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[Isard]

Originally Posted by Woodsprite

Oscar Schindler was a member of the Nazi party. You're referring to "Nazi" in the moral sense. I'm referring to "Nazi" in the political sense. Yes, all German soldiers were under the Nazi regime, making them Nazis. There was no other popular polical party. Asking me whether or not I'm "democrat" because the president is as compared to the Nazi party from WWII Germany is an anachronistic comparison.

Did you ask every soldier this? Because dictating their beliefs is a pretty big assumption.

[Woodsprite]

...It's like asking what political party a 5-year-old is a part of. The kid may only know what the parents taught him/her, so the kid may say "I'm a democrat" without really knowing what it means. This was the case for many German soldiers at the time. They all hailed Hitler without question, most doing so without really understand why, except knowing he was "der Fuhrer" or "the leader."

[Isard]

Originally Posted by Woodsprite

...It's like asking what political party a 5-year-old is a part of. The kid may only know what the parents taught him/her, so the kid may say "I'm a democrat" without really knowing what it means. This was the case for many German soldiers at the time. They all hailed Hitler without question, most doing so without really understand why, except knowing he was "der Fuhrer" or "the leader."

That was his title. Doesn't mean they were all members of the Nazi party.


Again, real world example, Obama is Mr. President, yet not everybody's a democrat.

[Woodsprite]

If you were sent back in time and watched as a crowd of soldiers chanted the phrase "sieg heil" over and over, would you come to the conclusion, "Nah, they aren't all Nazis"? Doesn't make sense. The American army is made up of republicans, democrats, and independents. The German army was made up of only one party. There was no other political alternative. It was similar to that of English allegiance to the King from the middle ages. There was only one "party": that of the King.

American politics doesn't work that way. You're arguing an apples and oranges.

[Isard]

Originally Posted by Woodsprite

If you were sent back in time and watched as a crowd of soldiers chanted the phrase "sieg heil" over and over, would you come to the conclusion, "Nah, they aren't all Nazis"? Doesn't make sense. The American army is made up of republicans, democrats, and independents. The German army was made up of only one party. There was no other political alternative. It was similar to that of English allegiance to the King from the middle ages. There was only one "party": that of the King.

American politics doesn't work that way. You're arguing an apples and oranges.

No, what I'm arguing is that they weren't Nazi party members. You don't actually have to have a political party, or support one. Assuming that every German was a card carrying member of the Nazi party is pure ignorance. At this point, I think you're just arguing for the sake of arguing.

[Woodsprite]

If they weren't Nazi party members, why did they all wear Nazi insignia of some form, and why did they all hail Hitler?

[Isard]

Originally Posted by Woodsprite

If they weren't Nazi party members, why did they all wear Nazi insignia of some form, and why did they all hail Hitler?

They wore the uniforms of the Wehrmacht, (or army) which were GERMAN insignias, not Nazi.(You're thinking of the SS, they were Nazi's politically and ideologically)

And they would shout "Hail the leader", because he was their leader. That's how it works woodsprite, you know, that guy that got elected? Him? Yeah, leader, you follow. Understand?

Every US service member is under the direction of the President (Command and Chief of the Armed Forces), not all of them are of his political party. Is this really that hard?

[Woodsprite]

I swear by God this sacred oath that to the Leader of the German empire and people, Adolf Hitler, supreme commander of the armed forces, I shall render unconditional obedience and that as a brave soldier I shall at all times be prepared to give my life for this oath.

--Wehrmacht Oath taken by all German soldiers

I think you misunderstand me when I say all soldiers were, by definition, automatically part of the Nazi party. Many of them were against it, but they had no choice but to obey or die. In other words, you could be a part of the Nazi party and still be anti-Nazi, which is what many of the soldiers were.

[Isard]

Originally Posted by Woodsprite

I think you misunderstand me when I say all soldiers were, by definition, automatically part of the Nazi party. Many of them were against it, but they had no choice but to obey or die. In other words, you could be a part of the Nazi party and still be anti-Nazi, which is what many of the soldiers were.

But being a member of the party weren't necessary. Now, speaking against the party wasn't allowed, but you weren't forced to actually be a member. Most soldiers fought for their homeland, not the party that ran it.


**** it.


Eltu, prune this thread. It's about the rather touching picture not playing "Spot a Nazi!"

[Woodsprite]

If being a member of the party wasn't necessary, then why were all German soldiers required to swear unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler before joining the army?

[Isard]

Originally Posted by Woodsprite

If being a member of the party wasn't necessary, then why were all German soldiers required to swear unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler before joining the army?

Woodsprite, Hitler wasn't the Nazi party. He was the leader of Germany, and a member of the party. My faith in humanity is rapidly dropping woodsprite.

[Woodsprite]

Don't patronize me. If you're required to swear unconditional obedience to someone, you are, by definition, a part of his party, whether you want to be or not. American soldiers are not required to swear unconditional obedience to the president, but rather to serving the country.

[Isard]

Originally Posted by Woodsprite

Don't patronize me. If you're required to swear unconditional obedience to someone, you are, by definition, a part of his party, whether you want to be or not. American soldiers are not required to swear unconditional obedience to the president, but rather to serving the country.