"I asked myself if it was only the Nazis who had persecuted us. Was it not just as wicked for people to look on quietly and without protest at human beings enduring such shocking humiliation?" (p. 57). Some of the commentators believe that those who were following orders were just as guilty as those who gave them; others, like Dith Pran (p. 230), draw a moral line between followers and leaders. Would you hold them equally responsible?
posted by Tanya Judd Pucella at
3:43 PM
35 Comments:
People have a survival instinct. The followers simply were protecting themselves; self perservation comes before all else. It was not their idea to prosecute the Jews, they just don't protest because they want to stay alive. They know that if they do protest, they will be killed alone with the people that they were protesting for. The leaders persecuted out of hatred; they implemented actions that caused deaths. The followers, to some extent, obeyed out of fear. People can not be held accountable for their fears.
-Danielle Simmons
By
Anonymous, at 9:22 PM
I agree with the statement that those who were following orders were just as guilty as those who gave them. I feel this way because if any of the SS soldiers had felt strongly enough about the way the Jews were being treated, they could have resisted against their leaders and not participated in the merciless killing. But because everyone was more concerned about themselves and their own lives than the lives of the entire Jewish civilization, no one made the right decision and the soldiers continued to murder thousands of Jewish people. And even though it was not their idea to do that, by standing by and letting it happen, and even participating in the murdering, they were just as guilty as the people in charge.
-Emma Robbinson
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Anonymous, at 2:51 PM
I disagree with Danielle's statement because she makes it sound like the SS soldiers were forced to kill people and had absolutely no control over themselves in the matter, when really, they could have stood up against their leaders at any time. Yes, they might have been giving up their life, but I believe it is better to die for a just and right cause, than to die as a free man and murderer.
-Emma Robbinson
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Anonymous, at 2:56 PM
Yes. While I understand Dith Prans placing the blame solely on the leaders, I would not be able to forgive the soldiers who carried out the terrible acts. Dith Pran believed the soldiers had been brain washed and forced to carry out the killing acts. I believe that the soldiers could have spoken up against their leaders in an effort to stop the killing; therefore their silence makes them as guilty as the leaders.
- Caroline Maddox
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Anonymous, at 5:59 PM
I agree with Emma on how she reasoned her response with that they could have resisted and the reason that they didn't was because at the time they were all concerned about their own lives and were still attempting to accept all the evil that was happening. I also agree with Danielle on how she mentioned that they were all just worried about their own survival at the time and they all just wanted to stay alive rather than be the ones having to participate in the killings.
- Caroline Maddox
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Anonymous, at 6:18 PM
Yes, followers and leaders alike are equally responsible for actions taken during the Holocaust.First off, the person who is leading obviously has the blame for whatever course of action his followers take, because in reality he is who dictates what will happen. He guides his followers in a certain direction. But just because someone is not a leader does not mean he has no free will... just as a person can choose to follow a leader, a person can choose otherwise and therefore both leaders and followers alike should be held accountable for their actions.
- Natalia Cuenca
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Anonymous, at 6:34 PM
I would hold them equally responsible, because in the end, everyone has a right to make his/her own decisions. By partaking in such horrific acts and not doing anything to stop it, SS men were adding to the problem for Jews. No matter what the consequences were to stand up for what was right, they had the opportunity. They deserve to be blamed as much as the leaders because they still violently killed and tortured innocent people.
- Elena Peterson
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Anonymous, at 6:42 PM
I both agree and disagree to Danielle's statement. I am aware that there would be severe consequences if the SS men did not do what they were ordered. This, however, is not a valid excuse to release blame from these soldiers. I could not speak and say that I would choose someone else's life, of whom I do not even know over my own, but it is an option. By not taking this risk and trying this option, the soldiers are showing that they do not care about the Jews, or about what horrible things that are happening to them. Therefore, by following orders, soldiers do deserve to be blamed.
- Elena Peterson
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Anonymous, at 6:47 PM
Regarding Danielle's comment... I agree with her reasoning concerning the idea of self preservation and that it is human's first instict to try to stay alive, however, there comes a point when a person must decide whether staying alive is worth decieving one's self and others and following down a path one is not sure of with the hope of staying alive. A person is granted free will for a reason and it is up to them whether they try to stay alive by letting others make decisions for them or whether they find their own path through life and stay alive on their own.
