of the Jews. (Resnick p. 16) This was Hitler’s “solution to the Jewish question”.Hitler had always encouraged the German people through his speeches to persecute the Jews, but in order to implement his “solution”, which was to get rid of the Jews, he had to be in a position of power. As Hitler’s political party, the Nazis, became more and more influential, their enemies opposed them more and more openly. Hitler’s response was simple and brutal. His Gestapo, secret police, led by Heinrich Himmler, “…beat, tortured, and jailed thousands of Germans who opposed Hitler.” (Resnick p. 22) “He sent out his armed thugs, called storm troopers, to break up the meetings of Communists and others who opposed him.” (Resnick p. 18) “Once he had the support of high-ranking military commanders and the major industrial leaders, Hitler’s power was secure.” (Resnick p. 22) Once in a position of power, Hitler began implementing his “solution”. First the Jews were stripped of their rights and their possessions, then they were deported. “Nazi policy wasn’t just to harass the Jews. It was to force them out of Germany.” (Adler p. 33) It was not long, however before adjoining nations began blocking the entrance of Germany’s Jewish refugees into their territory. Hitler’s frustration mounted, yet he was no less determined to get rid of the Jews. He only realized that carrying out his solution would not be so easy.“The most ominous threat came when Hitler predicted that if war were to start with countries unfriendly to Germany, Germany would exterminate the Jewish race in Europe.” (Resnick p. 35) Jews were forced to work in dangerous ammunitions factories to help rebuild the German military, with the hopes that they could be worked to death. Hitler, realizing that there was no point to deporting the Jews since...
