Genocide During World War II - Research Paper Example

Eugenic Measures and the Elimination of Genetic Sickness in WWII Nazi Germany Literature Review Introduction The policies of Nazi Germany did not only include the eradication of specified races, but the eradication of types of people that were defined by either behavior or by medical circumstance. Germany adopted plans to eliminate people who were both socially unacceptable and medically unacceptable, extending these programs to include the elimination of generations of genetically inappropriate people. Through both the outright killing of members of the groups, the transfer to concentration camps, and through the limitation of procreation, the regime intended to purify its members through the elimination of those considered without possibility of viable productivity that could contribute to their society. Definitions According to Jonassohn and Chalk (1990) the definition of genocide has been defined through the use of the concept of groups. A good working definition of genocide can be termed as “a form of one-sided mass killing in which a state or other authority intends to destroy a group, as that group and membership in it are defined by the perpetrator” (pp. 23). The definition becomes further explored when the concept of reciprocity is attributed to the idealism of genocide. The act is a one sided act in which the perpetrator has the intent with no similar intent reciprocated by the victims of that intent. Jonassohn and Chalk (1990) go on to define the purposes of genocide in regard to intent as “1. To eliminate a potential threat 2. To spread terror among real or potential enemies 3. To acquire economic wealth and 4. To implement a belief Eugenic measures 3 theory or etymology” (pp. 29) The definition of genocide was first legally decided during the Nuremburg Trials in which criminals of the events of World War II were tried and convicted according to their crimes. The crime of genocide defined during the UN Convention of 1948 in Article II as Any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: a. killing members of the group b. causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group c. deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about physical destruction in whole or in part d. forcibly transferring children of the group to another group (Abrams & Ratner, 2001, pp. 29) Genocide comprised of three main elements: 1. The commission of one of the acts in Article II of the Convention 2. The direction of the act to one of the enumerated groups 3. The intent to destroy the group in whole or in part (Abrams & Ratner, 2001, pp. 29). According to Kuhl (2002), eugenics is ”the practical application of genetic science toward the improvement of the genetic health of future generations” (pp. 4). This concept become one of the driving forces behind the numerable deaths that were part of the many genocides that were committed by the Nazi government in Germany during World War II. Groups defined by the state, such as the racial divisions, physical limitations, and social circumstances, were specified as unworthy of life. According to Biesold (1999), the state is responsible for defining groups within its communities, and thus defining how the categorization affects the whole of the state (pp. 6)Therefore, the government decided to eradicate them in favor of building a race that was more relevant to the goals of the state. Therefore, the use of eugenics in order to define those who were perceived as specifically vulnerable to genetic transmutations that were undesirable were put into a category and dealt with through horrific means. Eugenic measures 4 One of the ways in which the stated defined its group was also through deeming certain individuals as asocial, meaning that they were not fit to be in society because of a refusal to participate in the adherence of laws. Typically this group was defined by those who were incarcerated for a short period of time, but whose criminal background and activities suggested that they were unredeemable. This group was segregated and taken to concentration camps so that their ‘influence’ on society would be eliminated (Wachsman, 2004, pp. 306). Eugenics According to Jonassohn and Chalk (1990), Nazi Germany had a plan in which to take out those citizens who would not contribute effectively to the overall way of life that was being pursued. Part of this included eliminating as much physical and mental differences through the killing of people who were categorized as unfit to be members of their society. This meant that the deaths and sterilizations of thousands was committed specifically because they were challenged with limitations. The theory of productivity was the underlying principle from which this policy was contrived (pp. 354). By 1934, the policy of sterilization had been implemented in which the consent of the patient was no longer needed, but rather, a defined response from the state to their physical genetic contribution was used to determine whether or not they would be denied the ability to procreate (Jonassohn and Chalk, 1990, pp. 345) According to Kuhl (2002), the intent of