Bystander Society : Conformity and Complicity in Nazi Germany and the Holocaust

The Bystander Society: Conformity and Complicity in Nazi Germany and the Holocaust by Mary Fulbrook In this thought-provoking work, historian Mary Fulbrook examines the role of ordinary Germans in enabling the rise of Nazism and the devastating consequences that followed. Rather than focusing on what individuals knew about the atrocities being committed, Fulbrook explores how they interpreted and acted upon their knowledge, and how this led to complicity. German society before and during the Nazi regime is scrutinised by Fulbrook, revealing the social conditions that facilitated mass murder. The concept of a "bystander society" emerges, where the majority of Germans became either unable or indifferent to the fate of those deemed "non-Aryan". As the 1930s progressed, this phenomenon became increasingly entrenched, with ordinary Germans contributing to the isolation and exclusion of minority groups. Through Fulbrook's analysis, the ways in which social changes under Nazi rule shaped perceptions and responses among German citizens are revealed. This insight sheds light on the conditions that made the Holocaust possible, providing a nuanced understanding of one of the most complex and disturbing periods in modern history.