Hitchens's essay pretty much said that nobody cared about the plight of the Jews. Not England, or the US, or Russia, or anyone. It certainly was not a motivating factor for entering the war. Then again, most people don't have the imagination to envision the horrors.
I'm sure some people figured the Jewish persecutions in Germany were no worse than the Jim Crow laws in the USA.
German antisemitism incited opposition among American Jews, who like German Jews prior to 1933, held influence and wealth disproportionate to their numbers. This incites my admiration, in others, sadly, envy.
People may or may not have cared about the Jews - though obviously many actually did, including many Germans in Germany - but there was very little anyone could do for them by 1941, except perhaps, accept them as refugees. As Churchill put it, “The world is divided into two great camps. Those who want to get rid of the Jews, and those who do not want to accept them.”
Forgot to say thank you! Is Peter Hitchens’ brother?
I was lazy, just looked him up. A less debauched, less hard li ing Hitchens, but definitely a Hitchens! I miss him.....