ZD -“Jews were subserviant in Arab countries and there were still pogroms”
This could be that when Mohammed tried to make the Jews worship him – not just they didn’t listen, but they mocked him. They should have just ignored him without the mocking. It was after that – that he started with the Jews and the Caliphs after him started codifying laws against Jews. I’m not so clear about the history. But Hashem only punishes for good reasons.
“Jews were subserviant in Eastern Europe and basically did what the masters said, and the Nazis still came.”
This is definitely Not True! Almost all the Gedolim say the Klal did bad things and that’s why the Holocaust happened. The Satmar Rebbe zt’l said is was because of the Zionist movement. Others said is was because of the Maskilim/Reform Movement. R’ A. Miller zt’l said it was because of Chillul Shabbos.