Functionalism–intentionalism debate

In Holocaust studies, the functionalism–intentionalism debate is a historiographical controversy about the origins of the Holocaust in Nazi Germany and German-occupied Europe in World War II. The debate focuses on the transition, c.1941-1942, from state-sanctioned discrimination, forced displacement, and sporadic violence against Jews towards genocidal mass extermination. Key themes include the personal role of Adolf Hitler, Nazi ideology, and the role of lower-level party officials and civil servants.

Source: Wikipedia — Functionalism–intentionalism debate (CC BY-SA 4.0)