A Descent into Dystopia World War II was a difficult time for most citizens of Europe, Asia, and the United States. Even those who did not officially fight in the war suffered consequences such as oppression, exploitation or even extermination. It was not only in Germany that rights were lost and civilization ceased to exist. On three different continents civilians were oppressed or imprisoned for reasons that were not directly due to physical military actions. That collective and cultural descent into dystopia changed the world forever. In many ways, the numerous countries occupied by Nazi Germany serve as both ground zero and a prime example of injustice against civilian populations. It is both interesting and disheartening to note, however, that military combat in the occupied nations was limited to the beginning and end of the war, so much of the harsh carnage that occurred was actually the result of civilian action. Unlike wars of the past, even those not fighting on the front lines were not safe from some form of oppression. Throughout Western Europe, unjust aggression was not limited only to Jews, although they were primary targets, but also included other ethnic groups. groups too. The Germans considered themselves the superior race. To this end, concentration and labor camps were established where Jews, gypsies and ethnically impure people were sent, often to be murdered, en masse as a way to purify the population. Hitler and Germany's goal was therefore to eliminate or exterminate all non-Aryan races. While the United States did not attempt to systematically exterminate entire races, some of its war policies certainly lacked civility. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, America fears... middle of paper...... Although historical records demonstrate their cruelty towards other civilians during the war, they too prefer to deny their shameful acts. Debates continue over who the victim was, who the attacker was, and how these acts were perpetrated. Regardless of how this happened, a flood of facts have emerged showing that even among civilians during these war years, human kindness was at an all-time low. World War II showed humanity that it was capable of perpetrating horrors on our planet too. closest neighbors. Although memorials have been built to commemorate past events of the war, some of the effects of the darkest moments of this period survive today. These memorials will forever serve as a reminder of the depth of darkness humanity demonstrated during this time and how the descent into dystopia altered the world forever..