When we hear or read about the various atrocities committed in our world such as the millions killed by Hitler, Stalin, and Mao, we more than likely blame the leader of that country at that time and maybe a few of his closest allies. However, are the citizens of these countries totally blameless? Is the entire world totally blameless?
Robert Gellately in Hitler’s True Believers answers “No”. The reasons he gives are:
- The world, after World War I, placed many onerous requirements on Germany which developed a resentful attitude among the German people toward the rest of the world.
- Many of the German people had anti-Semitic views well before Hitler.
- Hitler could not have come to power unless he had at least the tolerance of the business community.
- Professors in universities joined the Nazis because removing Jews from the universities meant jobs for them.
- The Gestapo was too small to enforce Hitler’s degrees and needed the help of ordinary citizens.
- Ordinary citizens used the Nazis to get rid of opponents.
Even in counties which Germany captured, citizens of those countries helped the Nazis round up Jews if it would mean an advantage for them such as a job. [2]
This lesson from history teaches us that all of us are responsible for what transpires in our world. The actions we as individuals take do have an impact. Now one person all by themselves cannot change the world but we can influence others through our actions and words and together we create our world–whether for good or evil is a choice we each must make.
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[1] Robert Gellately, Hitler’s True Believers. New York: Oxford University Press, 2020.
[2] Sarah Rose, D-Day Girls. New York: Crown, 2019, p. 92.
