Example research essay topic: Second World War Hitler Came To Power - 1,738 words

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Stones From the River (1) The German defeat in 1945 had spanned a specific anti-nazi literature, which was to show that there was a popular discontent with Nazi regime among Germans. This, of course, is very far from the truth not just the overwhelming majority of Germans was supporting Hitler, but also many Jews. Ursula Heigi Stones From the River clearly belongs to this category. It is a story of physically challenged girl Trudi Montag, who grows into adulthood during the time of Nazi rule in Germany.

She was a dwarf and it was causing her much suffering, as other kids used to make fun of her condition. Trudi tried different techniques to stretch her body; one was hanging from the door jamb. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, it proved to be impossible to fix the mistake of nature: Trudi prayed, and her body grew- but as though her prayers had been twisted in some horrible joke-her body had not stretched itself upward as she had presumed it would, but expanded into a solid width that would eventually make her forearms massive and her jaw as formidable" (Heigi). At this time, Jews were being persecuted in Germany on ever-larger scale. Trudi becomes sympathetic to them, as she inner feels that theyre also deficient, in some respect, and that is why people hate them so much. Subconsciously, she associates Jews with herself and, as time goes by, she begins to feel alienated from her own people and culture.

In my opinion, author grossly misrepresents German history from 1920 to 1946, because the Nazi rule is shown as some kind of social anomaly, despite the fact that National-Socialism is essentially the cult of physical health, beauty and intelligence. This is why Trudi could never fit in, being physically deficient. Many historians refer to the rise of Nazi party as conservative revolution as opposed to the liberal revolution with ideas of equality and progress. This only partially is a truth. The twelve years of Nazi rule in Germany is nothing else but an extraordinary attempt to adapt the ideas of ancient Greeks to the realities of modern times. This is no secret that all our concepts of democracy, beauty and progress derive from ancient Greece and Rome.

Hitler just made one step further he applied these ideas to German society, making his nation the happiest on Earth, within a few years. So, in broader sense, Hitlers revolution was also based on ideas of progress and equality, but only equality among equal. There is a morality to be found in Trudi Montags story, but this depends on readers own perception of this period in German history. Needless to say that the topic of persecution of Jews is very controversial. There is a growing revisionist sentiment, among many modern historians, who strive to re-examine history by only taking actual facts into account, without pursuing any political agenda. Numerous eye-witnesses stories cannot be considered objective, as they were never meant to be critically analyzed.

Ursula Heigi puts blame on Nazi ideology for Trudi being treated unfairly and for her feeling of inadequacy, yet even if Trudi was born in the most democratic country, she would still be getting picked on this is simply a cruel law of nature. The only reason that people with physical and mental defects are having such a hard time, while trying to be accepted by the society, is because the society would suffer, as a whole, if this happened. The natural selection is what enabled humankind to evolve, this is the rule that is equally applied to all living creatures. When the perverted sense of morality is put above biological health, the society begins to slowly degrade, like the contemporary America, where 50 % of school children are grossly overweight. (2) It is easy to notice that, throughout her story, author emphasize that it is what Trudi does, which defines her as person, rather than what she is. One time, when she was swimming, a group of boys started to pick on her and this was the last straw for Trudi in anger she begins to throw stones in river, as an ultimate gesture of defying the cruel reality. From this time on, Trudi gives up on trying to blend into society and withdraws into her own world.

This shows the real nature of Trudi being different. While young people of her age fully enjoy life by spending a lot of time in physical activities, Trudi accumulates more and more anger against the world, because she cannot be like everybody else. In other words, Trudi's moral stance is simply based on the fact that she is the freak of nature. Therefore, it is highly doubtful that anyone, in his sober mind, would consider Trudi as the person of extraordinary qualities, like author would like us to do. What makes Trudi a positive character, is her continuing admiration of Jews. Sometimes it adopts a grotesque form, when she feels sorry and regret for being German.