- Natalia Cuenca
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Anonymous, at 6:55 PM
It is hard to hold the followers and soldiers in as much blame as the leaders. Their minds have been warped to support the actions of their country, and not doing so could change their whole way of life. However, these people still have their own emotions and thoughts amidst all the negative influences of the leaders, and can still decide whether or not to follow. Whether it be a small or large contribution, a person decides what to do on their own. This makes the soldiers that followed the inhumane orders of the leaders just as guilty.
-Parker Karaus
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Anonymous, at 7:54 PM
Unfortunately, if it weren't for deception and lies, "innocent" Nazis, who were strictly following orders, could be sorted out from the ones performing out of their own beliefs. However, it isn't like that. It is therefore logical that all Nazis who performed similar actions should be punished in parallel ways. How can we know if the Nazi is telling the truth or not? Why wouldn't someone lie in fear of death? Leaders should be punished more severly as they are the ones who controlled the SS soldiers. Yet, the punishments may vary according to what the innocent people or victims recalled about them (perhaps a leader was merciful to prisoners, yet only kept them in prison on strict orders; those, if named by the prisoners themselves, could have lighter punishments).
-Damien
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Anonymous, at 7:56 PM
I agree with Natalia's statement. The leader does make the decisions, but the soldiers have the ability to decide whether or not to follow them, which makes their actions just as guilty. Although there were serious consequences for disobeying the leader's demands, a person could still find ways to help those being persecuted or retain their morality in small things, without completely rebelling against the government.
-Parker Karaus
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Anonymous, at 8:00 PM
I would hesitate to condemn the lesser members of the Nazi party equally with the leaders. Not only did they have to think of themselves, and here self preservation comes into play but they also had to think of their families, and how in the end of the war where they would fall, as members of the new world order or outcasts. It is probably true however that some joined for reasons that would be considered evil, but some did not join for those reasons. Also most all Nazis and german officers are looked upon as completely evil and cruel, some where not such as Oskar Schindler, and he was doubtlessly not the only one who helped the Jews. There is no greater help for the persecuted than from the hands of the persecutors, and I believe that those who helped the Jews, or even one Jew and simply followed orders should retain the same consequences as those who of their own accord condemned Jews and commited mass murder, as the higher Nazi officials did. The same could be said for members of the US army and such, as people are tortured and killed only on a higher order. I would not condemn those who followed the order to the same degree as those who gave the order.
-Corey Luttrell
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Anonymous, at 8:33 PM
I agree with Natalia that both leaders and followers should be punished, however I disagree with the simplicity of the view. The angry that erupted from the Holocaust really gave no patience to the survivors and others against the Nazis, in judging the Nazis fairly. Of course, one might say, "they don't deserve justice," but then there is also the fact that the Nazis were not machines. Although they might have had similar beliefs, many likely disagreed with the intentions of the Nazis. Some might have even helped out the Jews, hoever not recieved credit for their good deeds. Take Oskar Schindler for example: If not for his witnesses, he would have been prosecuted like all other Nazis, simply because he was a member.
-Damien Denis
By
Anonymous, at 8:56 PM
I agree with Corey's opinion. It would not be right for the followers to go completely unpunished because they did, after all, commit a crime. However, they should not be judged as harshly as the leaders who instigated the massacres.
I would also like to comment on those whose opinion was that followers should be judged equally as leaders. While it looks very good and just to say that everyone is just as equal it is not really fair. By saying that everyone has the choice to oppose their leaders you are asking to much of them. You like to think that you would have been one the Germans who did not follow the Nazis but you have no way of knowing; the situation is impossible to imagine. They had many forces acting against them - persuasion, social pressure, a survival instinct - any one of these things would have been a lot to combat. I think that it would be unfair to condem people when you, in the same situation, would have acted the same way, whether you think you would have or not.
-Danielle Simmons
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Anonymous, at 8:58 PM
This is a tough decicison to make. In a way, the followers could have spoekn against those giving them commands, but on the other hand, they would not have had the power to stop them. Although it gives us hope to believe that those with less power cans till make a difference, the change that they can create is slight. It is a matter of fact that those with more power will always be in control of those that do not have as much of a sway in society. I believe that these people should not be held accountable as much as those that gave the orders, because they had nothing they could do. No matter how much they would have liked to speak up and change what was going on, they did not have the power to make a difference thatw ould be significant to stop the leaders.
