Action T4
As soon as Nazi took over power in July 1933, Nazi began to implement “racial hygiene” policy, later in 1939, Nazis implemented Aktion T4 (Action T4) The political basis for this program was the Nazi’s effort at purifying the Arian race through out forcibly sterilization, euthanasia and also destroying people that though undesirable people. There is also an economic effort to this program, which was to reduce the burden under the state for taking care of these people. However, looking from the economical perspective, this program was clearly effective on eliminating undesirable people that allowed the Nazis to reduced the burden on “life of unworthy life”. By end of the program, it had the following consequences:
- 50,000-60,000 German children or adults were killed by means of lethal injection or gassing installation.
- 80,000-100,000 mental adults patients from institution were killed.
- 1,100 Jews from institution were killed.
- 5,000 children from institutions were killed.
But, the long-term impact was perhaps, however disastrous to the Nazis. The Catholic was opposed to the program by implementing the program. Catholic Cardinal Clemens von Galen, who was a bishop of Münster Cathedral delivered speech in there on Sunday, August 3, 1941, in which he openly condemning the ongoing Nazi euthanasia program as bellow:
“German men and women, section 211 of the Reich Penal Code is still valid. It states: 'He who deliberately kills another person will be punished by death for murder if the killing is premeditated.'
Hitler did not publicly made response, but Hitler himself was a Catholic
- 50,000-60,000 German children or adults were killed by means of lethal injection or gassing installation.
- 80,000-100,000 mental adults patients from institution were killed.
- 1,100 Jews from institution were killed.
- 5,000 children from institutions were killed.
But, the long-term impact was perhaps, however disastrous to the Nazis. The Catholic was opposed to the program by implementing the program. Catholic Cardinal Clemens von Galen, who was a bishop of Münster Cathedral delivered speech in there on Sunday, August 3, 1941, in which he openly condemning the ongoing Nazi euthanasia program as bellow:
“German men and women, section 211 of the Reich Penal Code is still valid. It states: 'He who deliberately kills another person will be punished by death for murder if the killing is premeditated.'
Hitler did not publicly made response, but Hitler himself was a Catholic
"We tolerate no one in our ranks who attacks the ideas of Christianity ... in fact our movement is Christian. We are filled with a desire for Catholics and Protestants to discover one another in the deep distress of our own people.” (A speech in Passau, 27 October 1928, Bundesarchiv Berlin-Zehlendorf)
The harsh public condemn became the turning point of the program. Hitler was going crazily to destroy the undesirable people, but in 1941, he declared to cease the program without mentioning detailed reasons. However, perhaps foremost reason for this was strong condemn that Hitler received, to some extent, he acknowledged his extreme and severe discrimination against the undesirable people, that let him to minimize the size of this program.
From one perspective, it was supported to be carried out secretly and seemed successful, however, because many people were opposed to even within Germany, because it had to be secret, it wasn’t successful. Because on top of the secret, they put all effort to keep it secret, like they didn’t revealed where the concentration comps were build, so it became difficult to do. It showed that many Germans didn’t believe in the level of the Nazi program. As a part of the propaganda and as well as a way to convince the German citizens, the Nazis even made a film such as Opfer der Vergangenheit (“Victims of the Past”), which attempted to increase public support for the action T4. All the Nazis attempt to conceal the secrets and the attempt to convince people though out many ways, these actions themselves are the evidences for the program is not being successful. Had the program successfully carried out by the Nazis, Hitler and as well as other leaders would not even need to keep the program secret.
Having faced many difficulties, the program gradually lost publics support despite the fact that the Nazis attempted to attract the public attentions. More they did, more opposition they received. The program ultimately did not work well and its effectiveness declined.
The harsh public condemn became the turning point of the program. Hitler was going crazily to destroy the undesirable people, but in 1941, he declared to cease the program without mentioning detailed reasons. However, perhaps foremost reason for this was strong condemn that Hitler received, to some extent, he acknowledged his extreme and severe discrimination against the undesirable people, that let him to minimize the size of this program.
From one perspective, it was supported to be carried out secretly and seemed successful, however, because many people were opposed to even within Germany, because it had to be secret, it wasn’t successful. Because on top of the secret, they put all effort to keep it secret, like they didn’t revealed where the concentration comps were build, so it became difficult to do. It showed that many Germans didn’t believe in the level of the Nazi program. As a part of the propaganda and as well as a way to convince the German citizens, the Nazis even made a film such as Opfer der Vergangenheit (“Victims of the Past”), which attempted to increase public support for the action T4. All the Nazis attempt to conceal the secrets and the attempt to convince people though out many ways, these actions themselves are the evidences for the program is not being successful. Had the program successfully carried out by the Nazis, Hitler and as well as other leaders would not even need to keep the program secret.
Having faced many difficulties, the program gradually lost publics support despite the fact that the Nazis attempted to attract the public attentions. More they did, more opposition they received. The program ultimately did not work well and its effectiveness declined.
Visual aids of Action T4
Written by Jianhe Tao, Edited by Claudia Quek
Bibliography
"The Nazi Euthanasia (T-4) Program: Background & Overview." Background & Overview of the Nazi Euthanasia (T-4) Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2014.
Kelly. "Law for the Prevention of Offspring with Hereditary Diseases (July 14, 1933)." Law for the Prevention of Offspring with Hereditary Diseases (July 14, 1933) (n.d.): n. pag. German History in Documents and Images. Web. 30 Dec. 2014.
"Nazi Euthanasia." The History Place-World War II in Europe. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2014.
Walker, Jim. "The Christianity of Hitler Revealed in His Speeches and Proclamations." Hitler's Christianity. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2014.
Thompson,David."Http://www.axishistory.com/books/59-holocaust-a-war-crimes/holocaust-unsorted/387-aktion-t4-the-euthanasia-program." Axis History. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Dec. 2014.
"To What Extend Did the Catholic and Protestant Churchs Fail or Succeed in Combatting the Nazi Regime? - Page 3 - Catholic Answers Forums." Catholic Answers Forums RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Dec. 2014.
"Nazi Euthanasia Program: Persecution of the Mentally & Physically Disabled." Nazi Persecution of the Mentally & Physically Disabled. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2014.
Bibliography
"The Nazi Euthanasia (T-4) Program: Background & Overview." Background & Overview of the Nazi Euthanasia (T-4) Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2014.
Kelly. "Law for the Prevention of Offspring with Hereditary Diseases (July 14, 1933)." Law for the Prevention of Offspring with Hereditary Diseases (July 14, 1933) (n.d.): n. pag. German History in Documents and Images. Web. 30 Dec. 2014.
"Nazi Euthanasia." The History Place-World War II in Europe. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2014.
Walker, Jim. "The Christianity of Hitler Revealed in His Speeches and Proclamations." Hitler's Christianity. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2014.
Thompson,David."Http://www.axishistory.com/books/59-holocaust-a-war-crimes/holocaust-unsorted/387-aktion-t4-the-euthanasia-program." Axis History. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Dec. 2014.
"To What Extend Did the Catholic and Protestant Churchs Fail or Succeed in Combatting the Nazi Regime? - Page 3 - Catholic Answers Forums." Catholic Answers Forums RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Dec. 2014.
"Nazi Euthanasia Program: Persecution of the Mentally & Physically Disabled." Nazi Persecution of the Mentally & Physically Disabled. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2014.