> several reliable, well-informed sources confirmed the idea that Hitler's anti-Semitism was not so genuine or violent as it sounded, and that he was merely usi

> several reliable, well-informed sources confirmed the idea that Hitler's anti-Semitism was not so genuine or violent as it sounded, and that he was merely using anti-Semitic propaganda as a bait to catch masses of followers I wrote on this point: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24881824 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24881824 Yes, Hitler Adolf was not a compulsive paranoiac, and been noted by contemporaries as a shrewd political strategist. He committed his crimes in cold blood, and sane mind. But.... his anti-Semitism not being a product of a mental illness, or irrational hate doesn't make it less terrible. Were they rational from any viewpoint, serious, or not, it were these anti-Semitic policies which opened the road to the crime of genocide later in his reign. This also doesn't absolve the habitual anti-Semitism practiced by virtually every other political establishment in Europe prior to WWII from sins, or make it less bad as genocidal anti-Semitism of the late third reich. The persecution, whether is based on political rationale, or a maniacal tendency, is still persecution. I would say a crime like this becomes even more grave if it is done with some behind the curtain political rationale.