Holocaust and Human Rights Violations

It is important to acknowledge the fact that the Holocaust took place prior to the establishment of the UDHR, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN, United Nations. Moreover, state sovereignty was of significant importance at the time, meaning that no nation can interfere with internal operations and politics of another nation anywhere in the world. As a result, Nazi-Germany was independent and no other nation had any influence on the regime or the human right violations the government and the nation took on their residents. Post-WW1 a right proposal was put forward in the League of Nations to protect people against racial and national discrimination, but it was refused and abandoned. As a result, the League of Nations were not granted authority and power to pursue minority group protections which made it easier for Nazi-Germany to desecrate Jewish rights as humans. No other country or state interfered with Nazi-Germany or criticised their actions against the Jewish community in Germany which resulted in them being disregarded and obliterated.

Which ideologies made it easier for the Nazis to justify their actions?

In 1919, Germany had to sign off the Treaty of Versailles which made an end to World War 1 between Germany and its allied powers. The treaty released documents that stated costs that Germany had to incur based on the damages they’ve done, and it was quite hefty. As a result, Germany blamed the Jews for their loss in the World War and for the costs they had to incur to recover the ruins. After World War 1, Germany became known as Weimar Republic leaning towards communism with communist parties representing the government. The country was more democratic under their new leader which was a Jew. In 1923 hyperinflation resulted of significant economical and political volatility. With all of these adding up, the Germans were fed up and inflation was the cherry on the top for them. They accused the Jews of dishonouring their country and accused them of all the mess-ups that took place during and after the world war. Germans requested major changes to take place, government included; the Nazis were the only ones with a proposed solution and in position against the old government. As a result, they were chosen.

Germany’s condition post-World War 1 was devastating. The Nazi party was the only get-away for the Germans to speed away from the Jewish rulers and the Jewish politics. They were forced into voting for the Nazi party since they were struggling financially due to the regression, hyperinflation increased unemployment rates, and the nation was just speeding downhill. When the Germans realise that their only substitute to the Jewish government would be a Nazi party putting the blame on the Jews for what has been occurring in the country. The Nazi regime was enforcing dictatorship on their citizens and residents and so that produced fear inside of them. Fear forced them to obey laws and legislations being introduced, and made them work hand-in-hand with the government to bully the jews, get them out of schools, pressure them physically and mentally, and build hate in young germans towards the jews. The Nazi regime approached the situation in two main strategic procedures. First they used the fact that Germans went through a lot before the Nazi election, and were immensely depressed. Secondly, an articulated agenda that aims towards a propaganda scheme to force the Germans to obey their laws, think, and act the way the Nazi government would want them to. At some point, the Germans were highly concerned and fearful, but the government had their power and authority brought against the citizens.

How it could be that bystanders (both within Germany and abroad) remained silent and indifferent?

Jews were in charge of the financial sector in Tudor London because of their community bond and structure. The Jews were successfully able to create and form societies around the European region without deviating their language, or altering their traditions and cultural backgrounds. Communication was key, and they successfully formed bonds with each other without being influenced by the Europeans. The warfare between the Christians and the Jews remained existent until and during the Roman invasion, the Roman Empire. Due to history, even though the churches were in opposition to what is taking place in Germany against the Jews, they remained quiet due to their history with the Jews. On that note, the Pope did declare wrongdoings by Nazi-Germany and expose their racial treatments against the Jews, but did not expose any anti-Judaism laws enforced by nations including Nazi-Germany. The instability in the relationship between the Jews and Christians is understandable from the Christian point of view; Jews were disliked because of their use of blood from Christian youngsters to perform their rituals and on an even serious note, the death of Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, the Jews were known as capitalists that aimed to pursue a private agenda to conquer the world and lead privately beneficial initiatives. That was just not an agenda on papers, that was actually being done and Europeans realised it. The Jews were dominating leading industries with sensitive positions such as in Banking, Politics, Media, Infrastructure, Government, and more. Europeans were afraid that the Jews would get the authority and power to then execute what they have been drawing on papers for ages. Jews were mostly of powerful recognition in England and France, but were soon to reach Germany and expand. The 18th century marked a notable transformation powers from Europeans to the Jews, and that was mainly why bystanders remained silent and apathetic about the Nazi’s scheme.

Similarities and differences between the Holocaust and other cases of genocide and mass human rights violations

I will be comparing and differentiating the Bosnian genocide and the Holocaust that took place in Nazi-Germany. Nazi-Germany had hate towards the Jews and it was mainly a religious led hate which created war. What happened in Yugoslavia was quite similar in terms of religious-led wars. Christians were residing in Serbia and the Muslim community resided in Kosovo in Serbia. The Muslim community grew due to the Ottoman invasion, and after that, they started growing and requesting independence by force which led to a civil religious war between Muslims and Christians. That alone clarifies the difference, Jews never requested or voiced their concerns about land colonisation, but did lead political parties of authority in the nation. In Nazi-Germany one of their bullying schemes were mass killings using gases and weaponry in designated death camps. That did not happen in the Yugoslavian republic. Moreover, in the Holocaust there was no ethnic clearance like the one that happened between the Muslims and the Serbs in both cities of Kosovo where muslims resided and Bosnia where Christians were. But in terms of religion, religious sites were destroyed and attacked by Nazi-Germans on the Jews, and between Muslims and Christians in Yugoslavia. In what I have mentioned earlier, slavery and use of Jews to exchange goods and services existed and was performed on a daily basis, and that was also present during the conflict between Christians and Muslims in Yugoslavia but mainly human organs. Lastly, there were no trafficking on killings, all men, women, children, and animals were killed during both occasions.

The role of the Holocaust in achieving the agreement of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948

After World War 1 the main aim was to create a law or an incentive to protect the rights of minority groups in the region and around the world. ILO was formed to defend rights of workers and laws to enforce non-discrimination whether it was on the basis of religion, race, or ethnicity. Post WW2, after what humans have experienced and after the calculation of humanitarian damages, they have decided to create a universal one to protect human rights around the world. Now this came to occurrence of the invasion and colonisation of neighbouring countries by the German regime whilst violating rights that caused humanitarian disasters. As a result, the Western region came together to form a United Nation that aims to protect human rights and named it the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Moreover, nuclear weapons have been greatly developed and can be used to maximise threats and actions towards occasions that are similar to the Holocaust. That can cause great damage and erase humanity from existence, that is a great threat.