Language:
German
Year of publication:
2005
Titel der Quelle:
Das Deutsche Reich und der Zweite Weltkrieg
Angaben zur Quelle:
9, 1 (2005) 273-355
Keywords:
Hitler, Adolf, Political and social views
;
Antisemitism History 1933-1945
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
;
National socialism Philosophy
;
World War, 1939-1945
Abstract:
Contends that every step taken in the Holocaust required an order from Hitler. At first, his intention was to carry out the total elimination of the Jews only after he had all of Europe under his domination. Meantime, the Jews were to serve as hostages to assure the United States' neutrality. The proclamation of the Atlantic Charter in 1941 made Hitler realize that the war had turned into a world war, and it was time to fulfill his "prophecy" of 31 January 1939 in which he said "If the Jews succeed in provoking another world war, it will end in their extermination". The elimination of the "treacherous" Jews became the first priority and the primary cause for territorial victory and domination over Europe. Until then, local massacres of Jews had taken place in full public view, but now their total extermination was conducted in closed camps, in secret. It was, however, an open secret; nearly all Germans in occupied Eastern Europe had full knowledge of it; most Germans in the Reich had at least partial knowledge. All knew that these acts were evil, but Nazi logic persuaded them that they were necessary. Talking about the truth was dangerous. The Nazis stoked a fear in the German population of Jewish retribution for these crimes if Germany were to lose the war. Thus, all Germans were living in a lie.
Note:
Appeared in English in "Germany and the Second World War" (2008) 287-389.
URL:
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