Tuesday, November 25, 2008
The Rise of the Nazis-Period 1
In the film A Warning from History you saw how the Nazis, only twelve weeks after Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, began to arrest their political opposition. The communists and socialists were the first to be arrested and Jewish people became immediate targets of the storm troopers. At the same time, the Nazis began to spend more and more money on the military and the economy in general. If you were living in Germany during the years from 1933 to 1938 what would you have thought of the job that Hitler was doing? What would you have thought of Hitler if you didn't fit the picture of the perfect German? If you didn't like what was happening in Germany at the time, what could you have done about it?
Make one reflective comment and one responsive comment. Post will close the end of the day on Wednesday, November 26th.
Mr. Gallagher
15 comments:
If I was living in Germany during those years, I would think that Hitler's intentions for the economy and military were respectable. However, the tactics that he used were not fair to everyone. IF i was not "a perfect German", I would probably hate him for being so ignorant. The best thing to do would be to form some kind of underground movement and try to change the popular opinions of other Germans. Any known efforts would surely be destroyed.
If i was living in Germany at that time i, like Sevag, would think that Hitlers economic policies were very good and leading Germany in the right direction. After such a terrible depression any sort of economic growth would be more than welcome. I however would see the military expansion and political suppression as terrible. It isn't fair or acceptable to kill or imprison people just because they disagree with you. If i didn't fit the picture of the perfect German i would feel even more outrage. Not only is what he doing wrong, but it is against me. Since i would most definitely not liked what was going on i would have done something about it. Most likely i would speak out against Hitler. Even though this would be extremely dangerous it would be much more effective than any underground movement. The reason that Hitler rose so easily was because there was little public disapproval.
If I had been living during the years from 1933 to 1938 I would have thought that the ideas Hitler had and his intentions were fair, however, he did not have a good way to show his intentions. Hitler tried to help the economy; however, in turn he hurt numerous amounts of people and created a division amongst the people. If I lived during those years and Hitler did not think I fit the perfect German I would detest his intentions and actions. I would think that he was an embarrassment and someone who was not capable of running the country. Being on the other side of Hitler’s “good intentions” I would hate everyone and everything associated with Hitler. If I did not like what was happening in Germany I am not sure there was much I could do about it. I would do my best to voice my opinion and try to keep people’s minds straight and aware of the horrific acts around them. One possibility could be to create specialized newspapers and articles that were kept anonymous in order to voice opinions without causing potential harm.
I agree with Joey when he says that it is not acceptable to kill or imprison people just because they disagree with you. Everyone has different opinions and points of views that should not cause harm or threatened them because they do not agree with Hitler, or whoever is in charge. I also agree that the best way to go against Hitler would be to speak out and voice opinions because propaganda and underground movements have not worked in the past, and allowed Hitler to come to power with such speed and strength.
If i lived and Germany during that time period, assuming i was a "perfect german",i would probably think that what he was doing to the jewish people and opposing political views to be strange although the nazi party and other political parties had simmilar beliefs that if you were full german you were part of the "master race". I would think that he was taking the whole "master race" idea too far, and i would think it was wrong. To answer the third question is that there wasnt much anyone could do change things if they didnt want to be put in the situation of being hated as well and potentialy getting into trouble. If i wasnt seen as the "perfect german" i would be scared for my own and family's lives.
I agree with amanda in that how he was running things, aside from what he was doing to the jews and politicains,was acceptable.
J.J.
If I were living in Germany during the years of 1933 to 1938 I would have thought Hitler was being very productive and effective. He was making vast changes in the government and society throughout Germany, affecting everyone’s lives. However, if I did not fit the picture of the perfect German I would despise him for alienating myself as well as family and everyone else targeted. It would be a hard position to come from, being the target. As the target I would hate what was happening in Germany. I would have tried my hardest to revolt and fight back with as many people as I could. If all my efforts failed I would still never give up who I was to please them.
I agree with what Sevag stated above about the underground movement. It's quite clear any obvious stance against the Nazi's would have been destroyed. However, people's opinions could have been changed if their was a secret organization trying to do so.
I disagree with Joey. A known movement would get dismantled very quickly, before being able to spread enough information. A secret movement would allow anonymity and a very effective word-of-mouth revolt.
I feel that because Hitler attacked and arrested anyone who opposed him politically or was Jewish, if I was in Germany between 1933 and 1938, I would feel that Hitler was a very corrupt leader who was doing a very bad job in the government. If I did not fit the picture of the perfect German, I would oppose Hitler even more strongly because I would be discriminated against. If I did not like what was happening at the time, I do not know what I could have done about it since I do not know the full extent of his power, but I know that in order to stop Hitler, I would need to expose the Germans to the truth so that they would not support him because the Germans at the time had the view that Hitler was a savior but many of them were not aware of the problems he would cause in Germany.
Andy H.
I agree with Sevag that the best way to stop the Nazis in Germany would be to take part in an underground movement rather than simply speaking out against the Nazis because while I do not know its full extent, I know that Hitler held a lot of power over Germany, and even an underground movement would have to become huge to stop Hitler since many people were indoctrinated at an early age to suport Nazism. Because of this, I feel that the best way to change this is to fight Nazism in a secret organization since it would be nearly impossible to do this publicly.
Andy H.
It I were living in Germany then I would have thought that Hitler was doing a great job. He was improving the millitary and so improving the strength of Germany and he was opeing up jobs for people by having large structures built.
If I didn't fit the picture of the perfect German then I wouldn't agree with all the policies being passed and would probably leave Germany. I think that would also be the best thing to do if you didn't agree with what was going on or as other people said join an underground movment.
-Taylor E.
I agree with the idea that an underground movment would be a way to go against Hitler, but I also agree with Joey, that and underground movment wouldn't be able to do much. I think it would have to start underground and then surface quickly if it wanted to over throuh the Nazis. And while underground work on gaining support and supplies and then expose the group and take imidiate action.
-Taylor E.
In the film A Warning From History the viewers are shown just how quickly the Nazis and Hitler infiltrated the government of Germany and used his power to impose his will. His ordered arrests of the political opposition were carried out with no resistance. Also, despite the restriction put on Germany by the treaty of Versailles Hitler increased military spending and built the army far beyond the limit of 100,000 troops. If I had been living in Germany during Hitler's reign I would have been deeply disturbed by the job he was doing as Chancellor. Also, if I did not fit the ideal German by Hitler's standards my immediate thought would be to get as far away from Nazi Germany as possible and i would be very afraid for my own life and any other non blond hair blue eyed people in Germany. Thirdly the power of Hitler and the Nazis would make it very difficult for me to do anything if I felt compelled to resist. I would like to think that in WWII era German i would lead a small but powerful underground band of anti-Nazis against Hitler.
I agree with Sevag's comments in regards to the the film A Warning From History. I would also find Hitler's tactics very unfair and irrational. I, like Sevag, would not share much love for Hitler if i was not classified as a perfect German. I feel extremely lucky not to live in Nazi Germany circa 1930's and 1940's.
-AUSTIN E.
I wouldn't have agreed completely with all of the party's policies, but I also wouldn't have objected. If i didn't fit the perfect picture, I would have tried not to draw attention to myself. Objecting would only have gotten me in worse trouble. There were essentially no options if you didn't agree with the Nazis. I might have tried to immigrate if I was in that situation.
I disagree wit Sevag in stating that an underground movement is most effective. In a time of such despair, it would be extremely risky to trust anyone. Eventually the movement would be discovered, and the participants killed. Other courses of action that were less risky could have been taken. Besides, the movement is useless if its supporters are killed and the Nazis have less objectors.
Post a Comment