I find it to be somewhat amusing that people always start using longer and more complicated words whenever their intelligence comes under attack. Human behaviour, I guess.
It is correct that the "Endlösung" was ordered because Hitler was running out of time and means of getting rid of the Jews. Several other plans were discussed, such as moving them to Madagascar and so forth. I believe one third of all Jews killed were killed from 1944 and onwards.
While one can argue that the eventual defeat of the Nazis was evident by 1941 (I'm not convinced, firstly because the Soviet Union was pretty instable and Staling might well have fallen, based on what one knew at the time, secondly because the actions of other states was not hyet determined) I really don't think Hitler saw it coming. Rather, I think the start of the Holocaust had more to do with Germany occupying large areas inhabited by many Jews in Eastern Europe (Poland, Ukraine, Russia).
On the philosophical points raised, I feel too lazy to read it right now. I'll just say that while I consider rationality to be important, emotinos should not be right-out dismissed as guides to issue stands. And I definitely disagree with moral relaitvity. I want the intellectual freedom to judge things that I consider immoral.
