Hitler’s Personal Role In The Holocaust 1
How extensive, and how significant, was Hitler’s personal role in the development of Nazi
policies towards the Jews between 1933 and the outbreak of war in 1939?
By
Course
Instructor
Institution
Location
Date
, Hitler’s Personal Role In The Holocaust 2
Introduction
Responsibility for the events leading to and development of Nazi policies towards the
Jews (Holocaust) itself is the theme of historical debate spanning many decades. According to
Gerald Fleming (1997), the discourse about the roots of the Holocaust is referred to as
intentionalism versus functionalism. The functionalists, for example, Raul Hilberg (2019) and
Colin Hay (2000) believe that the plans advanced in phases due to initiatives bureaucrats took in
response to various policy failures.1 Conversely, the intentionalists, for instance, Lucy
Dawidowicz, claim that Hitler planned the holocaust as early as 1918, and personally directed
the execution of millions of Jews.2 Yet, there has been a wider consensus about both centralised
planning and decentralised choices and attitudes, in essence, Hitler exploited the legacy of hate
against the Jews. According to Irving Howe(1975), although demonstrating some continuity with
its predecessors, Nazi anti-Semitism was different because it not only involved merely invective,
persecution and prejudice.3 For the first time, under Hitler, there was a premeditated program of
mass extermination established by the German government. Therefore, taking an intentionalist
approach, this paper will argue that Adolf Hitler was significantly responsible for the
development of Nazi policies towards the Jews leading to the holocaust, a responsibility that
predates even the actual, final act.
According to Browning (2014), Hitler’s significant role in the development of the
policies leading to the holocaust can be seen even before his chancellorship.4 For instance, during
Hitler’s time in prison, he composed his book, Mein Kampf (My Struggle). Published in 1925,
1
Raul Hilberg, The Destruction of the European Jews: 1961 First Edition Facsimile (2019)
2
Lucy S. Dawidowicz, The War Against the Jews, 1933-1945 (Petaluma: Holt McDougal, 1975)
3
Irving Howe, "The War Against the Jews 1933–1945 (Published 1975)," The New York Times - Breaking News, US
News, World News and Videos, last modified April 20, 1975, https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/20/archives/the-
war-against-the-jews-19331945-by-lucy-s-dawidowicz-460-pp-new.html.
4
Christopher Browning, The Origins of the Final Solution (New York: Random House, 2014)
, Hitler’s Personal Role In The Holocaust 3
the book claimed that race conflicts were the catalysts of history. In essence, he thought that the
“Aryan” race was superior to others, insisting that an “Aryan” Germany held all the rights to
include eastern Europe into its new empire.5 He claimed that this would offer the necessary
living space or Lebensraum. Similarly, according to Mein Kampf, this new empire would
symbolize a triumph over the Communists, who governed most of the territories he sought.
Similar to most conservative Germans, Hitler saw both Jews and Communists as adversaries of
the Aryan race. Consequently, in his book, Hitler connected the Communists with the Jews,
utilizing the axiom “Jewish Bolshevism” and claimed that they were responsible for the
Communist Party’s teachings. According to Hitler, the Jews were everywhere, controlled
everything, and were so secretive and devious that only a few could perceive their influence. As
a result, according to Browning et al. (2014), Mein Kampf would set the foundation for the Nazi
activities.
Consequently, the policies for the persecution and oppression of the Jews started
methodically, immediately after Hitler ascended to power in 1932 as the German chancellor.
First, the Nazis government created anti-Jewish decrees, which progressively removed the Jew’s
rights and they were frequently humiliated and persecuted. According to Brown (2021), many
ordinary Germans were bystanders and did not do anything to condemn the racial Nazi policies.6
Brown (2021) believes that this might have been because they were contented with other Nazi
policies that seemed to improve Germany’s deteriorated economic and financial conditions.7
Similarly, the German public did not speak out for fear of the Nazis’ brutality. As a result, Jews
5
Raphael Ahren, "Why Jews Didn’t Blink an Eye when ‘Mein Kampf’ First Came out," The Times of Israel | News
from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, last modified February 14, 2016,
https://www.timesofisrael.com/why-jews-couldnt-care-less-about-mein-kampf-when-it-first-came-out/.
6
Peter C. Brown, The Forgotten German Genocide: Revenge Cleansing in Eastern Europe, 1945–50 (Pen and Sword
History, 2021)
7
Ibid,.
