Just finished reading “The rise and fall of the Third Reich” by William Shirer Fantastic read but sad! Especially “the rise” part is so alarmingly similar to some modern day experiences. Things like: - the massive hysteria of state propaganda o peddling on real and invented national frustrations with its past…Hitler you see is raising Germany from being on its knees o injecting fear and anger by creating the image of foreign enemies everywhere o abusing anyone who happens to think or talk differently o creating the image and belief of a nation with better and more pure values, not stained with the decaying values of the democrtic world - the appalling apathy of the commoner to do nothing o when a politician or a journalist gets beaten, then imprisoned, then killed o when people with different views get ostracized, then imprisoned then killed o when any manifestation of protest is labeled as national betrayal o when church is diminished to nothing more than an admirer of the regime - the shocking cynicism of doing exactly the opposite of what is said o every time the Nazis stage a provocation across their border they will accuse their neighbor and use it as a pretext for invasion o every time Hitler troops will invade a neighboring country, the fuhrer will make a speech that Germany has nothing but peace on its mind These are just some, not to speak about the national admiration with the leader, the sheepish desire of Germans to stop thinking and be led… Even if sad, it is an extremely well written book and for many could be an eye opener. For me it was also interesting as, in a way, I experienced the path and feelings of the Bulgarian former president and writer Mr Zhelyu Zhelev who in 1982 published his monograph “Fascism”. The book was instantly banned and Mr Zhelev’s citizens rights were significantly abused. Why? Because by scrupulously describing the fascist regime, it was becoming too obvious to the reader (and a big shock to anyone from Eastern Europe) how in its propaganda, cynicism, complete disrespect for human life and dignity (and in many other matters) fascism was no different than socialism. amazon/The-Rise-Fall-Third-Reich/dp/1451651686
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 12:36:16 +0000
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