How did the intelligent, educated and cultured germans allowed the Holocaust to occur?

Question

part II:how did intelligent, educated and cultured germans turn to hate and genocide?

Answer 1

It is called mob-mentality in psychiatric journals. Coming from my knowledge and opinion of history, I find the Holocaust, as you do refer to it also, the sickest and most horrific act ever placed upon a group(s) of people(s), irregardless of the numbers of people who died in its wake, just by the very IDEA of its intentions alone. Yet, it still happens to varied scales, in various places, right now, as you sit there and read this. It can and should be very easy to find oneself even embarrassed to lay claim in saying; "I am a human-being", as what we maybe too proudly are very quick to consider ourselves in this claim now, as we do all project the notion, in our own realms of understanding, sadly so in some cases, civilized. But, in regards to the true and measured awareness of the complex, very well-planned, diverse and utterly depraved acts, which are of recorded facts, and acts, which were all-covering in ill-motive, in its sickness, this atrocity you speak of, in my opinion, I pain that some may never let it reach deep into their minds, as to its grand spectrum of mass-insanity that takes place, when mob-mentality occurs, and also does so, today. And worse, some even will not only deny themselves the willingness to absorb its reality of occurence, but much worse, as we see also sadly, now even, denial of the willingness, or mere ability, to learn from the past . History does also show in fact that many people in Germany at this time referred to in question, were looking for socio-economic change and leadership, and from this desperation, sprang-forth splinter groups, which, to force action by numbers, melded with the SAS, then from this also grew into an even greater mass envelopment of the German psyche, and into, the totality of these groups, we all know from history, as the mesmerized, Nazi machine of the SS, and its followers. And, with Hitler being the the true epitome of phenom in influential speaking, this led to, and fed easily into this mob-mentality, which brought us the Holocaust. So, as to wrap-up the answer to your question, this mob, ripe for any issuance and assurance for preserving or improving, through whatever wield, their cause, whether all fully were cognizant or not of their leaders full-scope of intentions and his own idea of fruition in this cause, of global ethnic, and also, religious sameness, came also, the death of many people from many lands, stopping this mass-insanity within the poisoned-minded for the sake of "sameness" idiologies which his followers had drilled into their heads, and who killed even their own in this course of sick folly by way of fascist extremism. Anyone who did not agree with the following of this fascist extremism, even BEING the "same", regardless of race or religion, was exterminated. Hitler then, and like his blind-minions behind us in history, may or may not remind some now, but with the wish that it will, and let it soon be so, be recognized by ALL, that this hauntingly perverse idea and behavior, and guidance, which does not lead to the wishes of helping human-kind in its ENTIRETY, only shows the "human ability", civility and goodness to ALL and EQUALLY, to show an entire lack of our abilities as individuals with a guidance of this goodness for all, through intelligence, global family-like thinking and control, for the human race, all of us different AND the same, as anything against this one-minded and civil notion, will surely again, and always will, face complete and disatrous defeat, as we all are, different AND the same, together, always.

Answer 2

I think that a lot of intelligent, educated and cultured Germans were opposed to the holocaust, but at the same time found it easier to close their eyes to what was happening than to actively oppose it. I think that for almost everyone, there's a lot of inertia about "getting involved" in something that may involve effort (let alone unpleasantness or danger) on their part.

Most people are basically apolitical. They just want to live their lives and do the things that are important to them on a personal level-- go to their jobs, spend time with their families, do things they enjoy. This is true virtually everywhere, under every kind of regime you can imagine. And most people will avoid getting involved in political complications of any kind if they can avoid it. Look at how many people shirk jury duty or don't even bother to vote in elections, and those are relatively minor things to do, that don't usually entail any danger or unpleasantness.

Actively opposing the Nazis in their "final solution" to the "Jewish problem" would have exposed anyone who attempted opposition to both unpleasantness and danger. Much easier to close the eyes and look the other way-- although one wonders how those who lived close to the death camps could do that when the wind brought them the smell of burning flesh from the crematoriums.

