The Negative Effects Of Reality Television - 1462 Words

Reality television shows are meant to portray the essence of reality. These shows are created to show the audiences about all the different life situations that they can relate to with their own lives. Thus, reality should be the main component of these shows, however, that is not always the case. Reality shows are staged productions that are affecting society in many ways. The primary component that distinguishes reality-based programs from similar forms of entertainment including traditional game shows and programs is that it provides the viewer with a perspective of how the participants are feeling and behaving outside the confines of a limited event. With the rise of popularity of reality television shows, came the need to control†¦show more content†¦Jersey Shore portrays Italian-Americans in a negative light, and Honey Boo Boo is a cast of Southern Americans who fit the â€Å"redneck† stereotype. Creating these shows and editing them for the sake of entertain ment continues to be the motive of reality television, as these shows tend to get high ratings and experience much success. When looking at shows with mainly white cast members, the characters may experience differences and conflict, but you rarely see physical altercations take place. Shows such as â€Å"Love Hip Hop† and â€Å"The Real Housewives of Atlanta† feature mainly Black castmates and physical altercations take place numerous times. Even certain shows with mainly white castmates will cast a Black castmate and have them be the problem maker. Many of the women on reality TV shows are acting out stereotypical lives as teenage mothers, cheated-on girlfriends or scheming drama queens. Stereotypes can become too rigid and when there is no room for growth the label becomes stifling. The stereotypes that reality television continues to portray only continues to perpetuate the problem in society because when the media characterizes particular groups of people i n certain ways, their viewers are likely to do the same. The problem is that many of these people may come across as boring in their everyday life, so they are coached on how toShow MoreRelatedReality Television Has A Negative Effect On Teenage Girls3830 Words   |  16 PagesReality Television is a relatively new phenomenon that has exploded over the last several years. Whether it has to do with an â€Å"extreme makeover† or finding the supposed love of your life, reality television has given us the opportunity to become voyeurs in others’ lives. Approximately, 50% of television audiences are watching reality shows (Webster University). Long gone are the days of whole television programs. Today, most reality shows depict women as an object, only defined and valued byRead MoreThe Reality of Reality Television1699 Words   |  7 PagesThe Reality of Reality Television Jacqueline Knudsen ENG122: English Composition II Jenna Fussell February 2, 2013 The Reality of Reality Television Have you ever set there watching your favorite reality television show and wondered what effects it could have on you, your family or your friends? Truth is most people do not think about the effects television shows can have before watching them or allowing their children to watch them. ThisRead MoreThe Phenomenon Of Reality Television941 Words   |  4 Pagesphenomenon of Reality Television† GENERAL PURPOSE: To present new information SPECIFIC PURPOSE: To inform my audience about the history of reality television, the types of reality television, how popular it has become in our world today, and the negative and positive effects of reality television. THESIS/CENTRAL IDEA: There is so much more to reality television than meets the eye. INTRODUCTION I. HOOK: Just imagine. You’re sitting on your couch flipping through the channels on your television. You noticeRead MoreThe Effects Of Reality Television On Our Lives901 Words   |  4 PagesUniversity with a bachelor’s degree. She is a fan of reality television and has written this article to show the effect of reality television in the world we live in today and the messages they are sending to their audiences. Haggerty focuses on popular reality television shows, such as Keeping up with the Kardashians and the Real World, and how their messages can negatively affect the viewers of these shows. She also talks about how these reality shows have an impact on our lives, from perspectivesRead MoreThe Reality Of Television Has On Store For Me Tonight1547 Words   |  7 PagesIt is Monday morning and I am already thinking about what reality television has in store for me tonight. There are so many shows to choose from at prime time, so instead of making a hard decision, I simply plan to watch them all. From Basketball Wives and Black Ink Crew to Love and Hip-hop and The Real Housewives of Atlanta, my Monday night seems to be very eventful. It is something about the constant drama that keeps my glued to the TV screen – the constant shouting and fussing, not to mentionRead MoreReality Television Has A Negative Impact On Society981 Words   |  4 PagesAs a kind of television programming which has lower production fee and a larger range of audiences,reality television has become a major force of television entertainment.It changes