Would you have been a Nazi?

[SomeRandom]

A common philosophical and even political thought experiment is to ask, if you were an “Aryan” born in Germany in the 1920s would you have joined the Nazi regime. There are variants to this of course. Ranging from being born in a white affluent family in the 1940s in the Deep South and therefore supporting the Klan or even during the French Revolution (both sides.)

So I wanted to ask the RF community their thoughts on the matter. Which side would you have chosen?
And I mean honestly. We all would like to answer that we would be the renegades. But culture shapes us for better or worse. And not every Nazi was just some anti Semitic racist jerk. Some were just kids indoctrinated into such an ideology.
Hell some were Nazis just to survive. Outwardly supporting the movement lest they be hanged as race traitors.
And a lot of accounts from the time were of Jewish people legitimately shocked at the transformation of their otherwise genteel and pleasant brethren. We like to think the Germans at the time were uniquely susceptible to such pressure. But at its core, it’s a human fault really.
To fall for such propaganda or even just do something awful in order to survive.
So be honest please. Would you support such regimes under such circumstances?

 

[Spirit of Light]

A common philosophical and even political thought experiment is to ask, if you were an “Aryan” born in Germany in the 1920s would you have joined the Nazi regime. There are variants to this of course. Ranging from being born in a white affluent family in the 1940s in the Deep South and therefore supporting the Klan or even during the French Revolution (both sides.)

So I wanted to ask the RF community their thoughts on the matter. Which side would you have chosen?
And I mean honestly. We all would like to answer that we would be the renegades. But culture shapes us for better or worse. And not every Nazi was just some anti Semitic racist jerk. Some were just kids indoctrinated into such an ideology.
Hell some were Nazis just to survive. Outwardly supporting the movement lest they be hanged as race traitors.
And a lot of accounts from the time were of Jewish people legitimately shocked at the transformation of their otherwise genteel and pleasant brethren
So be honest please. Would you support such regimes under such circumstances?

No, I would never support Nazi regime not then nor today. I would rather die than support those ideologies.

 

[Samael_Khan]

A common philosophical and even political thought experiment is to ask, if you were an “Aryan” born in Germany in the 1920s would you have joined the Nazi regime. There are variants to this of course. Ranging from being born in a white affluent family in the 1940s in the Deep South and therefore supporting the Klan or even during the French Revolution (both sides.)

So I wanted to ask the RF community their thoughts on the matter. Which side would you have chosen?
And I mean honestly. We all would like to answer that we would be the renegades. But culture shapes us for better or worse. And not every Nazi was just some anti Semitic racist jerk. Some were just kids indoctrinated into such an ideology.
Hell some were Nazis just to survive. Outwardly supporting the movement lest they be hanged as race traitors.
And a lot of accounts from the time were of Jewish people legitimately shocked at the transformation of their otherwise genteel and pleasant brethren
So be honest please. Would you support such regimes under such circumstances?

It depends how I was raised and my life experience at the time. I would have definitely been a different person because we are a product of our past life experiences. So I don't know how I would have reacted to the Nazi's. But statistically speaking, I would have most likely been a Nazi.

 

[SomeRandom]

No, I would never support Nazi regime not then nor today. I would rather die than support those ideologies.

If I may ask, what makes you so certain?
If you’re Jewish or a “degenerate” by Nazi standards (like myself) I apologise.
But everyone always says that. But it’s easy to say that with hindsight. Before Germany invaded Poland all the worlds leaders praised Hitler’s efforts to whip the Germans into shape. Not even kidding. I remember that aspect being used in my history class to reinforce the idea that WWII wasn’t as black and white as people like to pretend it was. There were detractors and supporters on both sides. It’s also why the term “axis of evil” was actually thoroughly discredited by my teachers. (And they all outwardly despised Hitler.)

 

[Twilight Hue]

If I was born in that era as a German citizen I would most certainly be a Nazi.

Same if i had been born in the middle east , I'd be a Muslim.

If I had been Jewish, I'd join the underground, be killed, or escape the country.

 

[Spirit of Light]

If I may ask, what makes you so certain?
If you’re Jewish or a “degenerate” by Nazi standards (like myself) I apologise.
But everyone always says that. But it’s easy to say that with hindsight. Before Germany invaded Poland all the worlds leaders praised Hitler’s efforts to whip the Germans into shape. Not even kidding

Because it is a hate driven ideology that put Jews or other minorities as animals, and as a pacifist i do not wish to harm others.

 

[Viker]

Being transgender and having Jewish ancestry, no. I would likely be a refugee or worse. If born as is now.

If not born as now but in the 'Aryan' poster mold, the likelihood would be a yes.

I've always wanted to belong and contribute to something bigger than me. I probably wouldn't have hesitated. I would have simply been young, impressionable and enthusiastic.

If born male I would likely have joined the Hitler Youth then if old enough the Wehrmacht.

 

[SomeRandom]

Because it is a hate driven ideology that put Jews or other minorities as animals, and as a pacifist i do not wish to harm others.

To resist such a thing is an admiral trait, to be sure.

