What did Hitler think of Serbs?
Adolf Hitler, the infamous leader of Nazi Germany, held a deeply hostile view of the Serbian people. His perception of Serbs was influenced by a complex interplay of historical, racial, and geopolitical factors. This article delves into the origins of Hitler’s prejudice against Serbs and examines its implications for World War II and the subsequent Holocaust.
Hitler’s hatred of Serbs can be traced back to the early 20th century, when he was a young soldier in the German Army during World War I. During the war, he witnessed the harsh treatment of ethnic Germans in Serbia, which left a lasting impression on him. He believed that the Serbian people were responsible for the German defeat in the war, as they had joined the Allied forces against the Central Powers.
This belief was further solidified by the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed harsh penalties on Germany and its allies, including territorial losses and reparations. Hitler saw the treaty as a betrayal by the Western powers, and he blamed the Serbs for their role in the treaty’s creation. In his mind, the Serbs were seen as traitors and enemies of the German nation.
Hitler’s racial ideology also played a significant role in his disdain for Serbs. He subscribed to the concept of Aryan racial superiority, which he believed made the German people inherently superior to other races. According to this ideology, Serbs, being Slavic, were considered racially inferior and were seen as a threat to the purity of the Aryan race.
In his book “Mein Kampf,” Hitler expressed his disdain for Serbs, writing, “The Slavs are the quintessence of all that is base and low in man. They are a race of liars, cowards, and thieves.” He also described the Serbs as “the most cunning and treacherous of all the Slavic races.”
During World War II, Hitler’s hatred of Serbs became a central component of his strategy in the Balkans. He sought to eliminate the Serbian people and their influence in the region. The Holocaust in Serbia was particularly brutal, with thousands of Serbs, Jews, and other ethnic and religious minorities being systematically persecuted and killed.
One of the most infamous events in this context was the Srebrenica massacre in 1995, during the Bosnian War. While this event occurred long after Hitler’s death, it is a tragic reminder of the lasting impact of his ideology on the Serbian people.
In conclusion, what did Hitler think of Serbs? He held a deep-seated hatred for them, rooted in historical grievances, racial prejudice, and geopolitical considerations. This hatred had devastating consequences for the Serbian people during World War II and the Holocaust, and its legacy continues to resonate in the region today.
