How can something like the Holocaust Happen?
Artifacts:
- Rwandan genocide survivor interview
- “Yes leader. we follow you!” Nazi propaganda poster
- First they came, a poem by Martin Niemoller
A tragedy such as the Holocaust ever occurring in society today, seems unimaginable-yet it happens in the deepest corners of the world. We wonder, how could something like the systematic killing in the Holocaust ever happen in the world? The answer starts off with a corrupt and evil genius of a figure head. This evil figurehead manipulates and brainwashes the public that so greatly admires him. The public that would fall for such a leader is one that is in need of serious reform; one that has hit rock bottom.
The societies that fall prey to such evil acts of mass killings are those that are in such economic and political despair, that they would turn to just about anyone willing to lead them. In the Holocaust, Hitler was able to convince the people of Germany that the reason for heavy war reparations from the world war, was because of Jews. The people of Germany were poor and impressionable, so Hitler took advantage of this. From the “Yes Leader, we follow you!” propaganda poster, you can tell that the majority of Germans supported Hitler and looked to him as “God”. The people in the poster are obeying Hitler and are bowing down to him which sends a message to those unsupportive of Hitler, that they should join in because he is the only thing that matters. Hitler was viewed as their saviour. The people in this poster seem to look up at Hitler in admiration, yet Hitler is scowling back at them which I found interesting. Perhaps people admired Hitler for his harshness and vigilance towards Jews.While this poster was used as a way for Hitler to gain support in the impressionable society, the poster was a way to show the people “who’s boss” as well.
In the poem “First they came” by Martin Niemoller I noticed how the narrator of the poem constantly feared speaking out because he was afraid he would be sent away too. In the first lines of the poem, Niemoller says
“First they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for the communists, and I did not speak out-
because I was not a communist”
In every line the narrator is holding back from speaking his mind; every line he is losing his voice. I thought this related to Hitler’s position in society, and how scared people were of him. This is an example of how something like the Holocaust can happen; there must be a powerful leader that the citizens follow out of fear.
For something like the Holocaust to happen, you also need efficiency in killing, however morbid that sounds. The people carrying out the killings have to have the will to take away the lives of millions in just days. As discussed in the interview of the Rwandan Genocide survivor, Immaculee, it is stated that the genocide was “the most efficient carried out” and that 800,000 people were killed in a span of just 100 days. It is incredible to me how the people who carry out these systematic killings can just turn off their emotions like a light switch, and kill millions of innocent families and children.
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