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Explaining the Unexplainable
from Consortium News:
Explaining the Unexplainable
December 1, 2012
Since World War II, the common reaction to the horrendous crimes of the Nazis has been to wonder how such extreme behavior was possible. But the more important point is how the process of killing could be made so mundane, a question that remains relevant today, as Gary G. Kohls explains.
By Gary G. Kohls
A couple of years ago, the iconic sign over the gate to the infamous World War II-era extermination camp at Auschwitz was stolen. (It was later recovered after being found cut into three pieces). At the top of that gate was this classic bit of Nazi propaganda, proclaimed to the millions of doomed incoming victims: Arbeit Macht Frei (Work Makes One Free).
Arbeit Macht Frei is a pretty good summary of what is otherwise known as the Protestant work ethic that started in Europe during the Protestant Reformation. Right-wing nationalists, anti-communist, pro-capitalist, pro-war, anti-Semitic, racist and religious reformers such as John Calvin and Martin Luther would have agreed that Arbeit Macht Frei supported their dogmatic teachings about fulfilling ones patriotic duty to the state, the church or the industry that employed the people.
Following Hitlers fascist takeover and the total destruction of Germanys liberal democratic government in 1933, Germans were indoctrinated to believe that it was their patriotic duty to defend the Nazis Thousand Year Reich by any means necessary, including laboring, killing or dying for the cause.
Indeed, the efforts instituted by the fascist government (including the abolition of labor unions) resulted in virtually full employment in all of the war-related industries that were set up to ensure the success of the Thousand Year Reich, including the military arts, police, fuel, chemical, agriculture, mining and weapons production. All of these industries thrived with willing, reasonably well-paid and grateful Good Germans who blindly applauded Hitler for orchestrating his economic miracle. ................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://consortiumnews.com/2012/12/01/explaining-the-unexplainable/
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Explaining the Unexplainable (Original Post)
marmar
Dec 2012
OP
xchrom
(108,903 posts)1. du rec. nt
Uncle Joe
(58,386 posts)2. Kicked and recommended, there are some good comments on that link as well.
Thanks for the thread, marmar.