-Rachel Wilson
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Anonymous, at 9:11 PM
I do not think that you can hold both the followers and leaders equally responsible. Though the followers made little effort to subside the harsh treatment of the Jews, they had little choice. It was either follow or be punished. Not only were they protecting themselves, but they were protecting those close to them such as their families. Many were also brainwashed and trapped. Followers therefore had a hard time decphiring what was right or wrong. The leaders were the people with the evil intentions, desiring to kill and torture millions of innocent people.
-Alicia Rinaldi
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Anonymous, at 6:52 PM
I would have to agree with Danielle's comment. Most of the soliders were only preserving their own survival. How could they stand up to the leaders? They would be putting their lives and their family's lives in jeopardy. And their contribution would most likely do very little for the cause. A small resistance of soliders would make little difference to a problem that was so widespread. Instead of helping the problem, they'd only be guaranteeing themselves punishment and trouble. So in the end they obeyed mostly out of fear rather than spite.
- Alicia Rinaldi
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Anonymous, at 8:02 AM
Yes, I would hold them equally responsible to an extent. The SS soldiers could have resisted and they had the free will to not participate in the terrible actions that were taking place, but of course no one wants to risk their life. I don't know if I would be able to stand up for what i believe if it was a life or death situation. The SS soldiers were just looking out for themselves without thinking about how much it was worth to save a whole civilization before themselves.
-Chelsea Smith
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Anonymous, at 8:09 AM
I agree with Alicia in many ways. The followers were trying to protect themselves and thier families, and had little choice other then to follow their leaders. Besides if only a few were to speak up for themselves, it would not have been enough to change what was happening.
-Chelsea Smith
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Anonymous, at 8:11 AM
I believe that there is no possible way to hold the followers and leaders of a group equally responsible. I say this because if this were true, if a fight was to break out in the cafeteria and people began to follow the fight, everyone would have to be held reponsible for the fight which is never evident when the final synopsis of a fight is completed. When the fight is completed it is the protagonist and antagonist that go down. You can also compare this to someone being told (follower) to steal a car or be killed for not doing it by the leader. If you dont do it then you are in the line of fire and will probably end up killed.
~ Josias C.
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Anonymous, at 2:51 PM
I think that Danielle is correct in saying that people have a survival instinct but, i think that if you do something wrong even if someone else tells you to do it then you should be implicated within the crime and everyone who is implicated should be held accountable.
Josias C.
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Anonymous, at 1:49 PM
The ones that followed the decisions of their leaders did not enlisted voluntary without any influence or pressure. The leaders used many elements as manipulation and pressure to obtain followers, human manipulation was one of the better tools to obtain what political leaders wanted. So the followers and the leaders have different levels of responsibility; the leaders have the first responsibility for all the consequences that happened due to their decisions, the followers were only a tool for the leaders to obtain what they wanted, they were manipulated because they wanted to be alive but they still have a certain responsibility of their acts but it was a much less responsibility than the leaders.
I agree with Danielle’s statement because she emphasizes the reasons why these followers had to act for their leaders. I agree with Josias’s statement because he gives a good analogy of the responsibility of the leaders and followers and he describe our reaction to judge the ones who are responsible of a particular action.
Eguzki O.
By
Anonymous, at 1:51 PM
By holding back their opinions, if they had any, about the brutality and negativity towards the Jews, I think the followers were just as guilty as the leaders and I would hold them equally responsible. Although it would have been hard to do at the time, in fear for losing their own life, if they truly believed that what was going on was wrong the followers should have stood up for it and at least attempted to correct some of the wrong-doings by the leaders. Although there may be a some line of differentiation between followers and leaders, I do not think it is a moral one (as Dith Pran states)in this case because they should be equally held accountable.
-Natalie G.
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Anonymous, at 4:56 PM
I somewhat agree with Parker's statement. He makes a good point when saying that the follower's minds have been warped in a way because they were led to believe certain things about the Jews by the leaders that weren't all necessarily true. As Parker stated, they were led to follow the actions of their country and by not doing this it would change their way of life.
-Natalie G.
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Anonymous, at 5:13 PM
I think the guilt isn't just for the ones who gave the orders, but for all the people involved. I think that even though the people may have thought they didn't have a choice, im sure they could have done something. I don’t think all of the German soldiers were at fault because they were probably brainwashed into thinking they were doing a good thing.
