The Pros And Cons Of The Holocaust

“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 “The Paradigm Challenged,” believes that it did; and argues quite convincingly that ordinary German citizens were duplicitous either by their actions or inactions due to the deep-seeded nature of anti-Semitic sentiment in the country. On the other hand, Christopher R. Browning, who has extensively researched the Holocaust, argues that the arguments of Goldhagen leaves out significant dynamics which were prevalent throughout most of Western and Eastern Europe during this period of history.

    From small random acts of kindness to large charities and organizations who aim to help and aid others, humanity has been able to thrive and flourish showing all that we can achieve and accomplish. Sadly things are never as good as they seem because we can also infer that humanity is very much capable of horrific things. Throughout the long and violent course of mankind, there have been many genocides and atrocities that have occurred. The crusades, world wars, and some government enforced genocides are some examples of the horrid events that have taken place in our history, each event being accountable for millions and millions of lives. Out of all them, the most discussed and taught about atrocity is World War II, which took place mainly in Europe from September 1, 1939 to September 2, 1945. Led by the infamous Adolf Hitler, one of the goals of Nazi Germany was to rid Europe of Jews. Hitler's perspective on the Jews was that they caused all of Germany’s problems and even held them responsible for the loss the country had in World War I. By doing so, Hitler made a big enemy.

The United States’ response to the Holocaust is a much-discussed and very sensitive subject for a variety of groups close to or related to the situation. The opinions on the subject are diverse and far-reaching, and the analyzations and comparison of some of these can lead to a greater understanding of not only the happenings of the Holocaust itself but also the social reactions to the event by the many groups involved. Four sources I intend to compare include Martin Gilbert’s Auschwitz and the Allies, David Wyman’s The Abandonment of the Jews: America and the Holocaust, 1941-1945, W.D. Rubinstein’s The Myth of Rescue: Why the Democracies Could Not Have Saved the Jews from the Nazis, and Peter Novick’s The Holocaust in American Life, because I believe that these four sources make up a diverse and widespread selection from which nearly all opinions, or the most conflicting ones, can be observed and interpreted. The first work uses an investigatory style that proposes pieces of evidence from the period shortly before the Holocaust that could have allowed the allies further and more prudent action. Similarly, the second work argues that there is substantial evidence that the United States and the rest of the allies could certainly have saved thousands of lives with earlier and more aggressive action, but argues from a more opinion and theoretical style that focuses less on

Growing up during the Holocaust was a rough time especially for Anne. Growing up in a small cramped annex with strict rules and a family she hardly knew was not an easy transition from her living in her own home with some to no rules. To go into hiding Anne had to give up all of her friends and leave the school she was attending. It was like her and her family just disappeared. While staying in the annex for two years Anne has shown many characteristics of a survivor such as being friendly, becoming composed and having an optimistic attitude.

What does the Holocaust mean to you? Some would say mass genocide, the extermination of the Jews or some may not be able to define it at all. The Holocaust – one of mankind’s worst atrocities committed in the past one hundred years, full of the thirteen years of prejudice and mistreatment that was endorsed by the fascist ideals. Over twelve million people perished due to this mass genocide of all races, ages, classes, and creeds. However, for some ignorance is bliss. Some do not acknowledge these atrocities against the human race caused by their own – it is a lie! They shout. They feel dignified for their supposed superior thoughts. Although people are able to have their own rights to thought and speech, their opinions are filled with hate, ignorance, and deceit. This is why the Holocaust did happen.

When people elevate to the status of citizen in their respective country, it’s surely a momentous occasion. However, once the title of citizen is acquired there are certain responsibilities that must be fulfilled. Tim Holden said "The Holocaust illustrates the consequences of prejudice, racism and stereotyping on a society. It forces us to examine the responsibilities of citizenship and confront the powerful ramifications of indifference and inaction"(Holden). Holden’s quote has a specific point that is incredibly important which is confronting the consequences of inaction. Anger and revulsion can arise from a variety of epicenters, but one that undoubtedly protrudes is Adolf Hitler throughout World War II. Inaction can be a godsend, but definitely has a dangerous side which held true during the Holocaust and still holds true today.

In 1942, a representative of the World Jewish Congress in Switzerland was informed on what was happening in Germany by a German source. He then asked American diplomats in Switzerland to tell Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, America’s most prominent Jewish leader, of the plan in Germany for mass murder. As the heartless and inconsiderate State Department, that is, decided against informing Wise. When Wise did eventually find out this information on his own and reported it to the public, it was only tenth-page news. Not one paper had given this horrific event the attention it needed only because of previously false reports of German atrocities. Had the holocaust been given the attention that it needed and deserved, it would have ended long before it did, also without nearly as many

The Nazi’s took Jews to concentration camps where they had many weapons. For instance, they had gas chambers. The Nazi’s used the gas chambers to trick the jewish into thinking they were going to take showers. But what the Nazi’s actually did was take the people who were old, children and very sick people to gas them out. Another way they would torture the jews was with the cremation chambers. The Nazi’s would burn people alive if they were ill or older. Also, when they were walking to different concentration camps, the Nazi’s would shoot whoever stopped walking. What’s worse than the weapons is the causes.

