eastern Europe, with their limited means of escape and fewer allies, suffered immensely, accounting for the largest number of victims.