The theme for this reading is restitution. When Hitler gave this speech, it was 14 years after they had lost World War I. The country felt like its previous rulers had let it down, and Hitler was sure to reinforce that idea.
In the text, it says that leading up to WWII, there was the use of
poison gas on people and saturation bombing of citizens. Concentration
camps were also established. Additionally, Neville Chamberlain tried
desperately to appease Hitler to avoid another world war; unfortunately,
all his efforts were in vain.
I know it was mentioned in class, but I think it's very interesting that Hitler addresses God. He says that since the day that their former rulers had sold them out, "the Almighty withheld his blessing from their people." He also calls upon God at the end of his speech and asks him to give the Germans his blessing. When I think of Hitler, I think of a cruel, godless man. Of course, he may be just putting on a front for the Germans.
I think reading this made me see Hitler as more human. When I was in high school, I didn't study this at all. Reading something that he said puts personality and a brain in this man that was never there before.
In class today it was mentioned that today's Holocaust could be abortion. I completely agree with that statement. There are millions of innocent lives being lost because they're not considered human. I don't know how you can convince yourself that a fetus is anything but. And I don't know how someone can look at a fully grown person and think that they are lesser and deserve death when they've done nothing wrong.
I don't know what I could be capable of if I was desperate enough.
