Introduction
America was one of the most powerful nations during the time of Holocaust in Germany and at the start of Second World War. The nation had made major strides in regards to freedom and democracy. America was a world model having made significant advances in economics and political fields.
It was at this time in Germany when Adolf Hitler’s regime stripped Jews off their liberties and humanity. Millions of were massacred as American turned a blind eye to the plight of Jews. Had America intervened early and acted accordingly, millions could have been saved from the Holocaust, but instead they choose to abandon the Jewish people.
Main body
Soon after World War I, American policy maker made a decision aimed at stopping America from being involved in other country’s domestic affairs and international conflicts. Isolationism policy was adopted and come the Second World War, America was not willing to get involved in the war. Most American public were also against any involvement of American in European war as they felt that America’s interest could only be protected by avoiding foreign conflicts. The general feeling was that no American life should be lost in the war in Eastern Europe.
Later when America joined Russia in the war against the Nazi Regime, the action was selective in that it failed to protect the Jews from genocide. By the spring of 1944, Americans were aware of mass killing of Jews at Auschwitz’s Gas Chambers at Birkenau extermination camp.
Jews leaders made passionate plea to the United States to bomb the railway leading to the camp but their calls were ignored. Instead, the United States bombed industrial targets in Auschwitz, located fives miles from the Extermination camp. Over 100,000 Jews died at the gas chambers in Birkenau during the period which America was bombing the Auschwitz industrial complex. Had America intervened by bombing the camp and the railway line leading to the camp, most of these Jews could have been saved.
During the period when the Holocaust was taking place, America was going through the great economic depression. The US was not ready to any immigrant, fearing job crisis and the burdening of the already strained economy. It is for this reason that immigration rules were tightened.
In 1938, over 20,000 Jews from German applied for US visa, but the Visa quota system at the time allowed only 7,000 Germans to have US visas. By 1939, the number of Jews seeking US visa had increased to 300,000 with only 20,000 getting approval.Plea by Human Rights body to the U.S State Department to increase the Germany quota fell on deaf ears.
Late 1930s and early 1940s gave rise to anti-Semitism movement in United States, spreading hatred against Jews across America. Anti-Jewish literature and slogans were speared allover United States. Many Jews faced physical assault and those who owned properties became an easier target to vandalism. This hatred further complicated effort to help Jews facing genocide in Eastern Europe.
Conclusion
America’s late and selective involvement in Eastern Europe war contributed to the holocaust. This coupled with anti-Semitism and tight immigration rules made it hard for Jews to seek refuge in United States. The nation failed to stop the genocide when it had the capacity and the capability to do so at an early stage. In principle, America abandoned the Jews at the hour of need.