Category
Textual or Investigative
Description
Despite the public pushback during the sterilization program, little stopped it from continuing. Nazi officials had desired for the program to expand during the early stages of sterilization, their chance coming with the death of a child and the outbreak of World War II. Six centers were designated as the main euthanasia centers along with several other locations used to support it. Gas, lethal injections, and starvations were used to kill the disabled on mass. Despite attempts to keep the program secret, they failed as clues became increasingly apparent. Documented civilian responses were largely antagonistic and actions committed were passive in nature. This culminated in Bishop August von Galen's sermons against various Nazi policies. A report by the SD done after the release of one propaganda film shows that people were in support of the idea of euthanasia but wished for certain stipulations to be in place. 70,000 perished in this phase of the euthanasia program, the civilian response doing little to stop the program.
Not Allowed To Say Goodbye: The German Civilian's Perception of Aktion T4, 1939 - 1941
Textual or Investigative
Despite the public pushback during the sterilization program, little stopped it from continuing. Nazi officials had desired for the program to expand during the early stages of sterilization, their chance coming with the death of a child and the outbreak of World War II. Six centers were designated as the main euthanasia centers along with several other locations used to support it. Gas, lethal injections, and starvations were used to kill the disabled on mass. Despite attempts to keep the program secret, they failed as clues became increasingly apparent. Documented civilian responses were largely antagonistic and actions committed were passive in nature. This culminated in Bishop August von Galen's sermons against various Nazi policies. A report by the SD done after the release of one propaganda film shows that people were in support of the idea of euthanasia but wished for certain stipulations to be in place. 70,000 perished in this phase of the euthanasia program, the civilian response doing little to stop the program.
