Category I - 1. Neutrals – Behavior, Could Have Made a Difference?
Introduction
This essay thoroughly evaluates the role of two neutral countries throughout the course of the World War II. These neutral countries are Switzerland and United States. I will analyze their behavior in respect to Jews. Did those countries do enough to halt the mass killing of millions of Jews. Lastly, I will conclude, whether some of the deaths could have been prevented by a different stance and whether a better behavior of the neutrals could have been expected.
Switzerland
Since Switzerland could remain neutral during the second World War it seemed as an ideal location for Jewish refugees. It was located right in the center of Europe, bordered by France, Germany, Austria and Italy. This would be the best location for Jewish refugees to hide from the Nazi Germany, since Switzerland was also a neutral country with a democracy. However, the Swiss didn’t keep their perspective neutral regarding the ethnicity of refugees. Moreover, the Swiss actually contributed to the high number of Jewish casualties during the holocaust by helping the Nazi’s with their Final Solution.
The Swiss discouraged the stream of Jewish refugees to their country by creating disincentives. These …show more content…
When the the representative of the World Jewish Congress reported on Hitler plans for exterminating Jews. The State department promptly decided that this report should be hidden from the public. When more and more evidence was pouring in that German atrocities, where mostly targeted against Jews. The United States finally decided to publicly declare aid to the Jews and prosecute the ones responsible for wiping out the Jews, only due to the technicality that there was some
Introduction
This essay thoroughly evaluates the role of two neutral countries throughout the course of the World War II. These neutral countries are Switzerland and United States. I will analyze their behavior in respect to Jews. Did those countries do enough to halt the mass killing of millions of Jews. Lastly, I will conclude, whether some of the deaths could have been prevented by a different stance and whether a better behavior of the neutrals could have been expected.
Switzerland
Since Switzerland could remain neutral during the second World War it seemed as an ideal location for Jewish refugees. It was located right in the center of Europe, bordered by France, Germany, Austria and Italy. This would be the best location for Jewish refugees to hide from the Nazi Germany, since Switzerland was also a neutral country with a democracy. However, the Swiss didn’t keep their perspective neutral regarding the ethnicity of refugees. Moreover, the Swiss actually contributed to the high number of Jewish casualties during the holocaust by helping the Nazi’s with their Final Solution.
The Swiss discouraged the stream of Jewish refugees to their country by creating disincentives. These …show more content…
When the the representative of the World Jewish Congress reported on Hitler plans for exterminating Jews. The State department promptly decided that this report should be hidden from the public. When more and more evidence was pouring in that German atrocities, where mostly targeted against Jews. The United States finally decided to publicly declare aid to the Jews and prosecute the ones responsible for wiping out the Jews, only due to the technicality that there was some