Yes, that really gripped me as a kid, having already heard about the holocaust from my uncle.
It was explained that they went willingly, believing it was their duty as citizens, in order that the great works of their culture might survive.
When the Enterprise becomes a victim in the computer simulation and ordered destroyed, Kirk decides it's time to show them exactly what war means
Which actually is corespondent to one of the reasons why capital punishment in the Bible under Moses was usually by communal stoning. Besides corresponding to the crime being against the whole community, and giving them a better sense of justice, it helped impress upon all the gravity of the offense, versus antiseptic execution.