Katz had this to say about the disease:.
Very probably the greatest demographic disaster in history the depopulation of the New World, for all its death and terror, was largely an unintended tragedy, a tragedy that occurred despite the sincere and indisputable desire of the Europeans to keep the Indian population alive. The native people died primarily because of pandemics against which there was no protection. Nature, not malice, was the cause of the massive, incomprehensible devastation (emphasis on original) (pg. 138).
There was, in fact, proof that the Europeans knew the power of the diseases that they carried, and used them to their best ability. Although there are many times this happened, one major instance was when Lord Jeffrey Amherst ordered smallpox-infected blankets to be given out to help aid Lenni Lenapes and the Ottawas. Apparently, Amherst's plan was to "extirpate this execrable race" (pg.153).
When the Nazi regime was in power in Germany during World War II, thousands upon thousands of Jewish people and others being held captive were forced to march deeper into German territory. Without adequate food or medical attention, many died and many others fell ill. Although no direct killing was involved this, under definition, can be considered genocide. Amazingly, almost the exact same thing happened to the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole Indians when, in 1830, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act. This act authorized the use of the military to remove the named tribes from east of the Mississippi to a designated spot west of the river. The infamous "Trail of Tears", among many other atrocities occurred as a result of this act, with the Cherokees paying the highest toll losing roughly 55 percent of their entire population along the march for one reason or another. Along with the forced marches, there came interments at camps put together by the government.
