.
In light of these contradictions it is essential to also discuss the evidence supporting functionalism. This task is accomplished extremely well by Ms. Botwinick. She brings up the fact that if indeed Hitler had planned to exterminate all Jews, why was he not a part of the planning of the Holocaust. He left the planning up to Hermann Goering and Heinrich Himmler. It was these men among others who orchestrated and carried out the atrocities that took place during the Holocaust. Hitler is known only to have given a vague order to the effect of finding a solution to the Jewish "problem." Also, Botwinick states that the extermination of the Jewish people by Hitler and the Nazi's did not begin until after the invasion and occupation of Poland. She goes on to state that three factors contributed to Hitler's decision to wipe out the entire Jewish race. These factors give proof and legitimacy to her claim of functionalism. The three factors are as follows. First, by acquiring Poland, Germany gained control over 3.5 million Jews. There was no possibility of driving that many Jews out of the country. .
Second, the on going war made it possible to commit horrendous crimes in the name of patriotism and lastly is the fact that Hitler's hatred of the Jews progressed into a maniacal crusade to rid the world of Judaism(123-124). When dissecting the meanings and importance of these statements, it is shown that Ms. Botwinick does indeed win her argument for functionalism. .
Another strong argument made in the book is the fact that religious organizations as a whole did not take a strong or unified stance towards the situation in Germany. Both the Catholic and Protestant churches refused to pay the Holocaust the attention that it obviously deserved. They refused to make statement s that would show that they had knowledge of what was happening and never engaged in any real opposition until the final days of the war.