Why did some Jews help with the Holocaust?

Answer 1

The vast majority of Germans were either ambivalent towards Jews or against the mistreatment of the Jews. It was a strong vocal minority of people that were anti-semitic in Germany, but there has always been anti-semitism in Europe, especially in the East European countries, including Russia. Most Germans wanted to be left alone and did their best to get along with the totalitarian regime that was the Nazi state - where the Gestapo was omnipresent. Anyone dared criticize the mistreatment of the Jews or Communists risked being sent to a concentration camp. I had family that lived in Germany at the time, and it wasn't paradise - believe me! It was a total police state with no civil liberties after 1936! Note The above helps to explain why the Nazi regime did its utmost to hush up the Holocaust. They knew it did not enjoy popular support.

Answer 2

Those people knew that innocent Jews were being killed for no reason but for the fact that they were Jews and they felt that was wrong, so they did their best to protect them, even if they put themselves in danger.

Answer 3

The main reason was that they could in some way help themselves or thier loved ones.

For example Rumkowski helped himself and gained a lot of power by helping the Germans. The ghetto police helped because it meant that they could get food for themselves and their families.

Answer 4

It would be helpful if you would explain how you think Jews '[took] part in the Holocaust. In the ghettos that the Nazis established some Jews were appointed by the SS to run the ghettos. Initially, they hoped that this would be better than being run directly by the SS. I wonder if you hyave anything else in mind.