the way audiences watch television by providing imaginary space for them,allowing them fantasize themselves as the part of the show(Hicks,2009).However,while the reality television is argued as ‘highly edited reality’,the positive effects are doubted by some observers.The reality television in this essay can be definedRead MoreThe Effects Of Television On Today s Society1550 Words   |  7 PagesTelevis ion has greatly evolved since the 1950s, and has become a part of most American households over the years. Today’s society has turned to television for a variety of purposes including; entertainment, intellectual growth, and as a way to stay updated with what is going on in our society. While these seem like all positive aspects that have come with the progression of television, there are also negative components that have a direct affect on today’s society. Therefore this paper will discussRead MoreThe Impact of Reality Tv on the Teenagers1732 Words   |  7 PagesImpact Of Reality TV on the Teenagers in Mumbai Nimish Satpute St. Andrews College Instructors : Prof. Meenakshi Kamat : Prof. Jenny Benoy Abstract Reality-based television programming has become a dominant force in television over the past seven years and a staple of most networks’ primetime lineups. This relatively quick change in the television landscape and the sudden increase in viewers’ consumption of reality television necessitateRead MoreDifferent Types Of Reality Television : The Genre Of Reality Television724 Words   |  3 PagesReality Television Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents unscripted situations and real-life occurrences. Reality shows often follow a situation, game, or family. This genre of television highlights conflict and drama to the fullest extent. What effect does reality TV have on not only adults, but children watching? Does reality television represent an actual picture of people today and have a positive effect on society? Reality television has been around for manyRead MoreWhy Reality Television Is Harmful Essay example695 Words   |  3 PagesSome of the most popular television shows in today’s society are The Biggest Looser, Jersey Shore, and Big Brother. These programs and many others are classified as reality television. Reality television’s main purpose is to attempt to portray ordinary people in unscripted situations. Recently, however, many of these shows have achieved in creating the complete opposite, and have earned an immense amount of criticism as a result. Reality television programs are detrimental to society because they

Anxiety Disorders The Common And Prevalent Of...

Anxiety disorders are the most common and prevalent of psychiatric disorders, yet less than 30% of individuals who suffer from anxiety disorders seek treatment (Lepine, 2002). The type of anxiety disorders are panic disorder, phobias, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (American Psychiatric Association, 2014). Studies showed that anxiety disorders afflict 15.7 million people in the United States each year at some point in their lives (Lepine, 2002). The exact causes of anxiety are still currently unknown. Studies have shown that brain chemistry, environmental stresses and other factors are thought to play a role in the development of chronic anxiety (Lehigh Valley Health Network, 2014). However, according to University of Maryland Medical Center (2014), anxiety disorders are most likely caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Most people with these disorders seem to have a biological vulnerability to stress, making them more susceptible to environmental stimuli than the rest of the population (University of Maryland Medical Center, 2014). Anxiety can cause stress within the family systems. People with anxiety disorders often have a family history of anxiety disorders, mood disorders or substance abuse (Lehigh Valley Health Network, 2014). When an individual suffers from anxiety, relationships between parents and children, siblings, spousesShow MoreRelatedSleep : Sleep Wake Disorders1360 Words   |  6 PagesSleep-Wake Disorders Jessica Gonzalez San Jacinto College Sleep-Wake Disorder Sleep-Wake disorder is impairment to a person caused by sleep abnormalities and difficulties in the sleep- wake cycle. These abnormalities range from difficulties in maintaining and falling asleep, excessive sleepiness, disruptions, to repeated awakening associated with nightmares. According to The Gale Encyclopedia of Science, sleep-related problems have been the most frequent complaints both psychiatrists andRead MoreSummary Of The DSM-5877 Words   |  4 Pagesneed for a classification of mental disorders has been clear throughout the history of medicine. The American Psychiatric Association, the DSM was first published in 1984. The DSM-IV symptom criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) are somewhat lengthy, many studies showing that treatment providers have difficulty recalling all nine symptoms (American Psychological Association, 2010). The symptom inclusion criteria for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) have remained essentially unchangedRead MoreAttentio n Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( Adhd )1100 Words   |  5 Pagesdeficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) What is ADHD? Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric illness characterized by problems with attention as well as hyperactivity. Individuals also tend to act impulsively. The exact cause is unclear but is likely related to genetic factors as first-degree relatives are often affected. The disease frequently begins in childhood and may progress into adulthood. The condition is also often associated with other psychiatric comorbidities suchRead MoreEssay Anxiety Disorders1302 Words   |  6 PagesAnxiety Disorders Anxiety is a normal reaction to stressful situations that helps in the coping process for individuals. On some occasions, anxiety may become so severe that it impairs the ability to cope and can create psychosocial impairment. High levels of anxiety that interfere with daily activities and social interaction are considered a psychiatric disorder. Anxiety disorders are treatable and can have profound effects on the psychosocial aspect of the individuals life. This paper willRead MoreMillions are Affected by Insomnia1500 Words   |  6 Pagessleep-wake disorders and affects millions on a daily basis. Individuals affected by insomnia can have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, and/or having non-restorative sleep. According to the American Psychiatric Association, insomnia symptoms are reported by one-third of all adults and 10-15% of those adults experience daytime impairments related to insomnia while 6-10% of them actually meet the criteria for insomnia disorder (2013, p. 364-365). The occurrence of insomnia is more prevalent in womenRead MoreEssay on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy1075 Words   |  5 Pages1998, March et al, 2004). There is general agreement in the clinical literature that the techniques of cognitive behavioural approaches to therapy are likely to be effective in treating depression (Brewin, 1996; Beech, 2000). In the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic Statistical Manual (APA, 2000) the symptoms of depression are: loss of interest or enjoyment in activities; changing in weight and appetite; changes to sleep pattern; loss of energy; feeling worthless or guilty; suicidalRead MoreEssay Drug Abuse and Mental Health 1194 Words   |  5 PagesSubstance abuse complicates almost every aspect of care for the person with a mental disorder. When drugs enter the brain, they can interrupt the work and actually change how the brain performs its jobs; these changes are what lead to compulsive drug use. Drug abuse plays a major role when concerning mental health. It is very difficult for these individuals to engage in treatment. Diagnosis for a treatment is difficult because it takes time to disengage the interacting effects of substance abuseRead MoreSymptoms and Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder687 Words   |  3 PagesTreatment Strategies for Generalized Anxiety Disorder Abstract One of the common disorders includes anxiety disorders. These disorders are exaggerations of our adaptive and normal reaction to stressful or fearful events. It is normal to feel scared or tense when facing any stressful situation. Anxiety is the natural response of human body. When a normal human being feels threatened, his natural body response behaves like an automatic alarm. Anxiety disorder is not a bad thing; it helps to stayRead MorePsychopathy and Culture: Culture-Bound Syndrome989 Words   |  4 PagesCulture-bound syndrome is the amalgamation of some somatic symptoms i.e. body pain or disturbed function of any organ and psychiatric symptoms such as alterations of the experiences and behaviors which are considered to be perceptible diseases in the specific culture. A list of most common culture-bound syndrome is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) and some of them are discussed below. Brain Fag: Brain Fag is classified as a culture-bound syndrome which isRead MoreAdult Separation Anxiety : A Psychological Condition1513 Words   |  7 PagesAdult Separation Anxiety: A Possible Link to a Missed Step in Development DeAndre Bright Evan Smith-Finney Amber Depew Brandon Eastwood CCBC Catonsville Psychology 103 April 3, 2015 Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder Separation anxiety disorder is â€Å"a psychological condition in which an individual has excessive anxiety regarding separation from places or people to whom the individual has a strong emotional attachment† (anxietypanichealth.com 2008). Individuals with this disorder typically become

Eco-feminism Essay - 1188 Words

