Sing Konrad! Sing!

[The Lone Liberal]

One common theme that is repeatedly voiced in DU is the fear that we are slipping into some form of totalitarian state. Such a fear is real and is based on history. Having just finished a book titled “Defying Hitler” by Sebastian Haffner (Author), Oliver Pretzel (Translator), http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0374161577/qid=1062541734/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-3570679-9776959?v=glance&s=books , it became apparent how easy through incremental steps it is for a society or country to fall under a totalitarian regime. Through the expediency of need for stability the German people ran willingly into the arms of the Nazis party. It was not accomplished by some brilliant stroke, rather it was through a series of small accommodations to protect the state by removing some small civil right, or bending some law. It was not until all had been lost and there was no recourse but to leave, go along or suffer the mortal consequence of protest that the people understood the evil that they had supported.

Juxtaposing the story told in Defying Hitler against the political history of the USA since the event of 9/11 is cause for fear. If not fear then at least a heightened awareness and vigilance is called for in these times.

For those who would like to investigate the crimes of the Nazis era. Harvard has put together a collection of the Nuremberg Trails documents. Interesting site.

http://nuremberg.law.harvard.edu/php/docs_swi.php?DI=1&text=overview

[Kellanved]

1. I second that

Haffner's book is among the most shocking books about pre-war Germany and the society. It withstood a conservative smear campaign (conservative newspapers claimed that Haffner made it up after the war; however research showed that the book is indeed what it claimed to be: authentic.)


Edit: Almost as disturbing is Heinrich Mann; his novels are almost as disturbing, but were written decades aerlier.

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. Thanks for this post.

I recently discussed this same book with someone who had just read it, though had mixed feelings about the main character due to some personal peccadillos the author had committed.