Why did the Holocaust happen Essay Example

The treaty demanded reparations totaling nearly 7 billion pounds, resulting in significant consequences for Germany such as territorial loss and disarmament.

Hitler, who initially opposed the Treaty of Versailles, outlined his party's ideals in 'Mein Kampf' after becoming its leader. He stated that the Germans represented the purest form of the Aryan Race and were superior to all other races. Furthermore, he labeled Jews as inferior and expressed his contempt for the Treaty of Versailles.

During this period, the Nazi party was compelled to downplay their emphasis on the Jews due to public opinion. Following Germany's loss in WW1, life for Germans was exceedingly difficult. Their currency was rendered worthless by inflation, resulting in frequent riots over necessities such as food, money and fairness. To alleviate the situation, the German people sought a scapegoat, ultimately choosing the Jews- a scapegoat that had been used for over 1900 years. Not content with mere accusations, evidence had to be established to prove why the Jews carried this heavy burden.

The search for reasons behind blaming Jews in anti-semitism was influenced by Darwin's theory, which was interpreted by the German people to suggest that Jews were inferior to the Aryan race. Prominent figures like Hitler promoted these ideas based on factual claims rather than emotions. Mein Kampf explicitly states, "By defending myself against the Jews, I am fighting for the work of our lord".

After Hitler became the leader, Jewish people faced punitive measures that stripped them of their rights. In 1933, absurd regulations were put in place such as forbidding children who had Aryan and non-Aryan descent from playing together. This was followed by brutal pogroms like Kristallnacht (Night of Broken

Glass) which destroyed 267 synagogues and led to the capture of 30,000 Jews. The infamous Final Solution was eventually implemented while anti-semitism spread rapidly; this ideology also helped boost the popularity of the Nazi party.

Amid the global depression, the Nazis made a commitment to job creation, resulting in 37.2% of votes and securing their position as the largest party in Reichstag. In 1933, Hindenburg designated Hitler as chancellor, providing him with an opportunity to seize power. That same year, the Reichstag was set ablaze, which Hitler utilized as a pretext for eliminating opponents. From January 1933 onwards, he established concentration camps to suppress those opposed to Nazi policies. Propaganda played a pivotal role in manipulating German citizens through control over radio stations, newspapers, and posters.

The depiction of Jews as wicked villains was a potent tool to indoctrinate children. Educational institutions also propagated anti-Semitic beliefs. Furthermore, Germany underwent a process of racial purification, where mentally or physically challenged individuals were subjected to sterilization through techniques like X-rays.

By 1939, Hitler's sterilization program had impacted around 1% of the German population. The persecution of Jews also intensified and culminated in the Kristallnacht pogrom on November 9, 1938. During this violent night, over 90 Jewish individuals were killed by Nazis while hundreds more were assaulted. In addition to destroying a total of 76 synagogues and damaging another 191, Jewish-owned businesses were looted and destroyed too, with the community having to pay for damages caused. Heinrich Himmler oversaw these horrific events that were carried out by the SS.

Establishing his dictatorship, Hitler sought to retaliate against Jews for their perceived role in Germany's loss during World War One. From 1935, Germany

armed itself and oppressed ethnic minorities, with a particular focus on Jewish people. The Nazis recognized that civilian support was necessary to carry out the genocide of over 8 million Jews and other minorities. Kristallnacht marked a turning point when evidence of public anti-Semitic violence emerged as proof of civilian collaboration with the Nazi regime.

Hitler was accepted as the leader during the invasion of Czechoslovakia, and its population handed over their Jewish citizens. Additionally, civilian groups took it upon themselves to murder Jews without orders from the SS. Other countries under German control also surrendered their Jewish populations. Despite Germany's apparent defeat in 1944, they continued to strive for racial perfection, with Hitler's ultimate plan being the final solution that led to the total extermination of Jews.

The Euthanasia campaign led to the murder of 70,000 disabled people in gas chambers in Germany and Austria. Operation Barbarossa began, during which Jewish individuals had to dig their own graves before being shot. However, this method was deemed inadequate by Himmler who opted for Zyklon B gas instead. Hitler ordered the establishment of death camps like Auschwitz and Belsen where large numbers of people were killed.

With his ability to brainwash Germans and convince them of the necessity of ethnic cleansing, Adolf Hitler became a key figure in the genocide that led to the merciless killing of about 8 million Jews. Without the Nazis, it's possible another political group could have taken Hitler's place. However, Hitler was only able to carry out such widespread extermination with the support he received from his followers.

Despite their knowledge of the holocaust, the allies failed to take sufficient action to prevent it.

As a result, there were numerous Jewish fatalities. The question remains: if bombing the camps might have resulted in some Jewish casualties, would it not have been more beneficial to sacrifice a small group already destined for death in order to save a larger majority?