Katy

How has my world view changed since the study of World War II?

By: Katy S.

My world view has changed a lot since I began my study of World War II. I learned a lot about how everyone had to help, even little kids. I realized how everyone who died belonged to a family whether they were someone’s dad or son, brother or friend they were a part of someone’s life and they meant lot to other people. I am so glad that I live the life I do rather than the lives of those who were in the war.

At first I thought that the US. was the only group of people to try and help out the people all over the world, but now I learned that the US didn't enter the war until late into the war. I respect a lot of the countries that tried to help defeat Germany and save the lives of those who were in danger and being treated poorly.

I knew at the start that the Holocaust was a big deal. The Jews were being taken from their homes and put in a new place, but what I thought was that it was just like moving only you got to move in with your friends. After reading the survivor stories of those people who were placed in a concentration camp I realize that it was not like moving in with your friends; you were being forced to work all day and get very little rest and food. I understand now that those people who thought they were going to live until the camps were liberated did and those who thought they weren’t going to make it didn’t. In the end six million Jews and others died because Hitler believed that they were not part of the Aryan race.

Besides learning about the people I learned a lot about different countries and their part in the war. I learned that the Great Depression not only affected the US, it also affected a lot of other countries. Some people think (and I will have to admit I was one of those of people) that a lot of the countries were thrilled to go to war, but most of the countries just went to make sure that they were treated with respect and not as a country who sat around and watched as others were seriously injured and even killed. Most of the countries had to join the war if they wanted to survive and get through the war.

After interviewing my veteran I learned a lot about fighting in the war. A lot of people think, “Oh, I would never fight in the war”. There is poor treatment and little food, but my veteran was given good food and a place to stay. He received a little amount of money, but enough to get along, and had a good time with his friends. Fighting in the war still wouldn’t be something on their list of things to do, but to others it gives them a sense of pride. They know that they did their part in helping to fight the war. As said by Robert Capen, a WWII veteran, “In casualties the war was definitely not worth price, but it was a war that had to be fought.”