Germans and the Holocaust - 2294 Words

German citizens responsible for success of Holocaust Beginning when Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany in late January of 1933 and concluding with the official end of World War II in May of 1945, the Holocaust was a period when Jews residing in the German Empire and German-occupied territories were persecuted and harshly murdered. The individuals of the Third Reich were not the first to have anti-Semitic prejudices; however, they were the first to take this type of racism and accomplish massacres on such a grand-scale. The successful killing of approximately six million Jews during the Holocaust can be best explained through the actions of ordinary German citizens as a result of convincing propaganda. It is important to analyze the scope of the intense racism during the Holocaust before examining the actions of German citizens; the Germans were able to cause a great amount of damage to twentieth century Jews, especially in Europe. By the time Hitler won the Reichstag election, there were over nine million Jews living in Europe and most of them resided in countries that Hitler would influence over the next decade. The violence towards Jews began as soon as Hitler came to power. Hitlers bigotries of the Jewish race were no secret, so common German citizens felt comfortable enough to create public disturbances the day after Hitler was elected leader. For example, German individuals attacked Jewish stores without an order from Hitler or his agents, and continued to doShow MoreRelatedGerman History: The Holocaust2588 Words   |  11 Pagesmade a huge impact was the Holocaust. The Holocaust refers to the period January 30, 1933 when Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany. Then in M ay 8th, 1945, the war officially ended. It all started after its defeat in World War I, Germany was humiliated by the Versailles Treaty, which reduced its prewar territory, drastically reduced its armed forces, demanded the recognition of its guilt for the war, and stipulated it pay reparations to the allied powers. â€Å"With the German Empire destroyed, a newRead MoreThe Holocaust: German National Pride1027 Words   |  5 PagesNational pride was a key factor in the German people’s indifference to or participation in state-sponsored genocide and murder. There are five main reasons why. Jews were among those blamed by German military officers looking for excuses as to why Germany was defeated in WWI, and thus were linked to the loss of national pride. Jews were seen as bringing down the economy by taking up space and manipulating other Germans into giving the Jews their money to fuel the Jews’ inherent greed. Hitler hadRead MoreRole of Ordinary Germans in the Holoca ust2313 Words   |  10 PagesThe role of ordinary Germans in the Holocaust is that of bystanders. The people of Germany watched on, without protest, as the Jewish people were murdered. Small and large jobs such as engineering and railway work contributed to the operation of the Holocaust and the murdering of Jews. The manipulation of the German people, through racist and anti-Semitic propaganda, speeches and polices from Hitler, meant that millions of Germans backed the plans to rid the nation of Jews. The idea that the JewsRead MoreGerman Jews During The Holocaust1869 Words   |  8 PagesSiyu Song Dr Arms Valaries English 307 German Jews During The Holocaust When the Nazis settled that the Jews were the primary cause of Germany’s problems in the Second World War, they launched a mission aimed at torturing and killing them (Rosenfield 28). In particular, they sought to wipe all the Jews out of the surface of the earth. To gain political mileage, Hitler faulted the Jews for Germany’s economic woes following the First World War. This further created a lot of negative feelings requiredRead More Ordinary Germans and the Holocaust Essay example1713 Words   |  7 PagesOrdinary Germans and the Holocaust Synopsis – Hitler’s Willing Executioners is a work that may change our understanding of the Holocaust and of Germany during the Nazi period. Daniel Goldhagen has revisited a question that history has come to treat as settled, and his researches have led him to the inescapable conclusion that none of the established answers holds true. Drawing on materials either unexplored or neglected by previous scholars, Goldhagen presents new evidence to show that many beliefsRead MoreBlack Germans During the Holocaust Essay1160 Words   |  5 Pagesof Being a Black German during the Holocaust Between 1933 and 1945 Hitler and his minions tortured non-Aryans because they were considered of lesser value to his regime. History books are filled with horrific tales of mistreatment of human beings he considered inferior: Jews, those who were disabled, gay or lesbians. However, most people are unaware that there was a small population of Germans of African descent who were also victims. According to The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum websiteRead MoreEssay about German Nazi: The Holocaust2608 Words   |  11 Pages Final Problem in Germany Germany had many huge problems throughout their years as a country, but one major problem that made a huge impact was the Holocaust. The Holocaust refers to a time period where Adolf Hitlers becomes chancellor and there’s a mass killing in the certain minorities Hitler found responsible for his losses. Hitler mainly looked at the Jews responsible for his losses which led to a mass killing andRead MoreOrdinary Germans and Soldiers are also Guilty for the Holocaust666 Words   |  3 PagesOrdinary Germans and soldiers are culpable in the Holocaust in addition to Hitler and the Nazi inner circle. They are guilty for the Holocaust as well because of their long-standing antisemitism, knowledge of the enormities, and actual assistance in the Holocaust. Although Hitler was the leading force for the Holocaust, he was supported by ordinary Germans and soldiers who agreed with his beliefs and participated in the atrocities just as much. Antisemitism was the beginning and the cause of theRead MoreWhy Common Germans Took Part Of The Holocaust2222 Words   |  9 PagesThis investigation evaluates why common Germans took part in the Holocaust. In order to assess why common Germans took part in the Holocaust the investigation focuses on the participation and complacency of the German people during the Holocaust, specifically the extermination of the Jewish people, and the reasoning behind it. Different explanations for the German actions developed by a range of historians will be presented. The conventional reasons, like psychological and cultural, and the nonconventionalRead MoreWas German ‘Eliminationist Anti-Semitism Responsible for the Holocaust?832 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"Was German ‘Eliminationist Anti-Semitism† Responsible for the Holocaust?† is a fascinating and somewhat discouraging debate that explores the question of whether German anti-Semitism, instilled within citizens outside of the Nazi Party, played a vast role in the extermination of Jews during the Holocaust . Daniel Jonah Goldhagen, author of â€Å"The Paradigm Challenged,† believes that it did; and argues quite convincingly that ordinary German citizens were duplicitous either by their actions or inactions