Hi Steven,
Jan Mokrzycki (xuegxaw@CSV.WARWICK.AC.UK)
Tue, 26 Nov 1996 15:35:53 GMT
I'll attempt to answer your questions, difficult though
it may be.
1:What started the War?
At the armistice following the 1st world war, the
victorious allies imposed pretty drastic conditions on
the defeated Germany, in particular, taking away all
her colonies. These conditions made Germany pretty poor
and in the long run led to the election of an ultra
nacionalistic (Natzi) governament of Adolf Hitler.The
allies looked on and did nothing whilst Hitler built up
his air force, navy and army. Practising the policy of
appeasement ie. letting him get away with annexing
Austria and then invading Czechoslovakia they made him
into a big all conquering hero in Germany. When he
eventually invaded Poland, the first country to stand
up to him, it was too late, his army was on a roll, the
allies unarmed and un prepared. I think had they stood
up to him early on and showed preparedness to go to war
when he wanted to annex Austria, war may have been
avoided- but, we'll never know for sure.
2:What are the most brutal etc.
There is nothing to compare with the story of the
German concentration camps, establishments created by a
so called civilised nation for the purpose of
exterminating fellow human beings under the most
horrific conditions. I would suggest you read a book
called "Beyond lost dreams" by J.N.Siedlecki, published
in 1994 by Pentland Press Ltd. 1 Hutton Close, South
Church, Bishop Auckland, Durham, England.
It is a true story of a survivor of Aushwitz, written
in an easy to read style.
3:What are the Jewish and natzi roles
Those of the victim and the torturer.
4:Why are people prejudiced to the Jews.
Why are some, thankfully usually only a few, people
prejudiced to all sorts of minorities? Why are people
prejudiced to negros, asians , the Indians have even
invented a caste system so they can be prejudiced to
one another! Whenever it is fairly easy to tell a
minority apart, and the majority want a scapegoat, the
minority becomes easy meat. It is one of the less
endearing facets of human behaviour and one we should
strive to conquer.
5:Who were the victims and why
Iwas a child when the war started. I would say the
victims are my generation, the generation of my parents
and also my children. My parents generation is the
obvious one, they took part in the war, lost their all,
often including their lives. For my generation have a
look in the Chatback home pages-you have our stories
there. Our children were born children of emigrees,
mine for example are british, but not completly so,
they get pulled by 2 different cultures, sets of values
etc. So they and may be even their children will still
be affected.
Finally, think of us when you are on the beach whilst
we shiver in the wet and cold!
Good luck.
Jan Mokrzycki.