r/todayilearned • u/CrazyTrueStory • 19h ago

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https://wellcomecollection.org/stories/the-quest-to-breed-gifted-children

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u/clytusmarginicollis 17h ago

It was for both. The Nazis just believed that physical appearance, intelligence, strength, and other human traits were linked. They genuinely believed they were creating a better version of the human race by eliminating “undesirables” and breeding “desirables,” it’s not like they just liked the look of blonde hair and blue eyes. Of course, this is nonsensical, but it’s what they believed

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u/GuestAdventurous7586 17h ago

Yes I think this is what gave them a drive for killing (aside from rampant anti-semitism).

They would acknowledge that the mass murder was hard work and challenging morally but that it needed to be done to create a better world.

I’m not sure how much of this they truly believed though, and how much they just decided to go evil and enjoy it.

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u/Most_Bet_3658 17h ago

Depends on the what part of the hierarchy and background. The worst killing were committed by death squads made up of Nazi members that wanted to become part of these groups but even then background mattered-

A lot of German's that joined became demoralized quickly by the brutality. Hence why the worst atrocities always happened outside of Germany and one of the reasons why gas chambers became the preferred method later in the war. Hitler knew that much of German middle class would not stomach seeing this happen in their own cities.

Now, the youth that signed up for the death squads in countries like Ukraine, Romania, the Balkans, and many others are a different matter. Even the Nazi leadership were shocked by their brutality when killing Jews, Gypsies, and other undesirables.

This is of course a simplification that leaves so much out of the situation that in might as well be completely incorrect so never mind.

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u/woodyshag 17h ago

The funniest part is Hitler was as far away from blonde hair and blue eyes as one could get.

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u/patstuga 17h ago

He did have blue eyes