What would you have done?
It’s the 1930s in Germany, and Adolf Hitler has come to power. You see nazi stormtroopers goose-stepping in the streets. You see the swastikas hanging from buildings and lamposts all over where you live. You know Hitler is firmly in power.
You see massive rallies with Hitler spouting hatred against Jews, blaming them for everything that is wrong with Germany. You have listened to him call for the extermination of Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, and the handicapped. You’ve heard him proudly proclaim the purity of the Aryan race as the superior race.
You have seen massive bonfires where books that the Nazi regime has banned are summarily burned. You have seen The words “Juden” painted on the storefronts and homes of your fellow citizens of the Jewish faith. You have seen some Jewish-owned businesses destroyed by your German neighbors.
You have seen fewer and fewer of your Jewish neighbors and friends. You know where they have gone because you have seen them loaded on cattle cars heading towards concentration camps, never to be seen again. The few Jewish people you have seen are forced to wear a large yellow Star of David that identifies them as Jews.
You have seen young members of Hitler’s Youth acting like their adult counterparts, proudly displaying the Nazi salute and screaming “Heil Hitler,” parading in front of Hitler as he smiles and salutes the future of Germany. You knew these little Nazis would soon turn in their parents, teachers, or neighbors to the Gestapo for the slightest indiscretion.
You have seen smoke rising from the concentration camps, but even though you suspected what was burning, you didn’t want to know. You once again ignored the trains, full of your Jewish neighbors, constantly arriving at the camps outside your town. Let’s face it: you knew what was happening.
It is now the 1940s and Hitler’s war is not going well. The Allies were moving toward Germany, but Hitler only ramped up his plan to eradicate the Jews and other undesirables. How much longer can this genocide go on?
You knew about the assassination attempt at Wolf’s Lair in 1943 by some of Hitler’s staff that was meant to kill him and bring an end to the war. You knew the war was lost, and the longer it dragged on, millions more innocent people would be killed. Could you do anything about it?
Even though you supported Hitler, you now realize he was a monster. You and millions of ordinary German citizens allowed him to take power and carry on his mass exterminations. Better late than never, you decided you must do something.
You are a crack shot with a rifle, and you can easily obtain a high-powered rifle with a scope. Hitler is speaking at a rally near where you live, and you have easy access to the stands surrounding the podium where Hitler will speak. You know you have an easy shot. You also know you may not escape alive.
You were raised a Christian by your parents, and you know it’s a sin to take the life of another person. You know, according to your religion, you will go to hell if you kill people. But you also know Hitler was responsible for killing millions of people.
Hitler begins to speak as you raise your rifle and have him in your crosshairs. You pray and think of the Fifth Commandment, “Thou Shall Not Kill.” Your finger is on the trigger. What would you have done?
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