The Holocaust

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF

TWO HOLOCAUST ARTICLES

ARTICLE 1 NATIONAL SOCIALISM

Article number 1 , entitled The Holocaust : Histories , Memories Stories ' by unknown author , sets forth the thesis that there are numerous theories and ideologies that attempt to singularly , on the whole , describe the cause and the Effect that was the Holocaust . The author makes it blatantly clear that of these theories or ideologies (perpetrated by scholars and citizens of the time period of the 3rd Reich , and those living afterward who were personally affected or not ) in and of themselves can

ever give a clear , concise , and complete understanding of just how and why the 3rd Reich ended in the greatest atrocity known to mankind . 1

Even collectively , scholars , Jews , people in general , cannot fully understand , explain , or grasp the formal how and why ' of the extermination of 6 million Jews and others . Among the theories for cause and effect to be outlined , the author ends with the theory that appears to be one he accepts , though he does not convincingly portray it . This theory is that doctors and scientists and lawyers - those with the most power in the formation and administration of society , as well as power over our collective thinking - are at fault for the ultimate execution of 6 million people . 1

The author makes it clear that1

arguably the most extreme interpretations of Nazism were put

forth by those most remote from its actual manifestations , and

those closest to its very center . Thus , immediately after the war

deterministic historical essays .sought to prove that German

history had taken the wrong turn ' some four hundred years before

Hitler appeared on the scene ' 1

At the same time , citizens of the German Democratic Republic viewed what had happened in Germany as something similar to foreign conquest by barbarians of do it (my quote for emphasis . 1

Additionally and more seriously , Germans who had fled from their Fatherland and the 3rd Reich were apt to view the building egocentric pride and arrogance of the German people over the last century preceding the 1914 Reich as cause for the impending doom which occurred . Many Germans , including scholars , were offended by this besmirching ' of some of Germany 's grandest years . Perhaps they potesteth too much 1

The next major attempts at explaining the regime and its dealings were actually two separate controversies . The first juxtaposed the causes of intentionalism versus functionalism (or structuralism . The second explanation juxtaposed comparability versus uniqueness . Greatly simplified , the first theory questioned whether the Holocaust was primarily due to Hitler 's singular power , or the function of the entire wicked system as a whole . 1

The second theory questions whether the 3rd Reich was actually anything new (a greater evil than any other ever before , or whether it was just a copy of the Evil Empire known as Russia . Both theories , formulated mostly by Germans , were precipitated to relieve guilt and responsibility of the German people . 1

Another theory , one falling under the title of Modernity , and ensconced...