Was the Holocaust the responsibility of the Nazis or the German Society as a whole?

Answer 1

Most of the responsibility belongs to the Nazis. You could fault the German people for allowing the Nazis to come to power, but they did not know the lengths to which the Nazis would go. In hindsight, we can say they should have known. But that really isn't fair.

Certainly, the Nazis were responsible. I don't think a reasonable person could argue otherwise. I think the reason you have to give the German Society a bit of a break is that one of the Nazis best methods of keeping people in line was fear. Make the people afraid, and they will do as told.

Even the Jews had no idea what was coming. With each new barbaric rule, they thought Hitler was done and it couldn't get worse. It always did get worse, though. And we can't blame the Jews for not knowing.

By the time the German people realized what was happening, they did as many people do, they were just relieved it wasn't them. A lot of the world at that time was anti-Semitic (many still are). Germany wasn't much different in that respect. What they were was a very obedient society. So when Hitler said "jump", they asked "how high".

They have some responsibility. Hitler and his henchmen had more.

Answer 2

It was kind of both of them:
Hitler and his followers, the Nazis ran solely on what Hitler said, and Hitler blamed the jews and any different people for the average German's misfortune. The German people were lost, especially after the Wall Street Crash and they were back in economic depression. They blamed the government, and Hitler was elected into power because he gave the German Nation something the government couldn't offer - answers. They wanted answers so he gave them to them. They wanted somebody to blame for all that had happened, needed a scapegoat. Hitler already blamed the Jews for losing World War One and anything that followed, so he happily preached his ideas to his nation.

Yes, the Nazis began the Holocaust under Hitler's orders (not to take away the blame from them of course, as they carried it out), but it was the German Society who elected Hitler to power, even if they were under this influential spell Hitler seemed to carry around. They supported his every move, up until he started killing ruthelessly.

So, directly, the Nazis under Hitlers orders are to blame, they did a horrible thing. But indirectly, the German Society as a whole are to blame, they elected Hitler, the turned to the Nazis, they followed him. Although the Nazis were the main culprits, the German Republic played a major role in the holocaust

Answer 3

I believe that we as a society are responsible for letting things happen. Yes, the German people voted Hitler into office. They wanted a change for a better Germany and Hitler was a man of action that did what he promised to do. Of course not everyone agreed but the majority embraced Hitler's ideals and thought highly of him. They wanted the best for their families and their country that was still suffering from the after effects of WWI. We as a nation learned a lot but some tend to forget. We stood by while people and countries were taken over by the Nazis and destroyed only to have our hand forced in the end. That is why we are so quick to come to the aid of people today. Some say we need to mind our own business and get out of Iraq and that we don't need to spend our resources to help "these" people. We are getting killed for nothing. They believe in God and feel bad when a news story airs but say why waste our money and get our soldiers killed. Some of us would like to stand by and justify their views by saying that we will not make a difference, they don't want us there and why even try. Why should my son die to save someone else? I understand this sacrifice and my heart goes out to anyone that has ever known this pain. Joining the military is a serious commitment and these men and women know that going to war and defending America's values is their business. I have had many friends in the military. My best friend just re-enlisted, I would be devastated if he would die but we must stand up for ourselves and those who can not fight for themselves. Think of the jews and groups that didn't belong in Hitler's Germany. It started with them. They were the minority and when we didn't react to them being murdered Hitler pushed his hand a little further and then a little further. If we would have stood up for the innocent at the beginning of WWII it wouldn't have been called WWII because it wouldn't have lasted as long as it did. The more we allowed things to go on the more resources the Germans and the Japanese acquired. We could have saved a lot of lives. Think of all our soliders that might have lived and the innocent people that might have been spared to live another day. It was the responsibility of the world. We all did it because we all let it happen for so long before trying to stop it. The only thing we can do is to honor those who died by not forgetting the lesson of not turning a blind's eye to injustice. A person that saves a life saves the world. We all can make a difference. One deed of kindness and sacrifice can inspire a world of change.

Answer 4

The Nazis. The "Final Solution" as it was called was entirely a Nazi policy and was carried out under Nazi orders. In fact they maintained a fairly high level of secrecy.The population in general really didn't know about it until later. There may have been some rumors, or whispered tales, but no definitive revelations. Besides, by that point the average person was a bit preoccupied with the war and worrying about the Gestapo paying them a visit.

Answer 5

It would definitely fall on the Nazi party. Hello! What political party kept the concentration camps secret from the entire world? Who was in charge in the camps? Blaming German Society as a whole would be racist and uneducated. It would be along the same lines as blaming Afghanistan as a whole for 9/11.

Answer 6

Nazis. I do not believe there would have been a Holocaust had the Nazis not risen to power. I do not believe the average German knew what the Nazis had planned.

Answer 7

German society as a whole. Germany was in shambles after WWI. Due to the Treaty of Versailles their country as well as the rest of the world was in a depression. When the majority of your population does not have the basic needs of a human being they will look for people to blame. Hitler was able to use this to his advantage. He gave the people someone to blame. He also revitalized the country. People had food and jobs. Germany was once again becoming a world power. That is why I think it was their society. Of course, one could blame France and Great Britain for this because of their demands laid down in the Treaty of Versailles.

Answer 8

The Nazi leadership were responsible for implementing the policies that led to the Holocaust, while the actual civilian population carried out the policies.

Answer 9

It was the sole responsibility of the Nazi Party, since under Bismarck and Hindenburg the Jewish people fared pretty well but only under the Nazi regime did the Jews suffer.

Answer 10

Very good question which has led to scholars debating it. Several books exist on the subject on bth sides of the equation. If seriousat all and want to find out more, please check out , and better join the most informative and educational group on yahoo! which has a worldwide membershipe from all religions, nationalities around the globe:See files, links to sites, informative discusiioon on topics sucgh as you raised and q weidely debated among scholars.See:[e-mail]