Your Hitler example is perfect IMO. There were many beyond Hitler in Germany that deserved the hatred directed at them whether directly through horrific acts or indirectly due to their apathy or ignorance. The civilians in the towns directly adjacent to liberated concentration camps were forced by allied forces to aid in the cleanup and recovery of the camps and their victims. Many of these 'innocent Germans' expressed outrage at their 'undeserved' treatment like as seen in this video. They didn't deserve sympathy either.

At a certain point 'I am just an innocent wittle civilian who has done nothing wrong' is a cop-out. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good [people] should do nothing" -Burke.

To be clear this isn't to justify warcrimes on civilians. It is merely to say her crocodile tears fall on deaf ears.

[–] froh42@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

All those Hitler comparisons hit very close, as I'm German, born long after the war. It was. my grandparent generation that allowed things to happen.

I have utmost respect for people who speak out against atrocities their country does, but in sucj a case - Hitler or Putin - being silent is agreeing.

The woman in this video just whines how everyone treats her badly. If she had said one time, she understands because of what her country does - and then say, how it makes her life bad, I could somehow sympathize. This way - I can not.

I have a Russian coworker who started business meetings with a minute of silence for the Ukrainian victims during the full invasion. That is something I can respect.

I never got any details, but I have reason to believe my own grandfather arranged himself with the Nazis, some say he was a party member. Others say, he and my grandma hid someone from them. Nevertheless he managed to own a soft drink factory (and quickly got a Coca Cola contract after the war)

I'm fucking fed up with people who arrange themselves with dictators and are just opportunists. As this woman obviously is.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org -5 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

Fun fact - Hitler was elected.

There's potential evil in everyone, born everywhere. It's hard for most people to swallow, but it's true.

[–] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 17 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Hitler wasn't really elected. His party never once had a majority vote. He got 30 ish percent iirc.

He was nominated as Chancellor as a cop out to try and appease the masses which he had stirred up.

[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

And then used the Reichstag fire to invoke emergency powers and take full control

[–] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Yes, obviously it went quickly downhill from there (as per the plan).

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 0 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

It was closer to 40, but yes, he never won a majority nation-wide. Minority governments are a thing though, and he got the job democratically. It's accurate to say he was elected.

[–] chahk@beehaw.org 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Putin was elected too.

...

Bwahahahah! Sorry, almost made it through with a straight face.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 0 points 5 months ago

He actually never had a free and fair election, as far as I know. Yeltsin won fair and square the first time around, but rigged his second election and then appointed Putin.