Nazism was only as popular as it was because of Hitler's great speaking ability. Hitler had convinced so many people that what he was doing was right for the world, so no one ever questioned him. This, along with other reasons, was why so many groups and cultures of people were affected during his reign.
Other Targeted Groups
Other than Jews, nearly 5 million people died in concentration camps during the Holocaust.
The Poles were one of the groups targeted by the Nazis. Hitler wiped out the leading class of the Polish and placed millions of others in concentration camps or bound into slavery for German farmers. The Polish Jews were forced into the ghettos and the non-Jews were made prisoners in their own country. No one was allowed out. Young men were drafted to serve the Germans in the war, and blond-haired children were "Germanized" and taught to be Nazi supporters.
Hitler also targeted the Jehovah's Witnesses. This group of Christians refused to believe that there was any other god besides Jehovah. They also refused to sign documents of loyalty to the Third Reich. The Roma Gypsies had been persecuted throughout history and also viewed as inferior and meaningless. Nearly half of a million were wiped out during the Holocaust.
Homosexuals and the disabled were also persecuted. Homosexuals were considered to deter the goal of the Aryan race because they could not produce children. Many were tortured and executed or placed into concentration camps. They wore pink triangles on their clothes so that they could be easily recognized and further humiliated. People with disabilities were also seen as worthless and simply just put to death.
The Poles were one of the groups targeted by the Nazis. Hitler wiped out the leading class of the Polish and placed millions of others in concentration camps or bound into slavery for German farmers. The Polish Jews were forced into the ghettos and the non-Jews were made prisoners in their own country. No one was allowed out. Young men were drafted to serve the Germans in the war, and blond-haired children were "Germanized" and taught to be Nazi supporters.
Hitler also targeted the Jehovah's Witnesses. This group of Christians refused to believe that there was any other god besides Jehovah. They also refused to sign documents of loyalty to the Third Reich. The Roma Gypsies had been persecuted throughout history and also viewed as inferior and meaningless. Nearly half of a million were wiped out during the Holocaust.
Homosexuals and the disabled were also persecuted. Homosexuals were considered to deter the goal of the Aryan race because they could not produce children. Many were tortured and executed or placed into concentration camps. They wore pink triangles on their clothes so that they could be easily recognized and further humiliated. People with disabilities were also seen as worthless and simply just put to death.
"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me."
- Martin Niemöller, Protestant minister