Jews as the universal enemy: an analysis of Social Darwinism as the driving force behind the Holocaust.
Date
2017
Authors
Edel, Sasha Jade
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Abstract
Hitler sought to apply Darwinist theories to German social life, under what was regarded as Social Darwinism. In his words; “If I can accept a divine commandment, it’s this one - thou shalt preserve thou species”. His most loyal and undying belief was that the Aryan race was the most superior race on the planet and that it was their right to “starve the weak” in the name of self-preservation. The Nazis saw it as a social obligation to ‘listen’ to the law of nature and embark on a war of territorial expansion and bloodshed. Darwinian thought provided a justification for Germany’s need for incessant colonialism and racial extermination. In this analysis, Lefort’s ‘Other’ becomes synonymous with Darwin’s ‘parasites’ and Hitler’s ‘enemy’. Through Social Darwinism, it is argued that Hitler ultimately achieved his God-given desire and goal, which was to get rid of the poisoners of the planet – the Jews.
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Political Studies, March 2017
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Citation
Edel, Sasha Jade (2017) Jews as the universal enemy: an analysis of Social Darwinism as the driving force behind the Holocaust, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, <https://hdl.handle.net/10539/24545>