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Two weeks ago we asked the question in my Advanced Placement World History class, "Why is the Jewish Holocaust referred to as 'The Holocaust''? My students were divided into small groups and debated this subject. The students did not mention Hitler's name at all, they referred to the Nazi party and Nazism movements across Europe. Their opinion is that the Holocaust is memorable in twentieth century history due to the destruction of over five million Jews, ninety-eight percent of the Gypsy population, homosexuals, and almost two thousand Catholic priests. Sometimes people do not realize it is more than Jews who suffered in this genocide and movement of ethnic cleansing. And in the same manner, people do not realize that it was a political party not just a man (Hitler) who ordered and executed these crimes against humanity.

Hitler comes across like the boogeyman. When people talk about The Jewish Holocaust, his name is mentioned like the evil and mysterious monster we are all suppose to be afraid of. Young people, and sometimes older people, as well, are fascinated by Hitler's beliefs and leadership. They do not realize Germany was embarrassed after World War I and suffering an economic depression and needed a savior. Hitler was a Populist and rose to power through legal means. His prejudices found an audience, and a feeding frenzy began with people who were insecure, poor, and humiliated at the snubbing of the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations. The S.S. soldiers and leadership had just as much hate inside them as their Furor. Why wasn't Hitler in these camps torturing these people? Where was he? His name is overused with the Holocaust, for he was the coward behind the scenes.

Hitler's name is synonymous with the Holocaust, but he was not the men in the trenches causing the deaths, torturing and tormenting the innocent, and wreaking havoc on Europe. Hitler was behind the scenes even though he was charismatic in his propganda speeches. The Nazi party was responsible for this tragedy, not a single man. People speak about him due to his looks (the small mustache), bazaar behavior and insecurities; and his suicide. History's fascination with him as a cult leader needs to end. The real tragedy is that an entire nation followed the ethnocentric mentality towards Jews, Gypsies, Catholic Priests, and homosexuals. The Holocaust needs to honor the memory of those who perished instead of a single man.

Learn more about this author, Morgan K. Reed.
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