Jewish people have long been attacked, discriminated upon, and even hated for their religion. They have been persecuted, blamed for economic problems, and mocked. Discriminatoin against or prejudice/hostility towards Jews is called Antisemitism. Historians have defined 6 excuses for this antisemitism:
1. Economic - They possess too much wealth and power
2. Chosen People - They arrogantly claim that they are the chosen people
3. Scapegoat - They are a convenient group to single out and blame for our troubles
4. Deicide - They killed Jesus
5. Outsiders - They are different from us
6. Racial Theory - They are an inferior race
But as the Second World War began, views against Jews worsened. This already present Christian antisemitism swiftly developed into an extreme antisemitism that convinced people of the need to exterminate the Jews on account of their 'obvious' inferiority. In other words, people no longer only hated the Jews for their wealth, power and differences, but for the status of their race - much BELOW the rest of mankind. Assessment of the means and foundation of the Holocaust enables us to see just how wicked the events that took place leading up to and during the Holocaust really were, and the extent of hatred and prejudice against the Jews.
The Beginning
In 1933, Hitler came into power as leader of the NAZI Party in Germany. Nazism, the ideology of the NAZI Party, stood for nationalism, imperialism, anti-communism, militarism, racism, and antisemitism. Through widespread propaganda, many people, not only Germans, became convinced that these ideas were to live for. As a result, Germany saw itself and the true German citizens thereof as an inferior race that could do anything it wanted. There was no God, and therefore no morals, and they quickly took a stand against Jews. Racism was integrated into the hearts of all who followed Nazism, and so by nature they refused to acknowledge Jews as humans with rights equal to theirs. Hitler believed that if the people of Germany were convicted of these ideas, they would be drawn closer together in their loyalty and obedience to his leadership.
The Decline
Slowly the Jews were denied their rights and privileges as citizens of Germany and later as human beings nder the influence of the Nazis. The denial of Jewish citizenship and some basic rights fueled the overall decline of the freedom of the Jews. Jewish newspapers were banished, they weren't allowed to own businesses or work in high levels of employment, they lost the right to vote in 1936, and attending community events, entertainment, and schools was not allowed. Jews' licenses were taken away and extreme restrictions were placed on them on the places they were allowed to go at certain times of the day (1938). Throughout these years Jews were terrorized and arrested, and all were forced to carry id cards, which identified them as Jews. In 1939, Jews were forced to wear the well-known yellow star of David. After this rule was made, Jews were rapidly denied the freedom owning many of their own things and even venturing outside of their homes.
It should also be noted that while Jews were directly attacked during this time, they were not the only victims of the Holocaust. Many other groups including Poles, Soviets (prisoners of war), Romanies (Gypsies), Mentally or Physically handicaped, homosexuals, etc.
It should also be noted that while Jews were directly attacked during this time, they were not the only victims of the Holocaust. Many other groups including Poles, Soviets (prisoners of war), Romanies (Gypsies), Mentally or Physically handicaped, homosexuals, etc.
The Final Solution
In an effort to further control the lives of the Jews, 80,000 of them were placed ghettos (designated areas in the city where Jews were confined to - here they were forced to live and not have contact with the outside world) in 1939.
In 1941 Hitler's obsession with wiping out the Jewish race reached a high. He introduced the Final Solution to the problem of the Jews. In the areas of Europe in which he had power, he rounded up every Jew he could find and sent them via rail to extermination camps, where mass genocide occurred. Genocide is the systematic extermination of a religious or racial group. Here Jews (those who didn't die on the way to the camps) were killed by the hundreds in gas chambers, those who were not killed this way were tortured and killed other ways:
-Starvation
-Exhaustion
-Disease
-Inhumane medical experiments or other acts of extreme violence
Through propaganda in Germany and many other countries, the Nazis carried out this genocide without most of the world's knowledge at the time. As for the Jews not in camps, hiding from the Germans was their top priority, even if it meant uncomfortable living conditions in the dark for many weeks, and days without food. Jews fled the country when the rare opportunity arose. The recovered written accounts of the survival stories and experiences of many and even the accounts of living Holocaust survivors are still studied and told today.
In 1941 Hitler's obsession with wiping out the Jewish race reached a high. He introduced the Final Solution to the problem of the Jews. In the areas of Europe in which he had power, he rounded up every Jew he could find and sent them via rail to extermination camps, where mass genocide occurred. Genocide is the systematic extermination of a religious or racial group. Here Jews (those who didn't die on the way to the camps) were killed by the hundreds in gas chambers, those who were not killed this way were tortured and killed other ways:
-Starvation
-Exhaustion
-Disease
-Inhumane medical experiments or other acts of extreme violence
Through propaganda in Germany and many other countries, the Nazis carried out this genocide without most of the world's knowledge at the time. As for the Jews not in camps, hiding from the Germans was their top priority, even if it meant uncomfortable living conditions in the dark for many weeks, and days without food. Jews fled the country when the rare opportunity arose. The recovered written accounts of the survival stories and experiences of many and even the accounts of living Holocaust survivors are still studied and told today.
The Outcome & Analysis
By 1943, 80-85% of the Jews to die in the Holocaust were murdered. When Hitler was defeated in 1945, the influence of the Nazis diminished and the Holocaust was eventually deemed over. In all, 6 million Jews (1 million of them children) were murdered for no other reason than sinful hatred of them for their religion and supposed position in society.
What fueled this? Denial of the existence and sovereignty of God and the sinful desire of many to be lord over themselves. Satan acted with no restraints in the hearts of many wicked people. These people certainly loved themselves more than their neighbor. This shows what truly sinful things can happen when man elevates himself over the sovereignty of God and the praise He deserves. Only when we strive to serve God as our Father and God can we begin to live a life pleasing to him, a life full of treating others as equals with love before God.
What can be done about this now? The teaching of the events and consequences of the Holocaust. The horrible events of this time period must be explained as a sin. We sin against the Lord daily. We must never forget that life on this earth is a WAR. A war between good and evil, right and wrong, war and peace. Between ethnic groups, between love of one and true respect of the neighbor, between importance of man and life for God. It all boils down to which values and morals you place with most importance in your lives.
What fueled this? Denial of the existence and sovereignty of God and the sinful desire of many to be lord over themselves. Satan acted with no restraints in the hearts of many wicked people. These people certainly loved themselves more than their neighbor. This shows what truly sinful things can happen when man elevates himself over the sovereignty of God and the praise He deserves. Only when we strive to serve God as our Father and God can we begin to live a life pleasing to him, a life full of treating others as equals with love before God.
What can be done about this now? The teaching of the events and consequences of the Holocaust. The horrible events of this time period must be explained as a sin. We sin against the Lord daily. We must never forget that life on this earth is a WAR. A war between good and evil, right and wrong, war and peace. Between ethnic groups, between love of one and true respect of the neighbor, between importance of man and life for God. It all boils down to which values and morals you place with most importance in your lives.
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