How extensive, and how significant, was Hitler’s personal role in the development of Nazi
policies towards the Jews between 1933 and the outbreak of war in 1939?
By
Course
Instructor
Institution
Location
Date
, Hitler’s Personal Role In The Holocaust 2
Introduction
Responsibility for the events leading to and development of Nazi policies towards the
Jews (Holocaust) itself is the theme of historical debate spanning many decades. According to
Gerald Fleming (1997), the discourse about the roots of the Holocaust is referred to as
intentionalism versus functionalism. The functionalists, for example, Raul Hilberg (2019) and
Colin Hay (2000) believe that the plans advanced in phases due to initiatives bureaucrats took in
response to various policy failures.1 Conversely, the intentionalists, for instance, Lucy
Dawidowicz, claim that Hitler planned the holocaust as early as 1918, and personally directed
the execution of millions of Jews.2 Yet, there has been a wider consensus about both centralised
planning and decentralised choices and attitudes, in essence, Hitler exploited the legacy of hate
against the Jews. According to Irving Howe(1975), although demonstrating some continuity with
its predecessors, Nazi anti-Semitism was different because it not only involved merely invective,
persecution and prejudice.3 For the first time, under Hitler, there was a premeditated program of
mass extermination established by the German government. Therefore, taking an intentionalist
approach, this paper will argue that Adolf Hitler was significantly responsible for the
development of Nazi policies towards the Jews leading to the holocaust, a responsibility that
predates even the actual, final act.
According to Browning (2014), Hitler’s significant role in the development of the
policies leading to the holocaust can be seen even before his chancellorship.4 For instance, during
Hitler’s time in prison, he composed his book, Mein Kampf (My Struggle). Published in 1925,
1
Raul Hilberg, The Destruction of the European Jews: 1961 First Edition Facsimile (2019)
2
Lucy S. Dawidowicz, The War Against the Jews, 1933-1945 (Petaluma: Holt McDougal, 1975)
3
Irving Howe, "The War Against the Jews 1933–1945 (Published 1975)," The New York Times - Breaking News, US
News, World News and Videos, last modified April 20, 1975, https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/20/archives/the-
war-against-the-jews-19331945-by-lucy-s-dawidowicz-460-pp-new.html.
4
Christopher Browning, The Origins of the Final Solution (New York: Random House, 2014)
, Hitler’s Personal Role In The Holocaust 3
the book claimed that race conflicts were the catalysts of history. In essence, he thought that the
“Aryan” race was superior to others, insisting that an “Aryan” Germany held all the rights to
include eastern Europe into its new empire.5 He claimed that this would offer the necessary
living space or Lebensraum. Similarly, according to Mein Kampf, this new empire would
symbolize a triumph over the Communists, who governed most of the territories he sought.
Similar to most conservative Germans, Hitler saw both Jews and Communists as adversaries of
the Aryan race. Consequently, in his book, Hitler connected the Communists with the Jews,
utilizing the axiom “Jewish Bolshevism” and claimed that they were responsible for the
Communist Party’s teachings. According to Hitler, the Jews were everywhere, controlled
everything, and were so secretive and devious that only a few could perceive their influence. As
a result, according to Browning et al. (2014), Mein Kampf would set the foundation for the Nazi
activities.
Consequently, the policies for the persecution and oppression of the Jews started
methodically, immediately after Hitler ascended to power in 1932 as the German chancellor.
First, the Nazis government created anti-Jewish decrees, which progressively removed the Jew’s
rights and they were frequently humiliated and persecuted. According to Brown (2021), many
ordinary Germans were bystanders and did not do anything to condemn the racial Nazi policies.6
Brown (2021) believes that this might have been because they were contented with other Nazi
policies that seemed to improve Germany’s deteriorated economic and financial conditions.7
Similarly, the German public did not speak out for fear of the Nazis’ brutality. As a result, Jews
5
Raphael Ahren, "Why Jews Didn’t Blink an Eye when ‘Mein Kampf’ First Came out," The Times of Israel | News
from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, last modified February 14, 2016,
https://www.timesofisrael.com/why-jews-couldnt-care-less-about-mein-kampf-when-it-first-came-out/.
6
Peter C. Brown, The Forgotten German Genocide: Revenge Cleansing in Eastern Europe, 1945–50 (Pen and Sword
History, 2021)
7
Ibid,.
