Nazi Germany and the Holocaust
In 1933, Adolf Hitler, leader of the Nazi was put into power as the Chancellor of Germany by
other politicians who had hoped that his party (Nazi Party) would bring economic change in
Germany's economic crisis instead Hitler introduced racist policies based on two theories
scientific racism and social Darwinism. The Nazis were Fascists, they believed in law,
obedience and order above everything else.
In a matter of a year in power, the Nazis had turned Germany into a totalirian, where the
Government (the Nazi Party) had absolute control over Germany. Under Hitler’s
Government, this is what happened. Hitler had total control over legislature (law).Those who
criticised him were sent to concentration camps (detention camps) often to be trained to
perform brutal acts under the Nazis. Political opposition parties were banned. The education
system in Germany emphasised Nazi ideologies, text-books were re-written in order to be in
line with Nazi movement. German youth was required to join the Hitler Youth (HJ), which
supported the Nazi Movement.
Hitler ended up controlling the German army as well. At first, the officials of the German
army did not want him on board because of his violent nature. Hitler then ordered a murder of
army leaders who had rejected him. After the army officials were murdered he was allowed
in the army as the Commander-in-Chief. He then required the officials of the army to swear
an oath of loyalty to him. After Germany was defeated in the Second World War, it had lost
many of its soldiers and weapons. To strengthen the army, Hitler ordered that it was
compulsory for all young men to join the army. This made Germany one of the most
powerful nations in Europe in terms of Military
The Nazis believed in eugenics, where according to them the blue-eyed, blonde and tall
Europeans whom they called the Aryan race were at the advanced stage of development
that other people, and thus should be on top of the hierarchy in society. The Nazis believed
that the extermination (killing of a whole group) of the inferior people was a progress of
human kind. The Nazis were also inspired by the eugenics works in USA such as sterilization
programs for inferior population.
Women who were considered to be members of the Master race were encouraged to give
more births to promote the master race blood. They were discouraged from working, and
encouraged to stay at home and raise children.
The Nuremberg Trials
In May 1945 Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allied armies (which consisted of Britain, the
USA and the USSR). Hitler committed suicide. Other Nazi leaders also committed suicide.
The allies punished the remaining Nazi leaders. They first put them in an international court
at Nuremberg for trial, where they were convicted of crimes associated with human rights
violation. Thousands of Nazis and their helpers (like the doctors that performed the cruel
euthanasia on the mentally-disturbed), were found guilty, their sentences varied from death
sentences and prison sentences.
In 1933, Adolf Hitler, leader of the Nazi was put into power as the Chancellor of Germany by
other politicians who had hoped that his party (Nazi Party) would bring economic change in
Germany's economic crisis instead Hitler introduced racist policies based on two theories
scientific racism and social Darwinism. The Nazis were Fascists, they believed in law,
obedience and order above everything else.
In a matter of a year in power, the Nazis had turned Germany into a totalirian, where the
Government (the Nazi Party) had absolute control over Germany. Under Hitler’s
Government, this is what happened. Hitler had total control over legislature (law).Those who
criticised him were sent to concentration camps (detention camps) often to be trained to
perform brutal acts under the Nazis. Political opposition parties were banned. The education
system in Germany emphasised Nazi ideologies, text-books were re-written in order to be in
line with Nazi movement. German youth was required to join the Hitler Youth (HJ), which
supported the Nazi Movement.
Hitler ended up controlling the German army as well. At first, the officials of the German
army did not want him on board because of his violent nature. Hitler then ordered a murder of
army leaders who had rejected him. After the army officials were murdered he was allowed
in the army as the Commander-in-Chief. He then required the officials of the army to swear
an oath of loyalty to him. After Germany was defeated in the Second World War, it had lost
many of its soldiers and weapons. To strengthen the army, Hitler ordered that it was
compulsory for all young men to join the army. This made Germany one of the most
powerful nations in Europe in terms of Military
The Nazis believed in eugenics, where according to them the blue-eyed, blonde and tall
Europeans whom they called the Aryan race were at the advanced stage of development
that other people, and thus should be on top of the hierarchy in society. The Nazis believed
that the extermination (killing of a whole group) of the inferior people was a progress of
human kind. The Nazis were also inspired by the eugenics works in USA such as sterilization
programs for inferior population.
Women who were considered to be members of the Master race were encouraged to give
more births to promote the master race blood. They were discouraged from working, and
encouraged to stay at home and raise children.
The Nuremberg Trials
In May 1945 Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allied armies (which consisted of Britain, the
USA and the USSR). Hitler committed suicide. Other Nazi leaders also committed suicide.
The allies punished the remaining Nazi leaders. They first put them in an international court
at Nuremberg for trial, where they were convicted of crimes associated with human rights
violation. Thousands of Nazis and their helpers (like the doctors that performed the cruel
euthanasia on the mentally-disturbed), were found guilty, their sentences varied from death
sentences and prison sentences.
