What is the point.....

Status
Not open for further replies.
I can understand why you would see it as pointless if your simply looking at the 94 year old individual, but, I think it's more about the overall ethical and moral principles that 'Nazism, Fascism and Genocide' will be eradicated and it's adherents will be pursued and brought to justice at all costs and for however long it takes, which, of course is utter hypocrisy, considering the likes of 'Operation Paperclip' and the use of SS and wehrmacht officers in post-war suppression of communism in Greece, Italy and France...
Evening mate.
 

Yes, I saw that, although it does seem to be the death throes of the remaining older members of the younger generation.
My first thought was that they're getting to that stage in life where they'd prefer to go out standing up for their old ideals ad hopefully inspire a new generation rather than end up in a nursing home somewhere.
There was a gang of terminal AIDS cases in Italy that were told they had six months to live so started robbing banks, best case scenario they end up with a pile of money for a few months and leave what left to their family, worst case the cops shoot them and they are saved a slow painful death.
 
you can see how it would be difficult to replace the entire governmental and judicial structure with new independent people as there would be few about certainly not many who were qualified to do it, but you'd think there'd be a mechanism in place to spot people biased towards the 'old ideals' and replace them.
That was the excuse given at the time. The problem was that De- Nazification at the end of the war ended prematurely due to the beginnings of the Cold War. People wanted to ignore the Hitler period, and if ever friends in high places meant anything, it was then.
 

Don't get me wrong, anyone who knows anything about me knows that I believe in appropriate retribution and incarceration for those that have done wrong.........but.....

'Reinhold Hanning, 94, is accused of serving as an SS Unterscharfuehrer - or sergeant - between 1943 and 1944, a time when hundreds of thousands of Hungarian Jews were gassed to death at the camp.

He is one of four former Nazi guards being put on trial for war crimes this year, following an 11th hour push by German prosecutors.

Survivor Leon Schwarzbaum, 94, the first witness to give evidence at the trial next week, still vividly remembers how the 'chimneys were spewing fire... and the smell of burning human flesh was so unbelievable that one could hardly bear it'.


At the age of 94, he's probably worked out that what he did was wrong, and probably spent many nights awake as a result. If he didn't, then he has to live with it. I am not one of those who forgives easily, and it's a failing of mine, but he's 94, and I do not see any benefit in keeping a 94 year old behind bars......I apologise to any who lost family as a result of what he did, but as many of us lost family during the war anyway, it's time to let go............
Most likely not
 
Surely a large proportion of Germans who survived WWII would have had Nazi connections? Roughly 1/3 of the population were members of the party, and many more would be in some way associated with them. It would've been impossible to completely remove all of these millions of people from society, in post-war West Germany. The vast majority were indoctrinated by Goebbels' incredibly effective state propaganda.
 
He was only about 20 or 21 when he did it........people change.......
Not the nazis


Was listening o an interview from a few years ago from a prosecutor that's prosecuted numerous nazis and he said the thing that shocked him the most is not one showed any remorse, they all believed they were doing the right thing
 
Not the nazis


Was listening o an interview from a few years ago from a prosecutor that's prosecuted numerous nazis and he said the thing that shocked him the most is not one showed any remorse, they all believed they were doing the right thing

It's very sad that young people can be so indoctrinated or that this was their original belief.........
 

Surely a large proportion of Germans who survived WWII would have had Nazi connections? Roughly 1/3 of the population were members of the party, and many more would be in some way associated with them. It would've been impossible to completely remove all of these millions of people from society, in post-war West Germany. The vast majority were indoctrinated by Goebbels' incredibly effective state propaganda.
A lot of those members wouldn't necessarily agree with the Nazi Party's ideals though. It would have been difficult to hold certain jobs without being a member of the Party.
 
A lot of those members wouldn't necessarily agree with the Nazi Party's ideals though. It would have been difficult to hold certain jobs without being a member of the Party.

How do we judge that though? It is very similar to saying "I was under orders" by basically implying that they had no other choice. Yet we have no sympathy for those soldiers who probably were under orders. Where do you draw the line?
 

Status
Not open for further replies.

Welcome

Join Grand Old Team to get involved in the Everton discussion. Signing up is quick, easy, and completely free.

Shop

Back
Top