European Migrations and Their Governments in the Context of WWII

Abstract

“It is well known that human beings are complex, multi-faceted, contradictory, and full of surprises, but it takes a time of war or great upheaval in order to see it,” (Némirovsky, 363). When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coasts of the United States in 2005, various shades of human behaviors surfaced. Some people sought to help their neighbors or community by providing aid, while others robbed the convenience store down the street to get provisions for themselves or family out of panic. All of these people waited for immediate government assistance that, arguably, was not prepared for such a natural disaster. Crisis like natural disasters and war cause massive land migrations of people, leaving their homes for other regions around them. Unfortunately, these regions are rarely prepared for such an influx of people. Entering the question, “What is the government’s role in this?”

A government’s action or inaction in critical situations like these means the difference in overall prevention of destruction. Specifically, this work will analyze how the Third Republic of France and the Nazi government of Germany during WWII reacted to, and relayed information to its people about, the enemy forces that invaded their homelands. Nationalism, propaganda, and political pressures contributed to the consequential actions of the two governments in similar, yet differing ways. All the while, these government decrees, sanctions, and laws affect their respective citizens and, in turn, effectively aid the two massive migrations of people within these two very different countries and societies.