Today, we live in a world interwoven with women’s oppression, ecological degradation, and the exploitation of workers, race, and class. In the midst of these troubles, a movement known as ecofeminism appears to be gaining recognition. In the following, I hope to illustrate this revitalization movement . I will begin by characterizing a definition of ecofeminism; I will then bring to the forefront the ethical issues that Ecofeminism is involved with, then distinguish primary ideas and criticisms. Though in theory, ecological feminism has been around for a number of years, it emerged as a political movement in the 1970s. Francoise d’Eaubonne, a French feminist philosopher, coined the term â€Å"Ecofeminism† in 1974. Ecofeminism is a feminist†¦show more content†¦Our â€Å"western† society has become a globalized world of high technology. There appears to be no ability to see beyond, to see what we have encased ourselves in; an artificial environment that has remarkably replaced the original, nature itself. We do not live with nature; we live above it, off it. I find it to be rather paradoxical that nature can exist and has existed without humans, but humans cannot exist without nature. Nature has become merely a resource to sustain our artificial environment. I will exemplify certain dichotomies that support the aforementioned conceptual framework. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Reason vs. Emotion nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Culture vs. Nature nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Scientific vs. Mystical nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Rational vs. Intuitive nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Hierarchy vs. Circle nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Masculine vs. Female Ecofeminists challenge the patriarchal conceptual framework and the accompanying dualisticShow MoreRelatedGender And Environmental Exploitation : Eco Feminism851 Words   |  4 PagesGender and Environmental Exploitation Eco-Feminism is a conceptual idea in a direct response due to Androcentrism a concept that places man as the centric structure and leaves women and the environment under forms of oppression. Androcentrism originated in the 16th century when mass colonization and European exploration occurred in which not only exploited Atlantic cultures, but also environments spanning across the Atlantic. Furthermore, women and environment were placed below man and thereforeRead MoreEcologism1381 Words   |  6 Pagesproposes eco capitalism If a Mimimalists definition of Ecologism is to be adopted, extencive questioning results as to the independence of the ideology, since many conventional politics have been greatly influenced by green thought eg. the Green Party in the UK. Burke has also proposed Green Capatalism, where enphasis is placed on the market to deal with environmental concers whilst supervised by governments to discourage certain practices eg. high taxes imposed on leaded petrol in the UK. Eco SocialismRead MoreUnder Western Eyes : Feminist Scholarship And Colonial Discourses And The Rise Of Ecofeminism As A Development Fable936 Words   |  4 Pageselement in feminism itself, and of naivety, validity and value of essentialized feminist works. This firstly challenges the biological and social definition of ‘woman,’ the homogenization of ‘woman’, and further, the implication of the role of women in nature. The second challenge that arises in reviewing these articles is the questi on of audience: whom are these (eco)feminists targeting, and for what purpose? The challenges of (eco)feminism, essentialist feminism, and the application of feminism in genderRead More Female Struggles Essay examples1592 Words   |  7 Pagesdo not necessarily see women as equal to the men. But religion is not exclusive in these beliefs. Our culture, though many may disagree, is a patriarchal culture. Terry Tempest Williams will likely agree with this statement being that she is an eco-feminist herself. As a Mormon woman being a feminist in any sense seems like it has its pitfalls. A former Mormon, feminist and scholar, Margaret Toscano was excommunicated from the Mormon Church essentially for being a feminist and questioning theRead MoreWicca and Ecofeminism3245 Words   |  13 Pagesthe split between men and women, between man and nature, and God and the world. Ecofeminism, a type of feminist critique, uncovers the source of environmental deprivation in the structure of dualist thinking and patriarchal systems (King, 2003). Some Eco-feminists associate the feminine principle with the giving and nurturing of life, as valued in goddess religions and earth based spiritualties. By contrast, they see patriarchal culture as rising from a fear of death, which ultimately creates a cultureRead MoreFeminism And The First Wa ve Feminism2028 Words   |  9 Pages Feminism is the movement towards women’s equality and the fight for equal gender in the social, political, cultural and economical aspects of society. Feminism also fights for equal opportunity for women in employment and education. A feminist is someone who advocates their support for women’s rights but is not restricted to only women; anyone who supports women’s rights and equality are feminists, including men. Feminism is not only about the females; it fights for gender equality forRead MoreThe Relationship Between Literature And The Natural Environment1166 Words   |  5 Pagesof literature for a long time. The first law of Ecology is that everything is connected to everything else. Ecofeminism is a branch of ecocriticism and emphasizes the interdependence of all life. The aim of ecofeminism is not the same as liberal feminism. Ecofeminist do not seek equality with men but aim for liberation of women as women. It is a movement that draws the connect ion between the domination of nature and exploitation of women. It is noted that women were the first to protest against environmentRead