The Holocaust

The HolocaustEsby, Tim, Peter

Marginal Human Beings, Mercy Killings,Citizens raised questions, Euthanasia. "If you had directed a nurse to go from bed to bed shooting these children... that would not have worked. As a result, “there was no killing, strictly speaking... People felt this is not murder, it is a putting-tosleep"(Reading 12).

Starving prisoners in Mauthausen concentration camp liberated on May 5, 1945. "Poles were required to “leave the pavement free” for their conquerors; they had to serve Germans and German Poles first in every shop; and they were to tip their hats to “important personalities of State, Party and armed forces” but were not allowed to say “Heil Hitler!” (Reading 16)

Holocuast, Euphemism, Cover up, Particularity "Resettlement," Jew Labor, Own Grave, Stripped of Valuables, Unknowing. "Between his memory and his reflection there is a wall – and it cannot be pierced" (Reading 2)

Reserve Police Battalion 101, Perpetrators, Nazi, Opposed to Cruel Orders, Executed, Killing Machines, Death Camps

A view of Ulica Swietokrzyska (Holy Cross Street) in central Warsaw after the 1944 rebellion

Hitler believed that all marginal human beings should be killed. These killings were known as Mercy Killings. The Nazis amended laws that singled out groups known as Gypsies. They were required to register with the police on account of a new law, and were then sent to ghettos, concentration camps or special camps for Gypsies. After Hitler declared war on Poland, the German army and the SS marched into Poland claiming that they were retaliating a Polish attack on Gleiwitz. Jews were kidnapped and sent to forced labor camps to be shot, tortured, and beaten. Only “useful” Jews were put in concentration camps. Smart Polish men were killed because they posed as a threat to Hitler, causing a reign of terror effect throughout Poland. Most Jews in Poland were locked up in the city of Warsaw and ⅕ of the population died from starvation. As the Nazis took steps to isolate and deport every Jew in the country, Jews had to wear yellow stars on their clothing. They could not practice their professions, and were not allowed public services like taxicabs, going to the beach, park, movies, etc. The Nazis wanted to legally come to power, but did not use their power according to law. It is important to understand how and why the holocaust happened, questions like "why wasn't it stopped?" And "how could people go through with such cruel actions?" are often posed. No one can truly understand the emotional state of the people who were a part of the Holocaust, Jews nor Germans. The Germans made the Holocaust a systematic and well executed machine-like killing process; from the men they had performing the physical act of the killings, to the way they structured the registration and transportation of all Jews.

Gypsies, no cheers after Hitler declared war on Poland, Germans conquer communities in Poland, Forced Labor Camps.