It was his quest for absolute control. He ruled with an Iron fist. Any resistance had to be eliminated.
Hitler speech
- Thread starter danmand
- Start date
What is your contribution. Once sentence are the only words of wisdom you could squeeze out?
I appreciate you feedback!
Himmler had some pretty wacky views on a variety of subjects, muslims as SS being one of them. The broader German tolerance of muslims had more to do with the historical anti-British sentiment within the Arab world and the leverage that gave the Germans to undermine British rule in the Middle East.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Waffen_Mountain_Division_of_the_SS_Handschar_(1st_Croatian)
As for the "non-Aryan" SS formations that were raised in the latter stages of the war, that was based on a "scraping the bottom of the manpower barrel" objective rather than a true desire to form SS units out of ethnic groups that would otherwise have been dismissed by the Nazis as "sub-human" or "non-Aryan" peoples.
As the war progressed and German manpower resources became stretched to the breaking point, the standards of SS recruitment were dramatically lowered to the point that they formed entire units of ethnic groups that would likely never have been allowed to associate with the SS/Nazis had there not been such a crisis in manpower.
The Wehrmacht did not undertake the recruitment of foreigners as eagerly as the SS did but that likely has more to do with the SS being more of a political entity than the Wehrmacht (i.e., in terms of political indoctrination and the ultimate goal of defeating communism - an ideal that was shared by many non-German peoples and went back further than the Nazis themselves. Anti-communism was the lynch pin that galvanized the non-German SS units, versus the greater emphasis on Aryanism that the German SS units held near and dear to their hearts).
So to point to that as some kind of "tolerance" for other ethnic groups is misrepresentative of the facts.
Ironically enough, some of the final defenders of Berlin were soldiers of these SS ethnic groups (see links below) who by that point had absolutely nothing to go home to (other than prosecution and/or execution) and fought it out to the bitter end. It's a skeleton in the closet for the Dutch that more of their men volunteered to fight for the Third Reich than to volunteer to fight against it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_SS_Volunteer_Panzergrenadier_Division_Nordland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/33rd_Waffen_Grenadier_Division_of_the_SS_Charlemagne_(1st_French)
Most members have already said what I would say and there's little use repeating their comments. Yours was just useless vitriol.
Pure incompetence, neglect and the criminal and brutal forced collectivization of farms.
All earned currency from grain exports was used to fund the industrialization of the country. Many consider Stalin to have modernized Russia... But that's another topic altogether.
In the earlier quote I said "we", not I.
I believe that cultural pride, and/or guilt/shame serves a useful purpose when directed properly. If your culture, has a tendency towards...say xenophobia being able to look at historical precedents as a cautionary tale may put a drag on this negative tendency.
Cultural and national pride can inspire greater efforts and give a healthy sense of identity to individuals and a group.
My anecdotal experience with people who celebrate cultural pride is the reverse of yours. In the case of the Austrian-Canadian community most of the people I have been with at cultural events and organizations are very successful. Frank Stronach is very proud of his heritage and active in our community and I would dare say he has accomplished more than a little.
I also happen to enjoy African culture and music and food, when I get the chance, but it does not quite resonate the same way as a good schnitzel.
After reading the last four pages most of you forgot that the main reason the nazi party got into power. There was high inflation and high unemployment. Anywhere in any industrialized nation,one who promises work and a good living, would get into power. INMHO it's not far off south of the boarder!
I think we should start a movement named "Down with Eider". DM is constantly hatching new plots against us. His favourite TV show was the Partrige Family.