More Environment and Feminism - Ecofeminist Theory and Sustainable Development2100 Words   |  9 Pagesphilosophy that combines emancipatory elements of feminism with the environmental concerns of ecology. It has become a movement that sees the connection between the exploitation and degradation of the natural world and the subordination and oppression of women (Mellor, 1997, p.1). Ecofeminists view women as victims of the same patriarchal tyranny that dominates nature (Castells, 1997). Karen Warren (1996) identifies eight connections between feminism and the environment. Although it is not necessaryRead MoreAnita Desai s Fire On The Mountain1627 Words   |  7 Pagesthe epitome of the gender biasness and class consciousness.All the female characters seek their alliance with the forest of carignano to heal their sufferings but at the end of the novel they realized the darker shades of patriarchy. Key Words Eco feminism, Indian Fiction, gender biasness, identity, hegemony Theory- the seeing of patterns, showing the forest as well as the trees-theory can be a dew that rises from the earth and collects in the rain cloud and returns to earth over and over. But ifRead More A Feminist Perspective of Atwoods Surfacing Essay2903 Words   |  12 Pagesoppression of women with the oppression of nature (Salleh 339). More specifically, ecological feminism is the position that there are important connections -- historical, experiential, symbolic, theoretical -- between the domination of women and the domination of nature, an understanding which is crucial to both feminism and environmental ethics (Warren, The Power and the Promise of Ecological Feminism 126). Ecofeminists seek to replace patriarchal dualistic thought (where masculine and feminine

Nazism Analysis Essay Example For Students

Nazism Analysis Essay The National Socialist German Workers Party almost died one morning in1919. It numbered only a few dozen grumblers it had no organizationand no political ideas. But many among the middle class admired the Nazis muscular oppositionto the Social Democrats. And the Nazis themes of patriotism andmilitarism drew highly emotional responses from people who could notforget Germanys prewar imperial grandeur. In the national elections of September 1930, the Nazis garnered nearly6.5 million votes and became second only to the Social Democrats as themost popular party in Germany. In Northeim, where in 1928 Nazicandidates had received 123 votes, they now polled 1,742, a respectable28 percent of the total. The nationwide success drew even faster injust three years, party membership would rise from about 100,000 toalmost a million, and the number of local branches would increasetenfold. The new members included working-class people, farmers, andmiddle-class professionals. They were both better educated and youngerthen the Old Fighters, who had been the backbone of the party during itsfirst decade. The Nazis now presented themselves as the party of theyoung, the strong, and the pure, in opposition to an establishmentpopulated by the elderly, the weak, and the dissolute. Hitler was born in a small town in Austria in 1889. As a young boy, heshowed little ambition. After dropping out of high schoo l, he moved toVienna to study art, but he was denied the chance to join Viennaacademy of fine arts. When WWI broke out, Hitler joined Kaiser Wilhelmers army as aCorporal. He was not a person of great importance. He was a creatureof a Germany created by WWI, and his behavior was shaped by that war andits consequences. He had emerged from Austria with many prejudices,including a powerful prejudice against Jews. Again, he was a product ofhis times for many Austrians and Germans were prejudiced against theJews. In Hitlers case the prejudice had become maniacal it was a dominantforce in his private and political personalities. Anti-Semitism was nota policy for Adolf Hitlerit was religion. And in the Germany of the1920s, stunned by defeat, and the ravages of the Versailles treaty, itwas not hard for a leader to convince millions that one element of thenations society was responsible for most of the evils heaped upon it. The fact is that Hitlers anti-Semitism was self-inflicted obstacle tohis political success. The Jews, like other Germans, were shocked bythe discovery that the war had not been fought to a standstill, as theywere led to believe in November 1918, but that Germany had , in fact,been defeated and was to be treated as a vanquished country. Had Hitlernot embarked on his policy of disestablishing the Jews as Germans, andlater of exterminating them in Europe, he could have counted on theirloyalty. There is no reason to believe anything else. On the evening of November 8, 1923, Wyuke Vavaruab State CinnussuiberGustav Rutter von Kahr was making a political speech in Munichssprawling B?rgerbr?ukeller, some 600 Nazis and right-wing sympathizerssurrounded the beer hall. Hitler burst into the building and leapedonto a table, brandishing a revolver and firing a shot into theceiling. ?The National Revolution,? he cried, ?has begun!?At that point, informed that fighting had broken out in another par t ofthe city, Hitler rushed to that scene. His prisoners were allowed toleave, and they talked about organizing defenses against the Nazi