Thirty-four percent of Millennial and Generation Z New Yorkers think the Holocaust was exaggerated or a myth, according to a new national study looking at Holocaust knowledge among those groups.

NY1 Anchor Roma Torre on Wednesday spoke with David Marwell of the Claims Conference Task Force, which released the survey, and discussed the alarming statistics, which include:

  • 58 percent of New Yorkers feel the Holocaust could happen again
  • 19 percent of New Yorkers think Jews caused the Holocaust
  • 36 percent of New Yorkers thnk the Holocaust and World War II are not associated

Compared to their counterparts across the United States, a higher number of New Yorkers agreed with some categories, such as the false conspiracy theory that the Holocaust was exaggerated or a myth. 23 percent of Millennials and Gen Zers nationwide believed in that conspiracy theory, compared to New York’s 34 percent.

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Of the 11,000 people surveyed, New York came in disappointing four-way tie for 41st place with Alaska, Delaware, and Maryland in terms of Holocaust knowledge.

"There are a lot of headwinds that one must confront when teaching about the Holocaust. First, I think there's a general lack of interest in history, in general. I believe that I know this from my own children who are Millennials," said Marwell, who is also the former director and CEO of the Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust.

Another reason? Marwell suggested social media may play a role, adding that "there's also the existence of the internet and some countervailing forces that intentionally distort and deny the Holocaust."

The Claims Conference is a nonprofit organization that secures compensation for Holocaust survivors around the world and educates people on what happened. For more information, go to ClaimsCon.org.​

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Watch the full interview above.