
Originally Posted by
deadlegion
Holocaust denial is just stupid.
Although some civilians in some areas only knew certain "undesirables" were being deported to work camps, many people had an idea of what was going on. But the thing to keep in mind is that it wasn't only Jews being taken away.
It's easy to say that anyone that stood by and let stuff happen was complicit...but some people were given a choice to live, conform and not draw attention to themselves.
Even the Wehrmacht did some bad stuff because some officers gave orders. The SS officers were pretty consistently bad.
But the German people (and occupied territories) were basically guilty of not questioning authority enough, and in great enough numbers. Maybe some wanted what happened, but a lot just didn't want to get into trouble themselves and wanted to be "normal".
Which, when you think about it, can happen in many countries even now. Not saying that any country now has concentration camps and execution chambers...but I hope you understand what I'm on about.