Dehumanization In The Holocaust And The Rwandan Genocide

Dehumanization is the psychological or physical process of degrading the targeted group, making them seem less than human and hence not worthy of humane treatment. Dehumanization can lead to increased violence, human rights violations, war crimes, and genocide. Dehumanization is prevalent in almost every case of genocide, the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide are two very good examples. Jews in the Holocaust were treated as subhuman and murder so germans would benefit. The Hutus were dehumanized and killed so Tutsis could prove superiority and gain power in Rwanda. A few ways both the Hutus and Jews were dehumanized was being named sub humanly and had their lives taken, in both cases were for the superiority and benefit of the Tutsis or nazis. …show more content…
This is an indication of dehumanization because they treated jews like there only use was there physical labor, all emotions were disregarded, diminishing their self worth and forcing them into hard labor, like a slave. The gates of Buna are another example because the gates read “work will set you free” Humans are thought to be born with freedom, but in these camps even the slightest liberties, they were restricted in there close, allowances of property and freedom to leave their home but more importantly in the camps the bare necessities such as food, are only granted with work.This basically states, you have to work if you want to live. In Addition to being over worked they were deprived,Jews are treated like animals “Our tent leader was …show more content…
they were fighting for limited resources and territory.Both groups,Nazi and Tutsis, also wanted to superior for political purposes. In the Nazi death camps most of their actions for just out of sheer hatred and dominance over the Jews. Dehumanization is a key element in genocide.This rang true for true for the Rwandan genocide and the Holocaust, proven by the treatment of the oppressed groups and the obliteration of their entire race. Entire groups were virtually wiped out so the suppressors (Nazi or Tutsis) could benefit because they were thought to be more worthy. They were talked down upon, stolen from and mercilessly murdered, without a sense of rue because the idea of individuality and identity was ignored. They were treated brutally and painfully murdered. Both the Hutus and the Jews, were treated as subman prior to their death by groups who felt