Why were the Non-Jewish Europeans scared to help the Jews during the Holocaust?

Answer 1

The non-Jews if they helped the Jews then then would be arrested and tormented and even killed.

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It would depend where, when and what kind of help:

for example giving some bread to a Jew whilst they were on a Death March, though unlikely to get you killed in the first instance, could easily lead to death if one repeated the offence.

giving bread to a Jew in France or Holland might not even have been discouraged.

Answer 2

There were many reasons the locals did not help them. First Hitler sent the Jews to concentration camps where they were separated from everyone else so the locals did not know what was going on. If they did know then they would not answer because they knew that the Nazis would kill them or send them away for disagreeing with the Fuhrer. All the Germans had to "agree with Hitler" or perish (may people did not agree and those who spoke up were silenced very quickly by death. Others just became corrupt because they believed in their Fuhrer so much they would do anything or believe anything for him.) Hitler was a very organized Fuhrer.

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There was no contact between the prisoners and the 'locals'. Even in modern Britain and America the 'locals' can't give direct help to a person they believe is wrongfully imprisoned in their local jail.

Answer 3

Plenty of people helped the Jews the best they can.

These neutral countries helped hide Jews within their borders.

The Vatican City

Sweden

Spain

Portugal

Several Individuals, helped hide Jews the most famous being Oskar Schindler.

Not to mention the Allies who came and liberated the majority of Jews in concentration camps.

Answer 4

Unfortunately, the Jews were popularly believed to have betrayed Germany and steal money. If not most of the population believed this, enough did to make Hitler and the Nazis terribly popular. If non-Jews decided to help, and they were discovered, they would face treatment similar to that of the Jews, as 'enemies of the state'. Though you should also remember many Germans didn't know about what was happening at Aushwitz, Buchenwald, etc. The huge and disastrous scope of the Holocaust wasn't realized by most people until after the war.

Answer 5

Because if they were caught they could be sentenced to death.

Answer 6

Many were afraid; many didn't care, and some just hated the Jews.

Answer 7

People were scared of the Nazi's control and the powerful Dictatorship of Hitler.