Essay On The Effectiveness Of Upstanders During The Holocaust

The decisions of each individual can create significant changes to history, both positively and negatively. During the Holocaust, millions of innocent victims died due to anti-semitism and discrimination. Ordinary European citizens and Nazis shaped history by their inaction during the times of biased mass killings . Their decisions were greatly influenced by their understanding of the universe of obligation, which sociologist Helen Fein defines as, “the circle of individuals and groups ‘towards whom obligations are owed, to whom rules apply, and whose injuries call for [amends]’ (“We and They” 56). The majority of German citizens chose to protect themselves, Aryans, and German non-Jews, in order to protect their loved ones. However, some brave individuals called upstanders chose to stand up to the Nazi regime by rescuing Jews and other victims of persecution. Although numerous bystanders and perpetrators …show more content…
However, this accusation is not substantial. Clearly, there is adequate evidence that states how the small acts add up to cause a life altering consequence for someone in a defenseless situation like Elie Wiesel. Another holocaust survivor, Dorothy Greenstein, stated, “ It was actually a series of small acts of kindness, interspersed with lucky breaks that ultimately saved her life” (Edlehart). Greenstein was eleven when she went into hiding and had help from several upstanders who ultimately saved her life in the end. Every little act added up to her having a greater chance to live, and along the way, influenced people to help out. Being just a kid at the time, the many upstanders who took her into hiding for days made her unexpected chance of survival possible. Throughout history, all the acts of kindness during distress were significant, since each decision affected someone incomparably in the