How did the Nazi persecution of Jewish people during World War II compare to the Nanjing Massacre? How did the Nazi persecution of Jewish people during World War II compare to the Nanjing Massacre? Both events targeted specific religious groups. The Nanjing Massacre was focused on military personnel, while the Holocaust targeted civilians. The Nanjing Massacre was carried out by the Japanese, while the Holocaust was perpetrated by the Nazis. The scale of the Nanjing Massacre was much larger than the Holocaust.