The Holocaust – College Essay Example

what awaited them there. The conditions within were appalling: minimal food, lack of hygiene, frequent beatings, overcrowded sleeping quarters. As a result, large numbers were killed through carbon monoxide gassing, shooting or even being cremated alive. The individuals in charge had complete freedom to carry out any violent or abusive actions they desired. The immense hatred towards Jews in Nazi Germany led to degrading and painful acts such as public nudity, forced grave-digging, and exhausting labor inflicted upon them. Adolf Hitler was primarily responsible for the mass execution of thousands of Jews; he was born on April 20th, 1889 in Austria-Hungary. His troubled upbringing with an abusive father and materialistic mother may have influenced his later actions. Facing punishment for academic underperformance and lacking encouragement further mirrored his troubled home life in his academic performance.Despite being intelligent, laziness and disrespect caused him to be seen as a poor student. Following his father's death in 1903, he left school and dedicated himself to artistic pursuits while wandering the streets. It was during this time that he met Kubizek, who became his sole true friend. Kubizek recalled Hitler as a troubled young man with a compassionate side. After being rejected from art school, Hitler fell into a deep depression and fostered vengeful emotions. He joined anti-Semitic gatherings held in taverns and basements, eventually rising to become the leader of an organization. These anti-Semitic groups flourished under Hitler's leadership as members staunchly believed in German superiority and the wickedness of Jews, willing to go to great lengths to enforce their beliefs. Hitler's fixation on anti-Semitism led him to make outrageous statements that oddly captivated people's attention. His ultimate

goal was world domination, which he planned to achieve by first conquering Austria, his homeland. Previously peaceful Austria fell under Hitler's control when he gained power in Germany. This conquest happened gradually as the socialist party lost influence and the fascist paramilitary group known as Heimwehr grew stronger until they ultimately took over. In 1938, Kurt von Schuschnig proposed a plebiscite but Hitler coerced him into resigning and abolished all political parties except for the Fatherland Front.
Germany annexed Austria on March 12th, 1938 without a plebiscite. Following this, the previous government was swiftly replaced by a Nazi administration and Austria was divided into seven administrative districts. It was during this period that the Holocaust began. Despite being occupied by Germany in World War II, the Allies expressed their support for an independent Austria in the Moscow Declaration. The Soviet army liberated Eastern Austria in 1945, soon followed by Western Austria. After the war, Austria became free from Nazism and regained its independence while adopting neutrality. To help revive its collapsed industry, financial assistance was provided by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration.

The treatment of Jewish individuals during the Holocaust is deeply disturbing to uncover. They were subjected to horrific conditions in concentration camps where they were forced to dig mass graves before being shot in the head and falling into them. Surviving Jews faced the grim task of collecting and burying or cremating their fellow victims who were scattered throughout the camp. Shockingly, out of over one million Jewish men, women, and children sent to these camps, less than two-thirds survived.

It should be noted that not all Jews who perished did so within concentration

camps; some were publicly executed or transported to mobile gas chambers where they suffocated from poisonous gases like carbon monoxide. As I conducted my research on the Holocaust, a profound sadness overwhelmed me.Not only Jews, but also Gypsies, Blacks, and anyone opposing Hitler's government suffered in these camps. While their suffering may not have been as severe as that of the Jews, they still experienced beatings and starvation to some degree. Despite these dire circumstances, there were brave individuals who risked their lives by providing shelter to Jewish families in their homes, churches, and businesses. These compassionate souls understood the harsh consequences of hiding a Jewish person from the Nazis, such as imprisonment or death. One intriguing revelation is that Adolf Hitler himself had Jewish ancestry despite being an antisemite. His father and other relatives came from a Jewish background, making him almost half-Jewish. This contradicted his belief that an ideal German should possess blonde hair and blue eyes when he himself had brown hair and brown eyes. He even ordered the execution of those who did not meet these "German Standards," which perplexed many due to his strong conviction. Interestingly enough, there was no opposition when he decided to eliminate Jewish people from German society through mass deportations to concentration camps. The book "Hitler's Willing Executioners" provides a detailed account of the Holocaust atrocities committed against Jews by the Nazis. Each chapter presents factual information and firsthand experiences from both Jewish individuals and Germans living during that period of time.Despite its formal writing style and challenging content, the book Devil in Vienna proves to be highly informative. Chapter five discusses various methods used to

deceive Jews into their tragic demise, such as tricking them into entering gas chambers by falsely presenting them as shower rooms. These chambers utilized toxic gases like carbon monoxide, resulting in death after just a few breaths.

In chapter nine, the focus shifts to the characteristics deemed ideal for Germans, with Hitler and others labeling those who did not meet these standards as inferior or undesirable. These standards included being wealthy, having blonde hair, blue eyes, and not being Jewish. It is paradoxical that Hitler himself did not fit these criteria as he had brown hair and eyes and was partly descended from Jewish ancestry.

While Devil in Vienna is supported by historical accuracy, it lacks evidence for certain incidents that may not have been recorded or could have been fictionalized based on similar events. Nevertheless, through this project, I gained extensive knowledge about the history of the Holocaust era.

Devil in Vienna manages to be both informative and entertaining, maintaining my interest in reading. Furthermore, it further supports my research on the discrimination faced by Jewish people in Austria during the lead-up to and during the Holocaust.

The characters in the book also consumed food similar to kosher food commonly eaten by Jewish people at that time - a detail that adds depth and authenticity to the narrative.These dishes were prepared without meat according to specific dietary rules. The events depicted in the book, including the Plebiscite of Austria and the Anschluss, were actual historical events that occurred in Vienna, Austria during the 1930s. Doris Orgel accurately described various significant and minor events that took place during this period. One particular event discussed was the Anschluss when Adolf

Hitler and Nazis seized control of Austria, leading Chancellor Schuschnigg to resign and cancel a national plebiscite. All this factual information provided by Orgel is supported by my own research conducted at the library. I believe that this book successfully portrays a Jewish person's thoughts and emotions during the Holocaust. Reading it has deepened my understanding of this historical event and taught me valuable research skills for time management. Completing this assignment is a significant step towards tackling future challenging assignments in high school, and I am proud of my effort and accomplishments in completing it well. I hope that my hard work not only results in a good grade but also enhances my knowledge and comprehension of the Holocaust.After completing this task, I anticipate feeling a sense of accomplishment and relief. The bibliography includes the following sources:

- Alder, David. "We Remember the Holocaust." New York: Henry Holt, 1989.
- "Austria." Microsoft Encarta. 1995.
- Goldhagen, Daniel. "Hitler's Willing Executioners." New York: Random House, 1997.
- Marrin, Albert. "Hitler." New York: Viking Penguin, 1987.
- Orgel, Doris. "Devil In Vienna." New York: Puffin, 1978.
- Rogasky, Barbra. "Smoke and Ashes." New York: Holiday House, 1988.
- Wepman, Dennis. "Adolf Hitler." New York: Chelsea House, 1985.