Memorialization of any sort can be a tedious process, but those regarding Holocaust remembrance were particularly challenging given the surrounding social and political controversies that ensued. This is primarily seen through the issue of representation, which consistently played a key role in the creation of both the Holocaust museum in Washington D.C., and the Dachau concentration camp memorial. While the Dachau memorial’s conception stages, the designers were contemplating which victim groups to include. For instance, the mayor of Dachau stated, “Please do not make the mistake of thinking that only heroes died in Dachau. Many inmates were…there because they illegally opposed the regime of the day….You have to remember there were many criminals and homosexuals in Dachau. Do we want a memorial to such people?” (Harold Maruse, “Dachau,” 151). With this quote, the mayor implies that the memorial will only be dedicated to those he deems worthy of representation. Likewise, the White House officials orchestrating the American Holocaust Museum also debated a similar notion regarding the inclusion of ethic victim groups other than the Jews. However, Wiesel and other Holocaust survivors believed that commemorating non-Jews was an “…obscene incursion into the boundaries of Holocaust memory by those whose country-men had persecuted survivors” (Edward T. Linenthal, Preserving Memory, 53). For this reason, and in order to avoid the generation of false memories, these groups

Throughout the course we have considered various states of exception and the institutions that have accomplished dehumanizing the people imprisoned. I will be discussing three institutions that have either been concentration camps or have established torture to a great extent. The Nazi concentration camps, Soviet Union Gulags, and the Guantanamo Bay detention camp each have or have had their own way of establishing power over the people detained, all have used different methods of control to demonstrate authority, however, each dehumanized people because they had the capability to do so.

A huge issue that exists is whether British Intelligence and American Intelligence had enough information to effectively bomb the concentration camps and death camps, destroying the crematoriums and gas chambers that were used to kill of millions from the Jewish people and “undesirables” (gypsies, disabled, etc.) during the Holocaust. “By 1944, Auschwitz II-Birkenau contained all the operation gas chambers and crematoria,” However, these gas chambers and crematoriums were shut down and two other facilities that were in the wooded area took over most the gassing operations. A possible “end” or delay to the extermination of Jewish people (and others) would’ve been to bomb the concentration camps, but would have been considered useless as casualties would have still

The era and the actions of Adolf Hitler leadership of the Nazi party during the year of 1933 and 1934 were devastating to the Jews. During the World War II era, Adolf Hitler took control of the German government and the German people through his speeches and propaganda, and the people uplifted him in his leadership. In Hitler’s propaganda, he felt the need to eliminate the Jewish community which he felt the Jews impacted the fall of the German economy. The US news article “U.S. Help for Jews Asked by Alfange: He Says We, Allies and Neutrals” provided actions made by the United States in support of providing assistance and support from Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt and the American people; while the news article “Group Plans to Aid Jews In Nazi Fight” by Murphy Chairman only expressed organizing a committee to create a plan. Both US newspapers showed the United States had different views on handling the situation regarding supporting the Jews in their situation. While both of the US articles had their similar views in wanting to support the Jews, however, the outcome of their planning differed.

Horror struck on January 30, 1933 when Germany assigned Adolf Hitler as their chancellor. Once Hitler had finally reached power he set out to complete one goal, create a Greater Germany free from the Jews (“The reasons for the Holocaust,” 2009). This tragedy is known today as, “The Holocaust,” that explains the terrors of our histories past. The face of the Holocaust, master of death, and leader of Germany; Adolf Hitler the most deceitful, powerful, well spoken, and intelligent person that acted as the key to this mass murder. According to a research study at University of South Florida, nearly eleven million people were targeted and killed. This disaster is a genocide that was meant to ethnically cleanse Germany of the Jews. Although

How prevalent was anti-Semitism in the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration? The discussion of this question focuses on the Roosevelt presidency from 1933 to 1940. At this time, the United States was in a state of economic collapse, which provided an ideal environment for the harboring of prejudicial sentiment. In addition, Germany was undergoing a state-run anti-Semitic campaign that made living in Germany increasingly dangerous for German Jews. This essay specifically focuses on actions (or lack thereof) taken by Roosevelt in matters pertaining to the Jewish community, as well as his personal sentiments towards Jews. This question will be explored by utilizing firsthand accounts such as Vice President Henry

Remembering the sweet sound of their laughter, along with a smile that was so kind.