Friday, November 22, 2013

PERIOD 2: ROAD TO TREBLINKA

You've just watched, "The Road to Treblinka" from the documentary, NAZIS: A WARNING FROM HISTORY. It is said, “The reality of the history of the Nazis is far harder to explain than the popular conception of a nation led astray by Hitler. That the Nazi philosophy of obedience, seizure and struggle had appeal in the thirties and can still appeal to millions today.” Do you agree with that statement? In addition - please answer the question, "What did you learn that you did not know before watching the film?"

21 comments:

Michael Gallo said...

I do not agree with the post because I dont believe that it still can still appeal to millions today. people of today's world are used to having and exercising their rights as a citizen. Living obiediently and in constant fear is something that no one could get used to today. The only appealing aspect of the Nazi regime would be the power and wealth that it brings to a country, but even this can not come even close to out weighing the civil liberties that would have to be given up in order to gain that power.

Rebecca Piscia said...

I do agree with that statement. People like having guidelines and being regimented. In addition, people like to feel like they are part of a group, so being a nazi was appealing. The ideas of seizure and power are also things that people like because they make them feel important. I learned a lot from this film segment. I hadn't realized that there were camps strictly made for killing, with no labor portion at all. Also I had never heard of the killing squads in Lithuania that murdered so many people in their brutal fashion.

Brian Hodgdon said...

I think that that those things may have had appeal in the thirties, but certainly would not today. Today people are much more vocal about their rights as free citizens and more people have stronger feelings about such things. I do not think that too many people today would like the idea of seizure and struggle. But in the thirties in Germany, the country was recovering from a devastating loss in World War I, Hitler emerged as a power figure and pressed those ideas on the people, giving them appeal. But it is much different today. I learned that some of the people that just shot the innocent Jews, were volunteers, I thought that was crazy how anyone could knowingly volunteer to do something like that. I also learned that Treblinka was strictly made for killing Jews and only 17 people ever survived out of all thousands that went through.

Kevin skirvin said...

Seeing exactly the spot where treblinka was was very interesting. The way they pointe out where everythin was exactly created a very uncomforting feeling. When they showed a map of exactly how everything looked, it amazed me at how organized the whole system was. It was even more amazing to learn that people were able to survive. Hearing the survivor talk about everything in the area suprised me because if i was him i would never ever want to set foot on that land ever again

Ryley Palladino said...

Road to treblinka was a very interesting movie. I didn't really know how violent the nazis were towards the Jews. I was also shocked to see the amount of people that were being transported. It was really depressing to watch the video but it was the cold truth.

Joey Bernatchez said...

I do agree with this statement, I think that everything that we have watched, including Road to Treblinka, has shown us that the deceit that the Nazis had on the German people was massive but not hard for them to accomplish. We have already seen examples of people being controlled and manipulated by people in power. I do not think that today people would allow another holocaust to happen, but in a different setting I think obedience and seizure can be just as prominent as it was during Nazi times. I learned mainly about Treblinka, I had never heard of it before and now know one of the most famous death camps the Nazis implemented. I was surprised to see how much effort they put to hide it from the public and how deceitful they could be; fake showers and fake medical facilities both lead to death for every Jew that entered them.

Tom mayo said...

I would agree with the statement because in hindsight it is easy to look back and see the flaws in people and question how people could do such immoral things but it's very tough to know what you would do in that situation. It's nice to think that you would be the one to rebel and stand up against the nazis and maybe you would but with a gun to your head it's doubtful and it still occurs today around the world. Look at the tactics which terrorist groups use to persuade there people into killing innocent Americans and themselves at the same time. Yes it still happens and it could happen on the scale of nazi Germany again if a super power with the reach of Germany decided to do so.

Maggie Tragakis said...

I do agree with that statement. People tend to like to have guidance and a set of rules to follow. Feeling like you are part of a group that has a purpose, appeals to most people. I learned a lot from this movie especially about trebinka completely. I had never heard of this horrible site for exterminating Jewish people before. It was sad that the Jewish people led here were almost all killed. How I did not hear about treblinka before is shocking.

Jenna Thomas said...

I do not agree with the statement, I believe people would not appeal to those things today. People voice their opinion on things much more strongly than back then. I think most of the population today knows what is the right thing to do and wouldn't even think to make millions suffer. I learned how the Nazi soldiers didnt even feel remorse over shooting someone in the head or beating them to death. It's scary how some people's morals can change that quickly.