-Alex Goetz
By
Anonymous, at 6:31 PM
I disagree with Josias, because something like stealing a car can't be compared with taking someone else’s life. And if there is a fight where someone could be seriously injured you should help out or else I believe they should be held responsible.
-Alex Goetz
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Anonymous, at 7:02 PM
I do not believe this to be always true. Those who could think up of such evil things and oversee them are worse than those who follow them. There could be cases where the followers are not strong or courageous enough to stand up against their leader, and possibly putting their life at stake. Those people who looked quietly without protest may have done so to protect their own life and their family.Realistically if these onlookers voiced their opinions they would've just been killed immediately without their actions making any effect, because of the enormous amount of Nazis.There are situations where people can prohibit something bad from happening and just choose not to. Although I condemn this, I do not believe that this makes them just as bad the person actually carrying out the act.
- Priya Govindaraj
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Anonymous, at 7:29 PM
I would have to say that i do hold the followers and leaders equally responsible. The soldiers were only doing what they were trained and ordered to do, while the Jews on the otherhand were just following in fear for their own lives. But really even though the Jews feared, if they did feel strongly for something then they wouldn't have been so timid and actually would have stood up and spoke their mind.
~Katie L.
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Anonymous, at 9:28 PM
I agree with this statement. While I realize the huge threat that those who spoke out against the Nazis faced and the immense fear they must have felt for their own safety and the safety of their family that would be compromised by speaking up, I personally feel that as human beings we all have the responsibility to take action against injustice when it is in our midst. Knowing the horror that was going on and choosing not to even try to bring an end to it seems unfathomable to me. The possibility of losing your life, one life, for even the smallest hope of saving the lives of millions doesn't even seem comparable to me. Even though their crime is nowhere near the magnitude of what those who initiated the Holocaust did, the fact is they had a chance to help the world and didn't take it; the followers and passer-bys are all guilty of betraying their fellow humans.
-Meghan McMullen
By
Anonymous, at 9:39 PM
I agree that those who were giving orders were just as guilty as those following them. Although they most likely would be killed, the people who decided to protest against what was happening might have made a difference by standing for what they believe in. But at the same time, those who did not protest were just as guilty. They only wanted to survive, and not protesting and following/giving orders was the best way of not getting killed. Back then they had the choice of either life or death...standing up for yourself was just as easy as earning a death ticket. So most likely, leaders and followers were both guilty of choosing what they knew was wrong over what was the right thing to do.
-Rosyl I.
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Anonymous, at 11:35 PM
This is a difficult question because of the fact that people can be brainwashed into thinking things that, under normal circumstances, they would never think. I would have to hold the leaders responsible, because there really isn't anyone influencing them to think a certain way. They are the ones who are coming up with the idea and putting them to action. Now the followers can be held at least partially responsible. Unlike the leaders, they are being strongly influenced by people ranking above them. Although they are not innocent, for free will still exists, they have to be a least less at blame than the leaders.
-Brian C.
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Anonymous, at 6:53 PM
I competely agree with Alicia's statement. The followers can not be considered free of any blame, but they were not completely guilty either. There were choices and consequences that they had to consider when given orders by leaders. If they chose to disobey, they would be punished, either directly or indirectly. Also, the manipulative powers of the cunning leaders contributed to how the followers acted. For these reasons, they can not be reguarded as guilty as the leaders.
-Brian C.
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Anonymous, at 6:59 PM
I believe that it is unfair to many of the people that lived during this period to be lumped in with those that committed such atrocities. However I do find it hard to believe that those inside of countries like Germany who were not apart of the Nazi party were completely without fault. Each person has to make their own choices, and if someone deliberatly choose against helping to save a Jew from Hitler's wrath, due to fear, then yes, I say they are guilty of a crime. But is their crime as great as one that executed the Jews? No, not at all. Those that observed were guility, but were not guilty of the same heinous crimes the Nazis committed. Now soldiers who followed orders out of fear do deserve the same penalty that which the leaders were sentenced to. They had a choice to make, whether to follow orders and live, or to disobey and die. Most chose to continue living, but this brings up the question, "is life worth willing if your only purpose is to kill others?" It would seem better to die then to live a life of regret.
-Neil Booher
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Anonymous, at 7:10 PM
I completely agree with Natalia's comments. Followers are not exempt from the choices leaders make, and it is foolish to separate them. Both have their own choices to make, and though one may be in control, they both have free will.
Neil Booher
By
Anonymous, at 7:12 PM
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