
Was the Holocaust driven by Nazi Ideology or improvisation?
Dear AnswerMan,
Do you believe the Holocaust, as it has become known was driven by
Nazi Ideology or out of improvisation to the continuing expansion of
the number of Jews in the concentration camps?
Name Withheld
AnswerMan
Replies:
It would be critical to first define the term "Holocaust." We need
to establish some common ground as to the definition of "Holocaust"
before being able to respond. "The Holocaust" is quite often defined
as the systematic murder of six million Jews by the Nazis largely through
use of gas chambers. I would personally take a much more general definition
of Holocaust which leaves out the specifics. Such an approach would
be more similar to any other term to define a historical period. For
example no one defines a war based on the number killed, the method
of murder, or even the participants. I would accept the definition of
"Holocaust" as the tragedy which befell European Jews during the Second
World War.
I interpret your question to mean, "Was the systematic murder of
six million Jews largely in gas chambers due to Nazi Ideology or improvisation
in the camps." There was not a systematic murder of six million Jews
in gas chambers, therefore the question becomes meaningless.
Similarly if we speak of the tragedy that befell European Jews, the
question is also ambiguous at best. If we consider all elements of forced
deportation, forced labor, disease, and mistreatment in the camps and
out of the camps then surely some portion of the blame rests with Nazi
Ideology, some with improvisation of field and camp personnel and some
with the general conditions which persisted in Germany as a result of
the closing days of the war.
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