Final answer:
Yes, many Jews, including those from Sighet, initially doubted the true extent of Hitler's intentions to exterminate the Jews; partly because the concept of such a systematic and industrial approach to genocide was unprecedented and difficult to comprehend.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, the Jews of Sighet initially doubted Hitler was really planning to exterminate Jews around the globe. Their reaction ranged from skepticism to disbelief regarding the extent of Hitler's intent.
Early on, the Nazis explored various proposals such as creating Jewish "reservations" or deporting Jews to Madagascar. However, signs of Hitler's true intentions were present, as he clearly stated his goal of eradicating Jews should he gain absolute power. Yet, these ominous warnings were not always taken at face value. In Sighet, as well as in many other Jewish communities, people held onto the hope that the situation would not escalate to genocide. The reality of the Holocaust, the systematic murder of European Jews, was a concept so extreme that many could not fathom it until it was too late.
The disbelief of the Jewish people can be attributed to the sheer unprecedented nature of the Holocaust. Furthermore, before the mass exterminations began, Jews were subjected to systemic discrimination, humiliation, and displacement, which while horrific, did not yet spell out the full extent of the Final Solution. It's important to note that this underestimation of threat was not limited to Jewish communities; many in the international community also failed to grasp or act on early warnings of the impending genocide.