There is also, rather shamefully, the issue of profiting, directly or indirectly, from the holocaust. Think of a somewhat analogous situation, a layoff in a large company. If you're one of the people who isn't given a pink slip, you may feel shame at seeing people who are as good or maybe better than you at the job walked out the door, but at the same time there's relief: "It wasn't me," and hope that maybe you can improve your position by taking on some of the work, or accessing some of the resources, of one of the people who got laid off. At the same time you may be feeling sorry that Betty down the hall got her pink slip and that she got a really raw deal and her layoff was wrong, you may also at the same time be wondering if you can now move into her nice window office, now that she's gone.

The holocaust was no different, I'm sure: many Germans may have felt shame at the disappearance of the Jewish merchants and professionals, while at the same time feeling glad it wasn't them and wondering if there was some way to pick up some of the property/profits/opportunities afforded by the disappearance of the Jews.

I think the important thing that we as human beings need to learn from the holocaust is that massive evil isn't necessarily allowed to happen because of major breakdowns in people's moral and ethical belief systems. Massive evil can come about because of the natural tendency we all have to not want to get involved, to avoid inconvenience, never mind danger. Sometimes it's simply personal inertia and natural laziness in the face of something that doesn't threaten us personally that leads us to allow great evil to happen.

Answer 3

I think you would have to understand the psychology of the addictive mind & the history of the people involved. I also think Hitler was into mind control methods. So while this is the most interesting question I have seen here I have not investigated it so don't have an answer but I wonder who has done this work. I would be so interesting in readying that. Even a simple magazine like Psychology Today will have articles about things we wonder about like this..we could all understand ourselves better if we knew the answer...Yes, it could happen again...I am a democrat & feel like a free spirit but everyday here I see comments about dems being sheep & drinking kool-aid & while I think they are projecting this I wonder if they really are seeing something about me that I can't see cause I look at them as being brainswashed by Fox & Rush.

Answer 4

After being screwed over completely by the Americans, British and French after WW1, the Germans were hit incredibly hard by the depression. Extremism flourished, and people were much more open. Hitler was charismatic, he told the people what they wanted to hear and made promises about returning Germany to greatness and punishing those that brought these problems upon them. He did deliver on his promise to make Germany powerful again in the mid 30s, but by the time the Holocaust was in full swing, to protest would mean death from the SS.

Answer 5

Propaganda. Hitler was a master of propaganda. Hitler manifested a pseudo-religion with all sorts of ancient symbols that referred to some sort of enlghtened German nation, and he was great at giving fiery speeches. Both were used to bolster support for his cause and anti-semitism. A deeper analysis reveals that the Nazi party, once in power, was also quite efficient at maintaining political power locally, often at the expense of the current office holders life. The book, "Nazi Seizure of Power," (I forget the author) is a great book that gives insight into what was going on during the transition between the Third Reich and the Nazi party.

Answer 6

They didn't. It was the criminal element of society - the malcontents. Hitler conned the public until it was too late.
Sound familiar?
Granted there was a clique of Jew-haters in German society. Coupled with the German habit of getting things done, the Jew became the scapegoat.
There are several anecdotal stories that show not all Germans hated Jews. It was just too dangerous to buck the system.

Answer 7

Unfortunately, intelligent, educated, and cultured people of any nationality of the time were als o very, very impressionable. Most people of that dictatorship knew that they COULD survive, just that they didn't know HOW.

Answer 8

Remember that Nazi Germany was a dictatorship. Hitler had a way of convincing the German people that he was right. Once he was in power, anyone who opposed him was eliminated.

Answer 9

Germany attacked other nations only as preemptive strikes
Germany shared their orderly form of government with others
They were called re-training camps

we could learn a lot from the German people. The understood what it meant to not ask questions and stand behind your leader in a time of crisis

Answer 10

Group think plus manipulation of their recent history

Answer 11

I don't know, but every time i listen to Wagner, i get the urge to invade Poland.