"Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely"

Previously, I have been thinking and blogging about progression in aspects of civilization, such as technology, politics, and economics. Although, when looking back through my notes, I began reading what I wrote about World War Two. I started to think about how it effected the usage of technology, the economic systems, how it made political figures look like, how it impacted religions worldwide, etc. But, when it comes to World War Two, and specifically the Holocaust, the idea of the progression of humanity itself caught my mind. With thoughts and ideas from last year when talking about the Holocaust, I began thinking about what could have influenced humanity to take such a turn for the worse during these times: why did mankind take everything which life provided them with and turn it into a weapon? How did the idea of mass destruction and discrimination develop through humanity? I feel like questions like these can only be answered by analyzing and explaining what led up to the event which fostered these ideas in the midst of mankind. Power is something which has controlled humanity forever. Lord John Acton said, “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This exemplifies exactly what power does and can do to mankind. With the struggle for ultimate power in the world increasingly becoming a eminent battle, whenever an individual, nation, or country has the opportunity to get a hold of power and climb up the ladder to eventual ultimate power, they will take it. This is exactly what happened with Germany and Adolf Hitler. The immediate cause of World War Two/the Holocaust was World War One, and Germany’s great defeat and decline in authority and culture. Its instability and devastation called for an individual to grasp Germany by the reigns and take control over it to allow the country to develop back into what used to prominently stand. With Germany in need of a leader, Hitler climbed up to the top through a thoroughly easy process; it was simple for him to get to the top when everyone was expecting someone else to do what he did--no one and nothing stood in his way. But, after reviving German culture, ideals, and nationality, he kept on climbing up the ladder of power, and didn’t stop until he applied his idealistic society to reality, not only in Germany, but he aimed for the entire world. Taking total advantage of his power, he implemented the hatred and need to exterminate “races” which he felt caused issues to society. He went on to establishing an illustrious and forceful military, government, and lifestyle built solely upon his inhumane and racial ideas. He shook the world by surprise and abused his power to create his ideal world. Hitler’s growth and popularity was entirely rooted in his ambition and need for power; he was corrupted by power and drove the world down a huge decline. This is only one instance when someone took a power position and used it to their advantage rather than the greater population’s advantage, which is what power is meant for; to reshape society in a way that will make it superior to how it was before. Although, the meaning and details of “superior” are completely subjective to the individual in the position of power, which goes back to defines history--merely the study of an individual opinion and/or viewpoint.