Probably the most common reason stated by Hitler was the Jews alleged ties with communism (I don't know whether this was a myth or not).   Actually, Hitler hated communism because he felt that it was a Jewish ideology, rather than hating Jews because he believed they were communists. In other words, Hitler's anti-communism was a consequence of his anti-semitism rather than the other way around as you suggest. Actually they were parallel hatreds, but if you want to make one the consequence of the other then hatred of the Jews came first. LC

George Orwell in his classic article on anti-Semitism written in 1945... It may be a classic article , but it is no more than personal speculation. It is founded quite explicitly on Orwell's own personal opinion about the extent and nature of anti-Semitism, not on any systematic or organised polling of opinion or literature. There are far better sources of information about anti-Semitism in the UK in WW2 than this lazy commentary, and it would be highly unwise to draw any sort of conclusion from it.

Could someone please tell me why Hitler hated the Jews so much that he wanted to rid Germany of all Jews.  Just what is it that Jews did that so enraged him and filled him with hate.  What did the Jews do?   I have never heard or read an explanation of why he despised Jews. And I've heard and read about the Holocaust as a result.  But why? Jew-hatred is an old tradition in Europe. One root was religious: Jews were blamed for the death of Jesus. Another was simple ethnic friction: Jews were an 'outsider' minority group, and thus a target for the resentments of the majority. Jews were present in many countries, and so the prejudice against them was universalized.   Oh the Protestants hate the Catholics,   And the Catholics hate the Protestants,   And the Hindus hate the Moslems,   And _everybody_ hates the Jews!  

The few fighting scenes outside the bunker -and the quick hanging by the SS of an aged Volkssturm member as traitor- were IMO more impressions of a desintegrating defence than of heroism. I was not able to see any heroism either. The film made me wonder what kept those last defenders going on - the cause was lost and the situation was hopeless - the only thing that they were able to achieve was their own death... and those Hitler Jugend youngsters committing suicide at their 88 - heroic?

I neglected to say that the review did not specifiy whether the Downfall showing (as I assume it is showing) in New York is sub_title_d or dubbed. If the former, that doesn't bode well for its distribution in the multiplexes where most Americans watch films.

than of heroism. I second that, too.