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    New WWII Documentary Aims to Educate Millennials and Gen Z on the Holocaust

    Entertainment 4 Mins Read

    The story has been done hundreds of times. This one has a focus as the facts of the 20th century are slowing leaving the minds of the people.

    Despite numerous documentaries, movies, TV shows, and books about World War II, a 2020 survey by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany revealed a concerning gap in historical knowledge among American millennials and Gen Z. According to the survey, 63% of these younger Americans are unaware that 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust, and 48% cannot name a concentration camp or ghetto.

    Netflix aims to address this with its new World War II documentary series, “Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial,” which premiered on Wednesday. Designed for younger audiences, this six-episode series chronicles Adolf Hitler’s rise to power and the major milestones of WWII. While it covers familiar historical territory, the series seeks to engage younger viewers through a fresh narrative approach. It combines interviews with academics and archival footage with actors reenacting key historical moments, giving it a unique, almost silent movie feel.

    One of the significant revelations from the series is the insight into Hitler’s personal life. Born in Austria, Hitler harbored dreams of becoming a famous artist but was rejected by Vienna’s prestigious fine arts institute due to his inability to paint people well, though he excelled at landscapes. He lived in a men’s shelter for a few years and sold paintings made from postcards. His early experiences and the pervasive anti-Semitism in Vienna at the time profoundly influenced his worldview, leading him to blame others for his misfortunes.

    In the second episode, the series explores Hitler’s obsessive relationship with his niece, Geli Raubel, in the early 1930s. Hitler, then a rising Nazi leader, wanted Geli to become a great opera singer and paid for her lessons. They lived together in Munich, sparking rumors of a romantic relationship. However, Geli found Hitler too controlling, and in 1931, she committed suicide with his pistol in his apartment. The scandal was widely reported in newspapers but did not diminish Hitler’s popularity.

    The documentary delves into the development of the Nazis’ extermination camps in its fifth episode. Initially, Nazi officers were shooting Jews to death, a method that proved both inefficient and emotionally traumatic for the perpetrators, who often drank heavily to cope. According to Boston College historian Devin Pendas, Nazi leaders sought a more efficient method to carry out mass murder, leading to the establishment of extermination camps. This process culminated in the Wannsee Conference on January 20, 1942, in Berlin, where the “Final Solution” was formalized.

    The series also highlights how the details of the Final Solution remained largely unknown to the general public until the Nuremberg Trials (1945-1946). During the trials, prosecutors played footage of the atrocities, filmed by notable filmmakers of the time, including Roman Karmen, John Ford, and Budd Schulberg. This footage showed the horrific realities of the Holocaust and served as crucial evidence in convicting Nazi leaders.

    Director Joe Berlinger hopes “Evil on Trial” will resonate with younger viewers and emphasize the fragility of democracy. By presenting the history and horrors of the Holocaust, including the propaganda and dehumanization tactics used by the Nazis, the series aims to warn that “normal people can do horrific things” and to help viewers recognize and resist authoritarian tendencies in contemporary governments.

    In summary, “Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial” seeks to fill a critical gap in historical knowledge among younger generations by presenting the story of World War II and the Holocaust in an engaging and accessible manner. Through a mix of dramatic reenactments, expert interviews, and historical footage, the series aims to educate and caution viewers about the dangers of authoritarianism and the importance of remembering history’s darkest chapters.

    Major Points:

    i. A 2020 survey found that 63% of American millennials and Gen Z are unaware that 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust, and 48% cannot name a concentration camp or ghetto.

    ii. Netflix’s new documentary series “Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial” aims to educate younger audiences about WWII and the Holocaust through six engaging episodes.

    iii. The series combines expert interviews, archival footage, and reenactments of key historical moments, offering a unique and compelling storytelling approach.

    iv. Key revelations include insights into Hitler’s personal life and ambitions, as well as the development of Nazi extermination camps and the formalization of the “Final Solution”.

    v. Director Joe Berlinger hopes the series will highlight the fragility of democracy and help viewers recognize and resist authoritarianism in modern governments.

    Charles William III – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News

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