April 20, 2014
Holocaust Reflection
All of the links stunned me further and further with different examples of and facts about the horrific genocide known as the Holocaust. The three links that really had an impression me were the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (http://www.hmd.org.uk/page/about-genocides), the History Place map (http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/holocaust/hol-pix/campsmap.gif), and the Timeline of Events in the Holocaust (http://www.ushmm.org/learn/timeline-of-events/before-1933). The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust website explained what a genocide is and the eight stages leading towards complete genocide. This website in conjunction with the other two had such an impression on me because each source confirmed what the other source was saying. The eight stages were Classification, Symbolization, Dehumanization, Organisation, Polarization, Propaganda, Preparation, Extermination, and Denial. Each of the above steps were followed almost perfectly during World War II as described in the Timeline of Events website. All of these steps were further shown in the map depicting all of the different kinds and places of concentration/labor/death camps. What I really learned from all of the resources, not just these three, was how planned and structured all of the camps were. It was so organized. It was the definition of genocide. Hitler had such a deliberate and organized plan for the mass murder, it became even more sick because people were mass murdered every day as a seemingly run in the mill thing. This organization and direct following of the eight steps to genocide really demonstrated how sick the entire operation really was and how something like that still happened after, and could happen again.
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I agree, it's terrifying that something like this could've happened, and might still happen. I saw the "8 Stages of Genocide" chart and it's really horrible to think about. The fact that a group of people can brainwash an entire nation into thinking that exterminating an entire race is okay and what’s best for them is horrifying. How can someone dehumanize a whole group of people? Yet it happens time after time. It's really crazy how much of an effect propaganda has on the masses. And one of the worst steps in my opinion is the denial after everything happened. How can someone deny ruthlessly murdering millions upon millions of people? And how can people go along with that? It’s absolutely terrifying.
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