The "damnit...not all Germans were Nazi's in WW2" thread.
- Thread starter Arsen
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Brothers in Arms portrays some German townspeople as just being normal people with day to day lives, not as evil Nazis.
Yes, it does. There were quite a few assassination attempts on Hitler, by his own staff and (mainly) the generals. People *should* know that less than (I think it was 15 or 10?) 10/15% (?) of the German people were Nazis, BUT here's the rub. Hannah Ardent's "The Banality of Evil" theory. She was a journalist (I think a journalist, I'm groggy at the moment, so forgive me) who went to the Nuremberg trial and wrote a book.
Basically she was told that everyone there basically said: I was just following orders of Adolf Eichmann. When he came into the stand he was this...small bookish guy with glasses. She had expected something dark and large and comic book-style (for lack of a better word). She surmised in her book that evil doesn't come from billowing capes and a great mastermind, but when it comes right down to it: The individual who does, or doesn't do a particular thing.
Basically she was told that everyone there basically said: I was just following orders of Adolf Eichmann. When he came into the stand he was this...small bookish guy with glasses. She had expected something dark and large and comic book-style (for lack of a better word). She surmised in her book that evil doesn't come from billowing capes and a great mastermind, but when it comes right down to it: The individual who does, or doesn't do a particular thing.
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. But, I do see your point in pointing out that the average soldier was not a Nazi. Most fought for their country, really it was the SS that were Nazi. But, you can't deny that the issue of this must be adressed.Arsen said:
True. However I personally feel that the majority of people should as a whole, be presented with a country's history from more standpoints, not just the most "well-known" within the average mindset.bue519 said:
Overall, it is a sterotype in some regards, yet it's a sterotype that I feel has been abused in many cases.
True, but, and this is one huge fucking but...
While not all Germans belonged to the Nazi party, and obviously not all of them were with the SS. They all share the moral responsibility of allowing the Nazi party to rise to power. They all share the moral responsibility of the silent concession of the murder of millions of people. Not just Jews, also intellectuals, gays, communists, the disabled and many more.
It is true that not all Germans were Nazis, but they are all to be held accountable for the crimes of their state.
While not all Germans belonged to the Nazi party, and obviously not all of them were with the SS. They all share the moral responsibility of allowing the Nazi party to rise to power. They all share the moral responsibility of the silent concession of the murder of millions of people. Not just Jews, also intellectuals, gays, communists, the disabled and many more.
It is true that not all Germans were Nazis, but they are all to be held accountable for the crimes of their state.
while we're on the subject can we at least agree that not all Nazis were evil and that many found themselves in their ranks for countless reasons i.e safety, fear, genuine belief etc?
No they are not. That is without compassion, mercy, or forgiveness. History does not owe anyone nor does it need to point fingers.asiepshtain said:
The other's were defending their homeland and had no knowledge of the actual murders taking place. They were too busy fighting several armies to notice.
This again, is another generalization made about Germany. People look at them as a group because of the whole "dominating power" ordeal and fail to overall see it 50/50 per the Jews and Germans. Sorry folks, but the quantity of murders doesn't fall towards greater sympathy. Even then Russia lost way more than anyone else combined. Why can't there be a memorial for the humanity over one group?Adam Jenson said:
No, I do not believe in murder, however I will not subjegate a country which has one of the most brilliant cultures mankind has ever seen, to the modern description that they have a price to pay. They've paid it in plentiful amounts and now it's time to get over that age old "fact". The Germans are equally justified if you look deeper into history.
The Prussian Empire, Bismarck, The Landknechts, the tribes which fought the Romans, music, ale, kingdoms...
Germany is more than the Holocaust.
Oh, I think this needs to be said too.
Not all Germans deny the Holocaust!
I got in an hour-long argument about this with some stupid kid that said this based on something he saw in Family Guy.
This kid's in advanced classes, too.
Not all Germans deny the Holocaust!
I got in an hour-long argument about this with some stupid kid that said this based on something he saw in Family Guy.
This kid's in advanced classes, too.
In a war that happened TWO GENERATIONS AGO.asiepshtain said:
Or are you seriously implying that my 25-year-old friend in Germany was somehow implicit in the Nazi party's rise to power in the mid-1930s?
I am sick and tired of everyone thinking all Germans were bad. Think of it this way, America fought Vietnam and they considered all Americans evil. Do you think of yourselves as evil? Didn't think so.
