Holocaust Blog 2

Sarah Cook

 

Maus by Art Spiegelman

Page: 32-33

 

Propaganda was used a lot during World War 2 to support Nazism and the war efforts. By using propaganda it was a way the Nazis could gain support. They used posters, cartoons, books and music to represent Nazism. They tended to target the children because Hitler believed that children were the future of Nazi Germany. The Poisonous Mushroom was a story book created during World War 2. The story targeted Jewish people as being horrible and bad people. This put ideas and thoughts into young children’s minds that the Jews were bad people and you should not respect them or appreciate them. In Maus on page 149 when Vladek was walking through town the young children started screaming “Help! Mommy! A Jew!!” (Spiegelman,149). This clearly demonstrates how kids thought Jews were terrible people. These young kids were terrified and thought Vladek was going to in danger them in some way. The kids did not stop yelling until Vladek said “Heil Hitler” (Spiegleman, 149). Once he said this the children weren’t afraid anymore and the mother even apologized for her children’s actions. She states “you know how children are” (Spiegleman, 149). Again you can clearly see how brain washed children were. They were taught only to believe what the Nazis said was true, and they were unable to learn anything that the Nazis didn’t approve of. Children learned the meaning of the swastika and what it stood for. The swastika was used on many propaganda posters and comics. On pages 32 and 33 in Maus, it was the beginning of 1938 and Vladek was on the train. Vladek looks out the train window only to see for the first time a swastika. Many people during the early years of the War did not know how bad it truly was or was going to be. On panel 3 on page 33 you see a Jew holding a sign that says “I’m a filthy Jew” (Spieglemen, 33). This panel portrays just the beginning of what was in store for the Jews.

Holocaust Blog

Sarah Cook

 

How can something like the Holocaust happen?

                The Holocaust was a horrific event that took millions of innocent lives and left the entire world scarred. After the holocaust took place the main goal people all over the world had in common was how do we prevent something like this ever happening again? Everyone wanted to forget what had happened. They wanted to move on with their lives but in order to do this they had to face what had taken place. The world needed to come together and figure out a way something this horrific would never happen again. There are mass killings that still take place in the world today. Innocent people are being murdered. It may not be as bad as the Holocaust but people are being killed for no reason at all. Modern genocide took place in Cambodia, when a communist ruler took power. He created work camps just like Hitler and many were worked and starved to death. Others were tortured to death by the communist group the Khmer Rouge whose leader was Pol Pot.  There is no explanation as to why people want to murder millions of innocent people, they just do. Many leaders of genocides use propaganda to gain supporters. Hitler used posters. Cartoons, children’s books, and even music to gain supporters for the Nazi party. Usually the leaders try and target a specific group of people. Hitler targeted young children others may target women or men to try and win their support. Propaganda can brain wash the minds of the people. The thoughts in their minds aren’t truly their thoughts, the leaders are putting ideas in their heads. For example Hitler’s main message and idea was ant-Semitism. He made it very clear that he did not like the Jews and he would do everything in his power to exterminate all of the Jews. Another way Hitler brain washed children was through Hitler Youth. Children were taught to love Nazism through school and extracurricular activities. Hitler created a camp that resembled a military camp. He believed the camp would toughen up the boys for their future roles as soldiers. Boys as young as 5 years old were sent to these camps. They would have youth rallies where they would march in the form of a swastika. Girls on the other hand did not undergo rough military training. Instead the girls learned house hold skills like sewing and cooking. There were many warning signs that Hitler was up to no good but the world just turned their back. In order to prevent something like the Holocaust or modern day genocide people have to stand up for what they believe in. They can’t allow themselves to become brain washed and believe in things they know aren’t right.