The Massive Genocide: The Diary Of Anne Frank
A massive Genocide. Families torn part. Homes destroyed. The Holocaust was a traumatic, appalling experience where nearly 11 million people were brutally murdered. Ruling from 1933 to 1945, the Nazis, led by Adolf Hitler, attempted to rid themselves of all those they deemed inferior or marginalized groups such as the Jews. However, who should take the blame for this horrific event? The government or the people? Source A, an excerpt from The Diary of Anne Frank, explains how the many people were deported out of the country by the Gestapo. Source B, an info graphic, explains the necessary components for a holocaust. Source C, a poem by Pastor Neimoller, explains how nobody stood up for each other, and Source D, an allegory, relates to Nazi Germany.
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Therefore, The Holocaust was the responsibility of the government because they drove people apart and created laws to dehumanize people.
The Nazi government drove the citizens of Europe apart and turned them against each other. People turned their neighbors in, desperately wishing that they themselves would not be taken next. Yet without the government igniting the hatred towards those who were different, Europeans would never have had such poor relations with each other. When the Nazi regime began, the people turned against each other solely for the reason that they wanted to avert the Nazi’s attention from themselves and onto others. The author of Source D, the allegory, depicts a correlation between this event and Nazi Germany. The quote, "But the Terrible Things don't need a reason. Just mind your own business, Little Rabbit. We don't want them to get mad at us," conveys the message that although the rabbits left in the forest don’t want the the other species, representing marginalized groups, to be taken by the Terrible Things, they would rather the other animals be imprisoned than themselves. This, as stated by the animals in the forest, all started because of the Terrible Things. Similarly to the Holocaust, the Government (or the Terrible Things) was the foundation for the division between the people. The author of Source B displays a similar message. “Preparation: Groups are separated and those viewed as ‘different’ may have to live in a different place.” Separating the people like this made those forced to live elsewhere seem even more inferior, further alienating the Jews and other affected groups. Although the people performed the physical segregation, the government stood behind it and initiated it, making it their responsibility.
The Nazi regime or government also created numerous laws to dehumanize and lower affected groups’ image in society.
Despite the government having a little less influence on the people, they had more power, financial backing, and do not have to fear law enforcement. As stated in an excerpt from Source A, The Diary of Anne Frank, “The Gestapo is treating them very roughly and transporting them in cattle cars to Westerbork…” the Gestapo, working for the government, are police themselves and have no reason to be afraid of law enforcement. Regular citizens can aid in the division of people, but they only have so much power. They are not able to make laws or force people into things without the backing of a government. Source B conveys the same idea that initial reactions would not have occurred if not for laws created by the government. “Polarization: Propaganda is used to force groups apart. Special laws may deny marriage or contact between two groups.” Laws cannot be made by regular people. Laws can only be made by the government, and, as shown here, laws that, for example, denied contact between people, played a vital and massive part in the forming of the Holocaust. Hence, the government is responsible for the
Holocaust.
The Holocaust was the responsibility of the government because they created rifts between the community and marginalized groups and created laws to widen the gaps between these groups. If not for the government, communities would never have turned against each other and rejected marginalized groups. Additionally, the government created propaganda to separate people. Communities are very good at acting upon the orders of the government, sometimes solely for the purpose of redirecting the blame or the government’s attention n someone that isn’t themselves. Therefore, the holocaust was the responsibility of the government.
Therefore, The Holocaust was the responsibility of the government because they drove people apart and created laws to dehumanize people.
The Nazi government drove the citizens of Europe apart and turned them against each other. People turned their neighbors in, desperately wishing that they themselves would not be taken next. Yet without the government igniting the hatred towards those who were different, Europeans would never have had such poor relations with each other. When the Nazi regime began, the people turned against each other solely for the reason that they wanted to avert the Nazi’s attention from themselves and onto others. The author of Source D, the allegory, depicts a correlation between this event and Nazi Germany. The quote, "But the Terrible Things don't need a reason. Just mind your own business, Little Rabbit. We don't want them to get mad at us," conveys the message that although the rabbits left in the forest don’t want the the other species, representing marginalized groups, to be taken by the Terrible Things, they would rather the other animals be imprisoned than themselves. This, as stated by the animals in the forest, all started because of the Terrible Things. Similarly to the Holocaust, the Government (or the Terrible Things) was the foundation for the division between the people. The author of Source B displays a similar message. “Preparation: Groups are separated and those viewed as ‘different’ may have to live in a different place.” Separating the people like this made those forced to live elsewhere seem even more inferior, further alienating the Jews and other affected groups. Although the people performed the physical segregation, the government stood behind it and initiated it, making it their responsibility.
The Nazi regime or government also created numerous laws to dehumanize and lower affected groups’ image in society.
Despite the government having a little less influence on the people, they had more power, financial backing, and do not have to fear law enforcement. As stated in an excerpt from Source A, The Diary of Anne Frank, “The Gestapo is treating them very roughly and transporting them in cattle cars to Westerbork…” the Gestapo, working for the government, are police themselves and have no reason to be afraid of law enforcement. Regular citizens can aid in the division of people, but they only have so much power. They are not able to make laws or force people into things without the backing of a government. Source B conveys the same idea that initial reactions would not have occurred if not for laws created by the government. “Polarization: Propaganda is used to force groups apart. Special laws may deny marriage or contact between two groups.” Laws cannot be made by regular people. Laws can only be made by the government, and, as shown here, laws that, for example, denied contact between people, played a vital and massive part in the forming of the Holocaust. Hence, the government is responsible for the
Holocaust.
The Holocaust was the responsibility of the government because they created rifts between the community and marginalized groups and created laws to widen the gaps between these groups. If not for the government, communities would never have turned against each other and rejected marginalized groups. Additionally, the government created propaganda to separate people. Communities are very good at acting upon the orders of the government, sometimes solely for the purpose of redirecting the blame or the government’s attention n someone that isn’t themselves. Therefore, the holocaust was the responsibility of the government.