Adam Gibbs said...

I do agree with that statement. When a country is regimented, disciplined, and powerful, a sense of pride is instilled among its people. When a country has a clear purpose or goal, easy enough for the average person to understand, it's citizens are more likely to respect and obey the government. I think Hitler did a good job at implementing these strategies among his people, allowing him to receive the respect and control he desired. I learned from this film that Hitler would appoint several generals to be responsible for the death camps. Hitler agreed to these camps, but he was too big of a coward to go and see them himself.

Siobhan Burke said...

I do agree with that statement. People all over the world have a weakness of easily submitting to a higher authority. We may be more educated now, but if authority is telling you what to do and the consequences of not obeying are life or death, people will comply. People like being in higher power and wealth, and that is another reason they would go by the nazi regime. I learned from this documentary that Hitler appointed people to death camps, and if people even were to ask a question that a soldier didn't like they would beat them to death or shoot them on the spot.

Max Foy said...

I do agree with the statement. We have watched many films this year about people willing to be controlled by a higher power. The electric shock experiment revealed how when people are being told what to do by someone they believe is more intelligent then them then they will do whatever they tell them to do. A lot of people don't think they are extremely intelligent so many like the idea of trusting someone else that they believe is more intelligent than them to tell them what to do. Also, this video educated me about a brutal death camp that I didn't even know existed. It amazes me how brutal the nazis treated people that were "different."

Kevin Blackney said...

I agree with the statements above. I think antisemitism will be harder for future generations to understand reasons or motives for its cause and the way it was carried out by the Nazis. Led by Hitler, the German society was ideal; filled with prosper and wealth and I think can still appeal to millions today. People will always be influenced by others in power in some aspects in life and the concepts the Nazis abided by would still attract people today. Many people today lack their own voice and judgement and would look to a higher power or group in order to find security.

Justin Beron said...

I do not think that the statements above apply to millions today. The people of today are used to being free and making their own decisions. For this reason I believe that the people having little power, and the governed having total control is not something that would appeal to people today. After watching this film I learned that Hitler did not over see the death camps himself, but would appoint officials to operate them. I believe that he did this so that he would not have to whiteness this horrific genocide. To me this speaks volumes about Hitlers cowardly character.

Adhu Krishnan said...

In this day and age it would be much harder for a movement like that to occur. The youth of this generation is raised with both social and political activism ingrained in their minds. It is impossible to say definitely that the situation would be one way or another, but seeing as how many injustices today are spoken out against, I think people as a species have slightly evolved. For example, young educated people in Chile are standing up for their rights instead of allowing very powerful corporations run their lives. However, I also believe that both racism and exclusivity thrive in the modern world. People may not think so, but until they live a day in the shoes of someone different from their norm, they will never be educated; and ignorance is the greatest evil.

I learned that places like Treblinka existed. It is very different from what I had thought. My understanding prior to watching this film was that Nazi's forced Jews into labor camps and forced them to be an asset to their war effort. I had no idea that there were centers like this. Just machines that kill breathing people with ease.

John Towne said...

I was not present friday but prior to that I learned how Hitler led his army into the ground by trying to do too much.

Brendan Shunney said...

I was not in class the day of this blog

Brett Rice said...

i was absent the day that this blog was due.

Kayla Harrington said...

When viewing the "Road to Treblinka" I felt as though there are still some similarities from then to today. I believe that the Nazis were all formed by individuals who didn't want to be outsiders and go against what was a big deal during that time. By going against being a Nazi you were almost targeted. Similar to today if you aren't the one to fit in or go to events like the other kids you are looked down upon. Although the severity doesn't even come close to being the same when comparing it to today, I know that most individuals even in 100 years from now will not change their ways. Society looks down at the ones who won't try to fit in even if it is truly the right thing to do. When watching the film I learned more about the camps. Before watching the film I hadn't known there were multiple camps which included killing camps and gas chamber camps. I found it depressing how they tricked these people into thinking that they were going to be able to take a shower but instead they were killed. Some individuals tried to run to save themselves and only few made it.

Mr gallagher said...

Trst

kevin skirvin said...

absent from class