We can draw parallels between her and Eminem, who openly admits that he wants to be black and who is ashamed of his own racial heritage. As for me, it is her alienation from its own people that makes Trudi a truly despicable character, even though that the pushers of left-wing agenda would certainly praise her to the sky, because for them, the treason is always justifiable and moral. (3) According to Ursula Heigi, the people of Berghof suspected that the Jews were being slaughtered wholesale, but their cowardice prevented them from exploring the matter any further. When Trudi tries to get their attention to the fact of holocaust, they don't believe her. But let us to examine Trudi's revelations from the position of normal German, who is not physically or mentally impaired. Some dwarf, who stays indoor most of the time, who does not contribute to society, comes up with shocking statements, which undermine people's morality. Of course, no one would listen to Trudi.

We can only admire the kindness of ordinary Germans for not taking Trudi to Gestapo, for sabotaging Germany's war effort. Still, the real explanation of why ordinary Germans were not aware of holocaust is because it never happened. There is no single proof of it, except for the testimonies of numerous survivors that contradict each other. The fate of Germany's concentration camps inmates was no different than the fate of prisoners in Soviet Union or U. S. - they were being simply put to work. This, of course, gives Jews the valid reason to complain, because working physically is less pleasurable than engaging in financial speculations.

But to say that Germans killed them in gas chambers is outrageous. The holocaust only existed in Trudi's sick imagination. Yes, this is the truth that the Jews were having very uncomfortable time in Germany, after Hitler came to power. Nevertheless, he represented the will of his people. It was being considered, at the time (rightly or wrongly), that the Jews posed threat to German national security and they had to be isolated. The present governments of Western countries also pursue immoral immigration policy, when families of illegal immigrants that failed to gain permission to live in those countries, because of some discriminative requirements, are being hunted down, arrested and deported to where they came from, very often to their deaths.

There is no doubt that this is highly immoral, yet this is legal. (4) My opinions did not change after reading Heigi's masterpiece. For me, it is one of many examples of anti-German propaganda that became very popular, after the Second World War. Today many people are puzzled with the fact that the nation of philosophers and composers had so easily adopted the ideals on National-Socialism, they think of it as something incomprehensible. This is the classical case when people look at matter, at point blank range, yet they still cannot see its essence.

European culture was developing as a succession of the same ideas from ancient times, through Renaissance, to comparatively recent historical past. That is why the National-Socialism came as very natural worldview not just for Germans alone, but also to majority of Europeans. As war drew closer to Europe in 1944 - 1945, millions of Europeans were willing to join SS, so that they could fight advancing barbarians from the east, just like in times when the whole Europe had to unite, in order to defend itself from invasions of Huns and Mongols. Even the most hard-core critics on National-Socialism admit that, from time when Hitler came to power to the outbreak of Second World War, Germany, from country with staggering inflation rate, with 60 % of unemployment rate and deprived of its historical territories, became the most powerful and happy country in Europe. If it wasnt up to the war, Hitler would go down in history as greatest German that ever lived. National-Socialist party deployed a racial approach in its social policies.

It has to be said that it is only after 1945 such approach became inappropriate, yet right up to the war, even U. S. government was successfully using eugenics to improve the quality of its population. Hitlers party wanted to do the same. As for the issue of holocaust, I think that the Jews should question themselves about why they inflict so much animosity from other nations, throughout the history. Is this a pure accident?

Are they really a holy cows beyond any criticism that the authors like Heigi would like us to believe? Or maybe we should inquire about Jewish role in the genocide of Ukrainians in 1933, which resulted in 10 million dead? According to the official statistics, 95 % of commissars, who were directly responsible for the famine, happened to be Jews. There is no guilt on German people for what happened in Second World War.

I don't believe that the irrational hate is behind all the horrors in the war. But I do believe that human society is susceptible to degeneration. In order to remain healthy, which allows further progress, it needs to periodically rid itself of individuals unworthy of life, like Trudi. The psychopaths, maniacs, dwarfs, impotent's, schizophrenics do we really want to see their numbers increased? If so, than Trudi is a truly remarkable character, worthy of admiration.

But I think, the majority of people would disagree and this is exactly why our civilization has a chance of survival.

Research essay sample on Second World War Hitler Came To Power