Why Did Hitler Want To Kill All The Jews?
There is much more to this story than one man’s hatred for a group of people or a religion. Of course, it’s important to note that the general population of Germany in the 1920s and 1930s did not dislike Jews any more than the populations of other countries. It took a few strong leaders and a large number of the population to turn the tide against the Jews over the next couple of decades.
The strong dislike that turned to hatred was originally based on religious beliefs. It was only later that actions taken against the Jews were military and social. It didn’t help the status of Jews that many maintained a comfortable lifestyle even during a deep Depression. Jews were often the only source of funds when Christian businessmen and families needed loans.
Hitler and his associates were able to use this basic dislike and dissatisfaction as a foundation for a more diabolical hatred that would eventually take many lives. The economic and military weakness of Germany after World War II was a major source of anger and frustration for the German population and its political leaders. Hitler’s real goal was to re-establish Germany among the leading nations of the world. Power and room to grow were his objects.
He used his fiery, persuasive speaking ability to rally a significant portion of the population to his cause. The Jewish issue was one very important factor in the rise of the National Socialist Party (Nazi). Hitler and his propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, were instrumental in building hatred of Jews, the rich and the “different” creating suspicion among the population.
Eventually this movement brought more and more power to Hitler and the party, taking almost everything from the Jews – money, homes, possessions etc. This action against the Jews was combined with a hatred for “Communists.” Anyone suspected of being a Communist was targeted just as much as Jews. Part of this philosophy also urged the German population to help restore the “superior” Aryan race, which the Jews were not part of (according to the Nazi party).
Hitler continued to target the Jews for economic and racial reasons, calling on the German population to help get rid of this “corrupting” influence. Even at this later stage, the Nazi hatred of Jews was not so different from the general feeling among many European populations. Hitler just made use of the issue to rally the Germans and the military behind him.
Hitler’s own writings show that he was far from being an anti-Semite in his early years. What changed the man and country was a quest for power and a love for what he thought his country should be. The Jews and others who didn’t fit his plans were used to achieve his goals.
It may well have been the case that Hitler didn’t so much “hate” Jews as he “loved” Germany (or what he thought Germany might return to – it’s glory days. Hitler may have used several handy targets – Jews, Communists, disabled etc. – to fuel his rise to power).
Category: History, Government & Society

I hope Hitler was still alive and realized how wrong he was.