One explanation for how the Holocaust was allowed to happen was fear. It's one of the more popular reasons. They tried to say they were too scared to disobey the Nazi party, but it was never proven that there were any punishments for refusing to kill the Jews. When it came to people protesting about just the Jews they didn't really have anything happen to them. Really the people who knew about the situation just ignored them. It wasn't considered a priority to them.
Another reason shown was that they had something to gain from what happened to the Jews. All the valuables the Jewish people had to leave behind was now open for the German people. They also had more land and jobs available for them. People are willing to overlook anything in the face of their own greed. In recent years historians learned that there were public auctions for the sudden increase in treasures.
Probably the strongest reason for the Holocaust to happen was the deference of authority. People did not want to diverge from the group and also wanted to please the people in charge. They wanted to conform and when they committed atrocious acts were then able to rationalize their actions to themselves. This way they did not see their actions as very bad, but something that might even be necessary.
Hopefully nothing like this ever happens again.
works cited
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, www.ushmm.org/learn/introduction-to-the-holocaust/ethical-leaders/background/causes-and-motivations.
I defiantly agree that fear was a major influencer in the Holocaust. Human nature is to follow suit, especially when so many others already are in line. No one wants to be the one individual who stands up and goes against the grain, and even more so if they don't think many will stand up with them.
ReplyDeleteI think Hitler perfectly timed his rise to power. He knew Germany was irate with itself and its government, yet they had no one to blame it on but themselves, which just did not work. So instead they picked a minority to blame. I do have to argue that things did happen to Germans who disagreed with the government. While most of the times they acts were not violent, they were shut out of their communities and even families for rejecting the Jewish ideal. Often, if you were a Nazi who opposed and was found out, things were taken from you. Also, if you were a German who hid Jews and was discovered doing this, you were executed or sent to the concentration camps with them.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that fear was a major factor and influence for the Holocaust. People were constantly fearing for their lives against Hitler, and all of Hitler's followers wanted to appease to anything he said. I also agree with Marlea that Hitler timed his rise to power perfectly. Germany needed a leader at the time and Hitler was prepared to take on this power. The Jews were incredibly brave to endure this and know that their lives were at risk, and I also think that some Germans were brave in assisting some Jews and trying to hide them. They also took a big risk in defying Hitler and his beliefs.
ReplyDeleteIt's very interesting that you mentioned that negative views were only actually held by a small part of Germany, because today it seems to be taught that it was a majority that found the Jews at fault. Hitler truly did use his power to intimidate. I don't doubt that people were afraid of all he was capable of. He found the right timing to rise to power and with the allies he did have, he enforced an evil culture. I share the same sentiment in hoping that nothing like this ever happens again.
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