The holocaust was the avoidable genocide that was never avoided. Its fires raged not only in Germany but also all the other countries of the world who were touched in one way or another by the happenings in Germany at the time. In fact, the holocaust stands as one systematic and organized effort of a government to destroy part of its population in modern era times. This then leads to many questions about what could have been done in order to stop it. It happened at such a time when all the nations of the world were standing and watching from a distance. Hitler and his Nazi rule were the main propagators of the holocaust and one wonders why no one rose to stop him on his tracks and perhaps this could have diverted the harm that was meted on innocent civilians. The holocaust may have been prevented if only everyone concerned would have made the right step in the right direction rather than doing nothing about it.
The great powers could have moved in swiftly to prevent the holocaust but all they did was sit on the fence and do little. The holocaust could have been avoided or prevented before it even started if the major powers could have acted but their ill perceived interests came first. These nations that could have moved in included the United States, USSR and even Britain. According to Leicester and Modhil, these nations could have sent in their military powers to stop Hitler and the Nazi regime from committing their atrocities (2005). Throughout the war and the worst things that were happening to the Jews, these nations sat on the fence and clung to the delusion that the persecutions were happening because of the political and religious beliefs that the Jews held (Roth 2001). Had they stepped in to inquire what the problem was, I bet they could have gotten to the bottom of everything and unmask the real reason why the Nazi regime wanted to wipe out the entire Jewish population and perhaps, they could have stepped in to help at that point in time.
The Germans themselves could have stopped the holocaust if they wanted to and even them, had little to do with the segregation that shaped up and which culminated in the holocaust. From the very beginning, there was a lot of segregation that targeted many other groups including the gypsies, homosexuals and anyone who was seen as a radical, if only the citizens cold have stood their ground to fight against the propaganda then maybe, the holocaust could have been prevented (Roth 2001). It is for a fact that there are many Germans who were not for the hatred that was planted in them by the propaganda that went round. Houses belonging to the radical groups, Jews and Gypsies were being destroyed. Neighbors were rising against each other and this contributed to the overall ill treatment that was meted on the minority groups. Very few Germans opposed the bad treatment meted on these minority groups. Had they stood their ground against the seeds of discord that were being planted by the Nazi regime, then the holocaust may have been prevented.
The holocaust with all its cruelty was a litmus paper that was testing modern civilizations and by it happening under the eyes of the world was a testimony that the current super powers and the world in general had failed. No voices of offering help were heard neither was rescue effort made. Bystander nations stood by and even closing their doors to the call to offer a home to those who were running away. Canada valued the strength of the economy more than the sanctity of life; they were anti Semitic and therefore made Hitler think that his actions were justifiable. Canada and many other countries closed its door to refugees and offered no alternative options for them. If only together with other countries could have offered a truce, then Hitler could not have felt all too important and continues with his actions. He was made to feel all too important and thus felt like he could get away with everything. If only the rest of the world stood in solidarity with the Jews and other minority groups then we could be having a different story now.
In as much as other people are taking the blame on why they did not move swiftly to prevent the holocaust, the Jews and other minority groups could have also done something about themselves and the evils that were done against them. It is unlikely that they could have managed but then a little effort could have changed their fate in the long run. The holocaust serves as a constant reminder of how ignorance can lead to the loss of a whole generation. This same ignorance should act as a lesson to future generations of how defending the right of other people is everyone’s business (Leicester & Modhil 2005). Other nations can come in to defend the rights of people of nations which are not their own. The people of the same nation, where persecution and abuse of human rights takes place can stand up and defend them even if they do not belong to the same ethnic group. If only this could have happened in Germany then we could be having a different story all together.
References
Leicester, M. & Modhil, S. (2005). Politics Education and Citizenship. New York: Routledge
Roth, J. K. (2001). Holocaust Politics. London: Westminster John Knox Press
