Why did countries refuse to help Nazi Germany at the end of WWII when they needed it most?
I have spent many years studying the Second World War, by the end of 1944 it was clear that Germany was a sinking ship. In those days, no one wanted to be caught up with Hitler. It wasn't just about losing the war, it was about helping the Nazis, this became a real death sentence of any country.Germany's own allies were the first to flee. I always think about King Michael of Romania. He was a courageous young man who realized that the Soviet Union would destroy his country if he remained steadfast to Hitler. So he staged a coup, arrested the pro-Nazi leaders, and changed sides. Most of the other allies followed suit, terrified of finding themselves in the losing side when the fighting finally ended.
The United States and Britain were also adamant. They warned the neutral countries like Switzerland, and Sweden: "If you help Germany you are our enemy." It was an easy choice for them. Germany was totally broke no money, no oil, no food with nothing to give in exchange for aid.
The greatest turning point was when the world saw the concentration camps. Images from Auschwitz converted the Nazis into something like a poison. No leader could help them any more because their own citizens would never allow any more. Even Hitler's chief architect, Albert Speer stopped taking orders at the end. He knew it was over. In short, countries stopped helping because there was no profit - just the chances of being destroyed.

Comments
Post a Comment