Nazi Racial Ideology

The United States Holocaust Museum’s article entitled Victims of the Nazi Era: Nazi Racial Ideology recounts one of the most devastating atrocities of the modern world, the mass persecution and indiscriminate execution of the Jews as well as their expulsion to various areas of Europe not occupied by Nazi Germany. The article attempts to ascertain the theoretical underpinnings assumed by members of the Nazi Party that could have justified such inconceivable actions against groups of religious adherents and other members of German society. The article elucidates upon the origins and implications of Nazi racial ideology, conveying that the belief of Nazi racial superiority derived its origins from a theory of the time period known as Social Darwinism. Social Darwinism was

As a result, he associated a variety of immutable stereotypes with certain groups, races, and sects (these stereotypes being exclusively negative and derogatory). Hitler believed that society was characterized by a perpetual struggle of racial dominance and he perceived that it was the right of superior races to exterminate and subdue “inferior ones.” Hitler was plagued by the notion of racial dilution of the Aryan race by other “inferior races” through means of intermarriage. He feared that his desire for a homogenous race would be compromised by allowing procreation with other “inferior races” such as Jews, Roma, Africans, and Slavs. His desire for perfection amongst members of the Aryan race excluded any association with individuals with physical and mental disabilities, habitual or career criminals, and persons, homeless people, promiscuous women, people unable to hold a job, or alcoholics, among others. Hitler's fears of a heterogeneous society were augmented by the occurrences of the time period; Germany had lost World War I and, as a result, was subject to substantial reparations ( Germany was required to relinquish thousands of miles of land and was forced to comply with severe