the state was to eliminate as many negative traits as possible in favor of promoting positive attributes in future generations. The programs that were used not only eliminated potential threatening traits, but promoted couples with positive attributes who decided to marry and procreate through incentives (pp. 73). The defined worth of the individual was directly related to the way in which that individual could be productive, which Eugenic measures 5 supported the policies of the theory of productivity (Kuhl, 2002, pp. 73) According to Biesold (1999), the groups that were defined by the state was at the discretion of the state, thus making many people vulnerable to its whim (pp. 6). Biesold (1999) defined these three categories as part of the groups in which the Nazi government targeted for extermination: 1.children with mental or physical disabilities. 2 children with hearing impairments. 3 disabled adults (pp. 9, 10). During the time period that these groups were targeted the creation of killing chambers was established in which large groups of undesirable medical patients were killed in mass gassings. The figure that is quoted for these groups is in excess of 80,000 people killed through mass gassings in killing chambers that were defined by the physical or mental health as not worthy of life for the purposes of productivity in society nor for their potential threat to the future (Biesold, 1999, pp. 10). Conclusion The use of eugenic principles in Nazi Germany was developed with the assumption that in eliminating certain groups, a better future would be established. The definition of genocide allows for the defining of groups by the state in order to eliminate perceived threats to that state. In this case, Nazi Germany used the definitions of groups who were seen as physically or mentally disabled in order to separate them from society. In addition, groups that were incarcerated were placed in this category as asocials who were also subject to sterilization and death. The theory of productivity became a guiding principle in creating these determinations and was defined as the need to be able to contribute to society, rather than be a drain to it. Therefore, those within certain groups who were in need of care, rather than able to be productive, were considered for and effectively eradicated. Eugenic measures 6 References Abrams, J. S., & Ratner, S. R. (2001). Accountability for human rights atrocities in International law: Beyond the Nuremberg legacy. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Biesold, H. (1999). Crying hands: Eugenics and deaf people in Nazi Germany. Washington, D.C: Gallaudet University Press. Jonassohn, K., & Chalk, F. (1990). The history and sociology of genocide: Analyses and case studies. New Haven: Yale University Press in cooperation with the Montreal institute for genocide studies. Kuhl, S. (2002). The Nazi Connection: Eugenics, American racism, and German national socialism. New York [u.a.: Oxford University Press. Wachsmann, N. (2004). Hitler's prisons: Legal terror in Nazi Germany. New Haven, Conn: Yale University Press. Eugenic measures 7 Synthesis Matrix Eugenic Measures and the Elimination of Genetic Sickness in WWII Nazi Germany Topic Jonassohn & Chalk Abrams & Ratner Kuhl Biesold Wachsmann Definitions Success of a domininant group to reduce or eliminate a minority group. More specifically, a state that perpetuates the destruction of a group as defined by that state(24) Genocide received its first legal definition during the Nuremburg trials (27) Defined by the UN Convention of 1948 (29) Eugenics ”the practical application of genetic science toward the improvement of the genetic health of future generations. (4) The state would define who was specified within a group that was targeted. (6) Asocials “worthless and intolerable for the national community” (306) Typology 1. To eliminate a potential threat 2. To spread terror among real or potential enemies 3. To acquire economic wealth 4. To implement a belief theory or etymology (29) Genocide comprised of three main elements 1. The commission of one of the acts in Article II of the Convention 2. The direction of the act to one of the enumerated groups 3. The intent to destroy the group in whole or in part. The improvement of a race by eliminating its “negative” traits. (71) 1. Murder of children with mental or physical disabilities. 2 children with hearing impairments. 3 killing of disabled adults (9, 10) Theory of productivity The congenitally sick were thought to be unproductive and productivity played a large part in racist thought. (354) If an individual was not productive, the value of that life was not considered relevant. Was implemented as a concept towards prison systems…prisons were to productive, or inmates should be eliminated. Eugenic measures to eliminate the sick and genetic transfer of illness By 1934 sterilization became compulsory and it was no longer necessary to obtain the victims consent. (345) Sterilization, restrictions on marriage for handicapped people, and special support for “worthy” couples (73) 80,000 disabled killed in “killing chambers”. They were gassed. (10) Read More