Many wonder what caused Hitler to exterminate so many innocent people. The Holocaust happened for many reasons, including World War I, Hitler’s rise to power in Europe, Nazi propaganda, the strength of Germany’s military, the cooperation with surrounding countries, and the League of Nations. After Germany was left with the reparations of World War I, they were also embarrassed by the Treaty of Versailles, which took away almost all of their important resources and land. It also took away much of their military and demanded that they publicly recognize guilt for the war. After World War I, the stock market crashed, raiding unemployment to nearly 25 percent. Bread lines were provided for the people who could not afford to buy even the smallest amount of food. “…the onset of the Great Depression with its devastating effects on the middle classes helped Hitler to win over all those strata in German society who felt their economic existence was threatened”(Adolf Hitler). At first, Hitler did not have very many followers, but once they realized that he could help bring prosperity back, millions were willing to listen. “…Hitler played on national resentments, feelings of revolt and the desire for strong leadership using all the most modern techniques of mass persuasion to present himself as Germany’s redeemer and messianic savior”(Adolf Hitler). Many supporters felt that the people needed to prove their superiority over the Jews, which led them to think it was okay to kill. Benhayim insists that, “while the authors of the New Testament disagreed with the aspects of Judaism, they were not anti-Jewish. He claims that the interpreting passages of the Gospels in the anti-Jewish manner came about when non-Jewish converts to Christianity felt a need to prove their superiority over the Jews”(Benhayim).
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Effects on Germany. 1923. The Great Depression. N.p., 2011. Web. 19 Apr. 2011. http://www.thegreatdepression.co.uk/effects-on-germany/>. |
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Adolf Hitler and other participants in the Hitler Putsch, during the annual anniversary celebration of his failed attempt to seize power. Behind Hitler stand Rudolf Hess (left) and Heinrich Himmler. Munich, Germany. 9 Nov. 1934. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2011. <http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/ media_ph.php?MediaId=7794>. |
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