coup. Hitler was of course furious. And he was far from finished. At about11 oclock on the morning of November 9the anniversary of the foundingof the German Republic in 19193,000 Hitler partisans again gatheredoutside the B?rgerbr?ukeller. To this day, no one knows who fired the first shot. But a shot rangout, and it was followed by fusillades from both sides. Hermann G?ringfell wounded in the thigh and both legs. Hitler flattened himselfagainst the pavement; he was unhurt. General Ludenorff continued tomarch stolidly toward the police line, which parted to let him passthrough (he was later arrested, tried and acquitted). Behind him, 16Nazis and three policemen lay sprawled dead among the many wounded. The next year, R?hm and his band joined forces with the fledglingNational Socialist Party in Adolf Hitlers Munich Beer Hall Putsch. Himmler took part in that uprising, but he played such a minor role thathe escaped arrest. The R?hm-Hitler alliance survived the Putsch, and?hms 1,500-man band grew into the Sturmabteilung, the SA, Hitlersbrown-shirted private army, that bullied the Communists and Democrats. Hitler recruited a handful of men to act as his bodyguards and protecthim from Communist toughs, other rivals, and even the S.A. if it got outof hand. This tiny group was the embryonic SS. Solar Power II EssayThe ?experimental people? were also used by Nazi doctors who neededpractice performing various operations. One doctor at Auschwitzperfected his amputation technique on live prisoners. After he hadfinished, his maimed patients were sent off to the gas chamber. A few Jews who had studied medicine were allowed to live if theyassisted the SS doctors. ?I cut the flesh of healthy young girls,?recalled a Jewish physician who survived at terrible cost. ?I immersedthe bodies of dwarfs and cripples in calcium chloride (to preservethem), or had them boiled so the carefully prepared skeletons mightsafely reach the Third Reichs museums to justify, for futuregenerations, the destruction of an entire race. I could never erasethese memories from my mind.? But the best killing machine were the ?shower baths? of death. Aftertheir arrival at a death camp, the Jews who had been chosen to die atonce were told that they were to have a shower. Filthy by their long,miserable journey, they sometimes applauded the announcement. CountlessJews and other victims went peacefully to the shower roomswhich weregas chambers in disguise. In the anterooms to the gas chambers, many of the doomed people foundnothing amiss. At Auschwitz, signs in several languages said, ?Bath andDisinfectant,? and inside the chambers other signs admonished, ?Dontforget your soap and towel.? Unsuspecting victims cooperated willingly. ?They got out of their clothes so routinely,? Said a Sobibor survivor. ?What could be more naturalIn time, rumors about the death camps spread, and undergroundnewspapers in the Warsaw ghetto even ran reports that told of the gaschambers and the crematoriums. But many people did not believe thestoried, and those who did were helpless in any case. Facing the gunsof the SS guards, they could only hope and pray to survive. As oneJewish leader put it, ?We must be patient and a miracle will occur.?There were no miracles. The victims, naked and bewildered, were shovedinto a line. Their guards ordered them forward, and flogged those whohung back. The doors to the gas chambers were locked behind them. Itwas all over q uickly. The war came home to Germany. Scarcely had Hitler recovered from theshock of the July 20 bombing when he was faced with the loss of Franceand Belgium and of great conquests in the East. Enemy troops inoverwhelming numbers were converging on the Reich. By the middle of August 1944, the Russian summer offensives, beginningJune 10 and unrolling one after another, had brought the Red Army to theborder of East Prussia, bottled up fifty German divisions in the Balticregion, penetrated to Vyborg in Finland, destroyed Army Group Center andbrought an advance on this front of four hundred miles in six weeks tothe Vistula opposite Warsaw, while in the south a new attack which beganon August 20 resulted in the conquest of Rumania by the end of the monthand with it the Ploesti oil fields, the only major source of natural oilfor the German armies. On August 26 Bulgaria formally withdrew from thewar and the Germans began to hastily clear out of that country. InSeptember Finland gave up and turned on the German troops which refusedto evacuate its territory. In the West, France was liberated quickly. In General Patton, thecommander of the newly formed U.S. Third Army, the Americans had found atank general with the dash and flair of Rommel in Africa. After thecapture of Avranches on July 30, he had left Brittany to wither on thevine and begun a great sweep around the German armies in Normandy,moving southeast to Orleans on the Loire and then due east toward theSeine south of Paris. By August 23 the Seine was reached southeast andnorthwest of the capital, and two days later the great city, the gloryof France, was liberated after four years of German occupation whenGeneral Jacques Leclercs French 2nd Armored Division and the U.S. 4thInfantry Division broke into it and found that French resistance unitswere largely in control.