For most people, the Holocaust evokes feelings of empathy for the victims, and anger toward the persecutors. The Holocaust, defined as “the systematic annihilation of six million Jews by the Nazi regime,” began with the rise of Nazi Germany (“A Historical Summary”). When the Germans lost World War One, the Jews received the blame. Anti-Semitism, or the hatred toward Jews, spread like wildfire throughout the nation. Hitler came to power with ideas of a master race, resulting in the persecution of many across Europe in what became known as the Holocaust.
Although many contributed to the Holocaust, Adolf Hitler remains viewed as the main catalyst. Born in Austria, Hitler originated from humble roots and poor parents (Byers, Overview 23). Adolf decided at an early age to become an artist, due to the fact that he received the best grades in his primary school art class. Soon after entering secondary school, Hitler dropped out due to poor grades. After his rejection from art school, Hitler continued to live with his mother until her death. At age nineteen Hitler lacked an education, but needed money so he traveled around picking up any job available. At this low point in his life, Adolf Hitler decided to become an anti-Semite (24). With the start of World War One, Hitler became a German soldier at age twenty-five (23-25). His time in the army led Hitler to pursue a career in politics.
With Hitler’s newfound goal of politics, he joined the Nazi party. Quickly working his way to the top, Hitler soon became elected the “Führer” or leader of the party. Adolf first attempted to gain power in the “Beer Hall Rebellion.” He led supporters to Berlin where the uprising was quickly crushed. With the charge of treason, Hitler s...
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...y innocent lives were lost in vain including 5 million non-Jews (“Holocaust”). When Adolf Hitler came to power, Europe became entangled in chaos as millions of Jews and other groups endure persecution from Germans.
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There are times in history when desperate people plagued by desperate situations blindly give evil men power. These men, once given power, have only their own evil agendas to carry out. The Holocaust was the result of one such man's agenda. In short simplicity, shear terror, brutality, inhumanity, injustice, irresponsibility, immorality, stupidity, hatred, and pure evil are but a few words to describe the Holocaust.
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The Holocaust was a time when many Jews and other "undesirables" lost their lives because of Hitler and the Nazis. The genocide lasted for twelve years, from 1933 to 1945, and about eleven million lives were lost durring this time. Even though the Holocaust is over, learning about it helps us understand how power can be abused.
Adolf Hitler was born in 1889; he was the son of an Austrian customs official. He was a failure in secondary school so he moved to Vienna to become an artist. Even though the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts rejected him, Hitler stayed in Vienna to live the lifestyle of an artist. Hitler said his years in Vienna were an important developmental period in his life; he lived there from 1908 to 1913.
Levi, Neil, and Michael Rothberg. The Holocaust: Theoretical Readings. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 2003. Print.
Dwork, Deborah, and R. J. Van Pelt. Holocaust: a History. New York: Norton, 2002. Print.
Why didn't the non Jewish people fight for their friends, family, and acquaintances? If the non Jews would have collaborated then they would have had capitulate from the Nazis. Were they scared, or were they afraid that they could not do anything? Well, if enough of the non Jews had fought back they could have helped the Jews out of the Concentration camps and all of the torture that they were being put through. One reason that the non Jews should have fought back was if they were in the Jews predicament then they would want help too. The non Jews could have been triumphant. The non Jews should have had an aspiration for saving their friends. Hitler was putting them through the worst possible treatment. I know that I would want help. I would help it is the right thing to do and that the Jews have a right to believe what they want. Everybody has the right to believe what they want.
"A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust-Victims." A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust-Victims. University of South Florida. Web. 19 May 2014.