Why cannot the moral responsibility of an ordinary citizen under Nazi rule be measured only by obeying law?

Correct answer: Because Nazi laws themselves could be unjust

Moral responsibility is broader than simply asking whether a person followed the laws of the government. Laws are rules made and enforced by authorities, but a law can still violate human dignity, equality, or basic rights. Under Nazi rule, some laws and official policies discriminated against Jews and other targeted groups, removed their rights, and supported persecution. Therefore, obeying such rules cannot automatically prove that a citizen acted morally. People must also consider conscience, the harm caused to others, and whether the rule itself is just.

The question uses the contrast between law and morality. Option B is wrong because laws are not always just. Option C is wrong because citizens did live under laws, even when those laws were oppressive. Option D is wrong because moral choices are closely connected with historical situations and their consequences. Thus, option A is correct: Nazi laws themselves could be unjust. The point is not that every ordinary citizen had equal power or safety, but that legal obedience alone is insufficient for judging moral responsibility.