[Copacetic]

I"m reading a book at the moment called The Street Sweeper and its about, amongst other things, the Holocaust and racism in the US and its got me thinking about how these things could have happened.

How did Germany as a country decide that a whole group of people needed to be 'exterminated'? What was wrong with them that didn't make them stand up and say hey hang on a sec... this is not right? Is it just that the voices of the rednecks that said "no you can't sit on this bus" or "no you can't go to this school" were louder? Surely someone saw the mindless murder of Indiginous Australians here and said "hang on a sec, something's very wrong here"...?

I guess I am looking at it from a point of view where I am incredibly lucky - I mean, I'm white, I live in Australia and I was born in the 70s, but then again, even now as we speak, there are dictators that want to make something happen.

I just don't understand it.

This post has been edited by Copacetic: 22/01/2013, 01:49 PM

[FrogIsAFrogIsAFr...]

How did Germany as a country decide that a whole group of people needed to be 'exterminated'?

I don't fully understand it, either. I don't think Germany didn't agree with Hitler en masse. My understanding of history is that Hitler spent years and years rallying up support amongst a fanatical, anti-Semitic minority.

The psychology behind charisma, persuasion and group dynamics can explain how he gained enough momentum to do what he did, and had others do what he wished.

I saw a fantastic documentary about the uprising of HItler a few weeks ago on SBS. It showed how the country fought against Hitler for years, writing him off as a raving loony when he released Mein Kampf (sp?), and how he carved his rise to power.

ETA - I'm sure other people with a much more sophisticated understanding of history will answer much better!! Shouldn't have gone first ...

This post has been edited by FrogIsAFrogIsAFrog: 22/01/2013, 01:36 PM

[PrincessPeach]

I actually had to read a book about this for school - although I can't for the life of me think of the title.

However the story went along as a teacher starting an experiment at school because the class was learning about the hollocaust. In the end he called a meeting & explained what he was doing - it was very interesting & showed how it all happened, but I can't remember what exactly was the cause.

[BadCat]

Indoctrination of the young. Authoritative statements from popular leaders. Scaremongering and lies.

Certainly in the holocaust they blamed Jews for all the ills that had befallen the German people. Economic woes? It's because of those cunning Jews. Illness? The Jews are filthy subhumans who spread disease. That sort of thing, repeated often enough, gets into the subconscious of the non-thinking class, and that's all you really need.

Same with the aboriginals in Australia and the negroes in the US. Those in authority considered them savages, little better than animals and taught the stupid and self-entitled to see them that way too.

It's really not that hard to do. Look at the "stop the boats" rubbish in Australia right now. The pollies tell people it's a problem, Alan Jones and his ilk reinforce the message, and the numpty classes follow along like the sheep they are.

[Elippo]

I actually had to read a book about this for school - although I can't for the life of me think of the title.

However the story went along as a teacher starting an experiment at school because the class was learning about the hollocaust. In the end he called a meeting & explained what he was doing - it was very interesting & showed how it all happened, but I can't remember what exactly was the cause.

That book is the Wave

Hilter's rise to power was complicated (obviously) and definitely a product of the times. Remember that Germany at the time was crippled by reparations that they had to make because of WWI, inflation was out of control and Hitler (who was a gifted Orator) was able to make it seem as if the Jews were to blame for a lot of the problems others were experiencing.

This is pretty simplified - I am sure some one with better knowledge in the area can give a better account

[raone]

They tried for years to not listen to him. But my understanding is as his followers grew they would force people to go along with it. I don't think alot of people supported him but think it'a case of when good people do nothing.

[Sassy Girl]

Germany as a whole did not decided to commit genocide against the Jews. It was their leader Hitler that decided that just like it was the leader or a group of leaders in countries before and since that decided to commit genocide not the whole country.

[A Tiny Hedgehog]

How did Germany as a country decide that a whole group of people needed to be 'exterminated'? What was wrong with them that didn't make them stand up and say hey hang on a sec... this is not right? Is it just that the voices of the rednecks that said "no you can't sit on this bus" or "no you can't go to this school" were louder? Surely someone saw the mindless murder of aborigines here and said "hang on a sec, something's very wrong here"...?

Nauru, Manus Island, Christmas Island.

[Rachaelxxx]

My husband and I over the years have watched docos about this very thing and POW as well and I get so angry that people could get away with such things. What gives one man the right to take away another mans life, they were powerless and had no voice.

[countrymel]

I remember my friend's mother who was a young woman in Germany trying to explain it to her - the Nazi's made everything so wonderful there for a while... Germany had been in a depression since they lost WW1 and the Nazis came along and made everyone proud to be German again.

She described it as "Everyday had been grey then suddenly they showed us a proud colourful country again.."


I think anyone who has sat by and watched how Australia has managed to demonise refugees in the Howard and beyond era shouldn't be overly surprised at how a well manipulated campaign of wrongly directed 'blame' can subtly change a nation's psyche.