Dbq Essay On The Holocaust

Many people believe the holocaust that occurred in World War II was the government's fault, as they would go on to torture the Jewish people and make harsh statements about how they don’t belong here in Germany, but could it also be the cause of the people? While Hitler and his group called, “Nazi” is the reason for inspiring many people around Germany that Jews are not supposed to be here there are multiple sources in the world that can prove the situation the other way around. Even though there are hundreds of sources in the world the sources, “8 Stages of Genocide” (Source B) identified by Professor Gregory H. Stanton, a poem (Source C) written by Pastor Neimoller, “The Terrible Things” (Source D) by Eve Bunting, and information on the Holocaust

from theholocaustexplained.org (Source E) can prove this argument. “8 Stages of Genocide” introduces a simple concept to explain how Genocides work in eight steps. The poem written by Pastor Nerimoller involves an unknown person who refuses to help others because he isn’t like them. Making a connection to the time period of most people’s opinion. “The Terrible Things” by Eve Bunting connects to the time period with personification of animals to show that if people took action more people would have been safe. The website, “theholocaustexplained.org” features a large library of information on the Holocaust and hints possible actions people could have taken. Therefore, the Holocaust is the responsibility of the people as no action was taken to stop the event and the option to end things peacefully with multiple hints about the future was only ignored.

One of the major reasons why the Holocaust in World War II would go on until the Nazis were defeated was that nobody wanted to take action. Most would have a number of reasons with each being some kind of excuse. Pastor Neimoller who wrote the poem was successful in relating his poem directly to how most people would act during the holocaust. In fact almost all of his lines provide a clear yet simple explanation of most people’s action and could be visualized as if the event was actually occurring. Neimoller was successful by exposing the people’s action as, “First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew,” (Source C). In further explanation when the Nazis were traveling across Europe to take any Jewish person, Communist, and trade unionist these types of people were desperate from some kind of help from others. Whether it was one of them or anyone, even if they did not have any conflicts in the situation. Unfortunately, it was quite rare to find a person who would take their own time to save these people from disaster and completely risk their life for them. Not to mention some were family or friends and still denied helping their troubled friend(s) or family member(s). Those who chose not to help most likely had the simple explanation, “I am not one of them,” as an excuse. That would go on to be the excuse almost everyone used who declined the idea of helping those who were in trouble, because they were not that type or race. In today’s world that is considered to be rude almost everywhere as just because you may not have any conflicts with the situation or you are completely different races with separate beliefs and/or group is not an excuse to refuse the helping of another another fellow kind person. Furthermore Eve Bunting would go on into extra detail of this concept by taking an ordinary forest with animals and use personification to relate towards this hurtful concept. Bunting would be able to capture readers towards her story with a peaceful scenery and set of characters to get people interested in what she will do next. Only to soon discover what she is trying reveal behind this friendly atmosphere. Her story quickly went on to reveal this secret by having the following character, Big Rabbit perform the action of an excuse, “But the Terrible Things don't need a reason. Many creatures dislike frogs. Lumpy slimy things,” (Source D). To clarify what Bunting is trying reveal she had the ‘terrible things’ or humans come to the forest and take away the frogs for an unknown reason. The other animals who have been long time friends with the frogs decided to not only refuse to take action but hide in fear for to never see the frogs ever again. Similar to Pastor Neimoller’s idea in his poem the characters would not want to help towards others suffering because they weren’t one of them. Let alone the characters in “Terrible Things” spoke nasty and hateful comments to add on to the already poor decision made by them. The character(s) and their poor decision featured in both writing pieces would not be realized until the end of the story when it was already too late. Thus going back to the Holocaust the reason why people would not go and take action to save those in pain was this simple reason and similar to the two writing pieces their decision would not be well thought until after the Holocaust happened. When the Nazis accomplished their mission of making as many Jewish people suffer as possible and murder millions of them as a form of entertainment.

Not only was the people’s inability to take action against the Nazis during the Holocaust would lead towards their responsibility of the event, but also they’re ignorance before the event even occurred and the inability to end things peacefully.

The library of information on the Holocaust from “theholocaustexplained.org” acknowledges possibilities of this happening, but are somewhat hidden. In one section of “theholocaustexplained.org” it explains the effects of World War I in Germany. This section informs readers, “The end of the war brought chaos and confusion to Germany. People were fighting in the streets, and there were dreadful shortages of food,” (Source E). Additionally during World War I Germany was technically being run by the military rather than the politicians, giving them full power over the country. When the war was ending and it seemed Germany has lost any chances of being victorious their commander, Kaiser Wilhelm had to leave, quickly causing the conflict of there being no leader and kind of government to control the country. Thus different groups would debate and fight for control including Hitler who wanted to get in on the action and become leader of the country. He would of course later on achieve this and start World War II and the Holocaust. Going back to the quote Germany was getting violent after World War I. There were street fights and even the killing of innocent people to eliminate the competition for power. Even Hitler performed some violent actions to gain power. By taking this fact we could infer that if Germany took a more peaceful route and some kind of temporary government was made to take charge in solving this crisis then violence would have most likely not have taken place. In fact Hitler who had performed different violent actions and broke different laws could have never been allowed to be a nominee to become Germany’s next leader and then the Holocaust would have never occurred. Exposing the people’s chaotic actions and

ignorance towards choosing a friendlier route. In addition Professor Gregory H. Stanton who identified and created, “8 Stages of Genocide” includes a relation towards “theholocaustexplained.org” of endorsing that a safer route could have been achieved despite their differences of acknowledging it. He has argued, “At each stage, preventive measures can stop it,” (Source B). Even though it was possible to avoid the Holocaust through a peaceful way before it could occur he was able to prove that even if the Holocaust was already in motion preventive measures could have stopped it. Stanton’s first step, “Classification” educates, “People’s differences are not respected. Groups considered as different are often excluded from certain activities,” (Source B). Hitler would exhibit this kind of action against the Jewish people and encourage everyone to do it too, providing an early sign that Hitler could be planning a holocaust. Considering that other holocausts occurred before World War II and exhibited similar actions like Hitler it proves that early signs have appeared but were also ignored similar to that of solving Germany’s issues peacefully. 

Community involvement in any sort of environment is extreme importance and could cause an outstanding outcome. Whether it is a town, school, country, or major event like the Holocaust actions can be created and performed by the people to inspire those around them who think differently. In relation towards the Holocaust it is important that people take action in such events where people are suffering everyday and need help, but never will because of the thought of not being the same race, religion, and/or group. If action was taken then the Nazis might have never gotten as far as they did and save those millions of Jewish people. Alternatively, the people in Germany had received multiple hints of what Hitler could do in the future and had the chance to take action towards stopping him. Even after World War I and before Hitler was gaining power some kind of order by the people should have been restored to avoid having a violent government like Hitler’s. Therefore, it is possible to answer that with or without government influence the people themselves was the cause towards the Holocaust due to their refusal to take action and overall ignorance of multiple hints of the future and that matters can be faced peacefully.