Have you heard of the non fiction book “Ordinary Men?”
It’s a historical account by a reputable source whereby it chronicles the exploits of the Police Battalion reserve 101 during the Nazi Regime by historian Christopher Browning.
The men were from a Provence where there was the most resistance to Hitler’s regime. The men in the unit were ordinary guys. They routinely expressed revulsion and disgust at all the atrocities they were asked to commit. Only 12 out the 500 sat out the first atrocities they were commanded to commit.
Around 25 percent became rather sadistic over the course of the war.
The rest expressed revulsion and disgust but still followed orders to commit massacres regardless.
Just something to ponder. And in my opinion an illustration that we all have personal responsibility but are also conditioned to follow our society, regardless of our personal ethics. I think it’s something interesting (but disturbing) to ponder about us as a species

 

[Spirit of Light]

To resist such a thing is an admiral trait, to be sure.

Have you heard of the non fiction book “Ordinary Men?”
It’s a historical account by a reputable source whereby it chronicles the exploits of the Police Battalion reserve 101 during the Nazi Regime by historian Christopher Browning.
The men were from a Provence where there was the most resistance to Hitler’s regime. The men in the unit were ordinary guys. They routinely expressed revulsion and disgust at all the atrocities they were asked to commit. Only 12 out the 500 sat out the first atrocities they were commanded to commit.
Around 25 percent became rather sadistic over the course of the war.
The rest expressed revulsion and disgust but still followed orders to commit massacres regardless.
Just something to ponder. And in my opinion an illustration that we all have personal responsibility but are also conditioned to follow our society, regardless of our personal ethics. I think it’s something interesting (but disturbing) to ponder about us as a species

I would refuse to harm others, so the Nazi would have killed me first.

 

[Estro Felino]

I would have slapped in the face whoever imposed me some Nazi and / or Antisemitic rule.
And I would have hoped they (SS or Nazi officers) shot me in the back.
I would have died proudly. With dignity.
I will not let anyone command me.
I do not fear death.

 

[SomeRandom]

I would refuse to harm othets, so the Nazi would have killed me first.

Admirable quality

 

[SomeRandom]

I would have slapped in the face whoever imposed me some Nazi and / or Antisemitic rule.
And I would have hoped they (SS or Nazi officers) shot me in the back.
I would have died proudly. With dignity.
I will not let anyone command me.
I do not fear death.

A sentiment I share.
Tell me, what do you think of the Jews who supported Hitler initially?
Association of German National Jews - Wikipedia

 

[Viker]

I would refuse to harm others, so the Nazi would have killed me first.

They wouldn't have killed you out right at first. But your Norwegian pacifist butt would be in detention. So says Viker, the young German soldier who'd probably arrest you.

 

[Estro Felino]

A sentiment I share.
Tell me, what do you think of the Jews who supported Hitler initially?
Association of German National Jews - Wikipedia

I will not judge this particular issue of history, since I would need to study it thoroughly, first.
Of course...it is really shocking.

I love this movie about some people who are not Jews and who will not bow to Nazis.
I would have done exactly like Cathy, in this scene at 1:37:50. I would have died like that.

 

[Father Heathen]

I wouldn't be me since I wouldn't have had the same attributes, experiences, and influences that have made and defined me. I would like to think that I would have made wise and honorable choices.

 

[Spirit of Light]

They wouldn't have killed you out right at first. But your Norwegian pacifist butt would be in detention. So says Viker, the young German soldier who'd probably arrest you.

If you wanted me you had to shoot me, if you gave me an order, I refuse to do it.

 

[Viker]

If you wanted me you had to shoot me, if you gave me an order, I refuse to do it.

I'd give you a big hug and then drag you into a paddy wagon. And tell you you're going on a camping trip.

 

[Spirit of Light]

They wouldn't have killed you out right at first. But your Norwegian pacifist butt would be in detention. So says Viker, the young German soldier who'd probably arrest you.

By the way, I refused to go in to the Norwegian military too

 

[SomeRandom]

I will not judge this particular issue of history, since I would need to study it thoroughly, first.
Of course...it is really shocking.

I love this movie about some people who are not Jews and who will not bow to Nazis.
I would have done exactly like Cathy, in this scene at 1:37:50. I would have died like that.

I agree with you.
But having learnt of this phenomenon, I remember my teacher emphasising empathy. Like some of the younger members being rather naive. Just seeing it as an edgy joke not to be taken seriously.
Others “hedging their bets” in a sense trying to appease the local power in an effort of self preservation. Which I won’t judge them for.
Another aspect to consider was the historical incident of antisemitism. Whether overt or merely “a benign joke told for ages beforehand.”
Which is incidentally why a lot of modern movements want to call out even culturally accepted forms of (what they perceive) as negative racial/prejudiced stereotypes. Because people become numb to them and that can be true.
What is not accepted now was seen as benign in the past, right? So it is implicitly allowed by the culture. That’s not to say the culture was inherently bad, merely passive. But passivity can lead to a Hitler.

By the way, have you seen Jojo Rabbit?
Imo a very poignant film in its own right

 

[Viker]

By the way, I refused to go in to the Norwegian military too

This is good. But the consequences would have been more serious back in the 1940s. I appreciate your pacifism, by the way.