Orbit Schroder's Speech 'I Express My Shame'

Gerhard Schroder Speech Analysis

Seventy some years ago, over five million Jews, and six million non-Jews were persecuted by Adolf Hitler’s forces during what we call the Holocaust. POW’s, homosexuals, mentally/physically disabled, communists and more were all subjected to Nazi crimes. This abhorrent reign of terror started in 1941 to 1945, whereas in 1944 Russian soldiers liberated the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. Gerhard Schroder, Germany’s chancellor from 1998 to 2005, held a commencement for the sixtieth anniversary of this liberation, and gave a remarkable speech, called “I Express my Shame”, delivering concise points regarding the Holocaust. He regards his shame he expresses for the Holocaust while showing how horrendous this event was. In his speech, Schroder uses rhetorical elements pathos, ethos, and logos, and the uses of these elements will help the reader better understand the speech.

For instance, Schroder uses pathos in his speech to appeal to the audience's sympathies and imagination. He mentions what victims went through on a daily basis, and

Not only do the words he speaks represent ethos, but also because he is a trusted, well known leader (chancellor of Germany) so the audience respects him and will actually listen to him. “In my estimation an invitation of this kind is still not something that can be taken for granted.” This quote shows that his judgment or opinion on the incident is credible and that you shouldn’t take your way of life for granted. “Now, sixty years after the liberation of Auschwitz by the red army, I stand before you as the representative of a democratic Germany.” He is pronouncing that he’s an authority figure and the information he gives them is truthful. People are more likely to believe something they’re told when they hear it from someone they respect and like; so Schroder being a German representative helps get his point across to the reader and