If I fought against my country would I be a traitor?

Question

For example

I'm German during the 1940s and the German government is commiting genocide against Jews

Or I am Serbian during the 1990s and my country is massacring Bosnians in Srebrenica

Or I am Sudanese and my government is killing darker skinned Africans.



Wouldn't it be morally wrong to support my country in those circumstances, and wouldn't the braver thing be to take arms against my country even if it meant killing my fellow countrymen?

Is supporting your country in war automatically right whatever the circumstances.

Under what circumstances would you fight AGAINST your country?

Answer 1

Yes, it would be morally wrong to support your own country in this case, no doubt.

I'm German, I was born decades after the war, but if I were put back to that time, yes I would fight against Germany without hesitation and I strongly blame all these millions of German soldiers for fighting for Nazi Germany. I wished they had all mutinied. When I read or think about this time, my deep-felt loyalty is with the Allies without a doubt. This is very very clear to me and it doesn't cause me any inner conflict. And yes, I would have killed my fellow countrymen if this way I could have saved others from them. I also want to add that the genocide of the Jews was the worst, but by far not the only crime of Nazi Germany.

If people called me traitor for this I would just have to bear it. German deserters during World War II were called traitors, but their honor was officially rehabilitated in Germany now, there is even a memorial to honor them. Some German kids now even read a book at school in which the hero is a German WW2 deserter. Keep in mind it wasn't cowardice, most deserters were executed, deserting was more risky than fighting. German soldiers now also have to swear that they would refuse to follow criminal orders.

Taking arms against your own country is one step further than just refusing to fight for your country, but it would be fully justified in that case. I know that a few Germans took part in the armed resistance in France, in a guerrilla fight against the German army. I respect them.

Fact is just that I feel respect for all the people who helped to defeat Nazism, I feel a lot of respect for the Allied soldiers who died for it and for all who fought in the underground. As for German WW2 veterans, if they don't show remorse I just want to stay away from them and want them to be silent. When I hear how some of them try to portray themselves as heroes or claim to be innocent honestly I can't bear it.

Answer 2

This is a FANTASTIC question! The answer is easy. It is the situation that is difficult.

First, let's define the word TRAITOR:

traitor definition
n.
One who betrays one's country, a cause, or a trust, especially one who commits treason.

The quick answer is "yes, fighting against your own country makes you a traitor." Note that this does NOT indicate whether the traitor or the country in question is correct or not. In other words, with your examples, if a Sudanese decides that genocide in Darfur is wrong, illegal, immoral, and decides to fight his own nation, he IS a traitor to Sudan, but probably not to others.

The USA's first and second amendments refers to this very situation, as we are a "government of the people, by the people, for the people," meaning if our government steps out of line, and I mean GROSSLY out of line (not just "I disagree with Liberals", but truly illegal application of the Constitution), we as (lawfully armed and authorized free speech) citizens are empowered to take down this government in order to restore the Constitution.

This is always subjective, and even though we may believe we know the difference between right and wrong, that doesn't always mean we are correct in this belief. That is why freedom is so important. Without freedom, we become a part of the machine, unable to dislodge ourselves and apply what is right. Hitler convinced Germans to follow his will until they got to the point where they couldn't stop the machine (even if they believed what they were doing was wrong, as the support and enforcement structure was already in place.) It would take outside forces, unswayed by this improper use of power, to defeat it.

This is why we must perservere and defeat Islamists throughout Iraq and Afghanistan, and Africa.

Answer 3

Well as far as they would be concerned...you are guilty of High Treason! Having been a Military Man however...No I would not support a War where the action's taken are unreasonable,inhumane or cruel. I would loudly object to any un-necessary action,or abuse of a Nation's Citizen's...outside of the Norms of Humanity and Sound Judgement! Under no circumstances...would I War against my own fellow Citizen's,especially if I view the Government to be corrupted and out of control. A Military is suppose to be used in the Defence of the Country,not for bringing out it's Demise. Period! When and if it ever came to that? It is time to overthrow the Government...and Charge the "Perpetrators" for crimes against the People for whom they swore to protect and serve!!!! If you want a perfect example of such an event-Nicolae Ceausescu's Romania! When he tried to use his own Military against his own People. His Family and Himself...were rapidly rounded up,and Summararily Executed by the Military! Just what a Military should do...The Right Thing!!! The Military then handed power back to the People,so they could reform a new Government-that would be responsible to its Citizen's! Damned good job too!

Answer 4

Other examples you neglect-
John Walker Lindh fighting for the Taliban
The south seceeding over states rights/slavery
Timothy McVeigh bombing Oklahoma City
Alger Hiss-Soviet spy


You want to change your government's policies? The difference between your three examples and the United States is your ability to work within the system. You will not be persecuted for stating your mind, your life will not be in danger for being in the opposition party, you can do everything within your power to ensure elected officials best represent your interests. This was not possible in your three examples. I have a sneaking suspicion that your question is a subtle indictment of our nation's conduct of the Iraq War. If you are ultimately asking should you be attacking U.S. soldiers who are fighting in Iraq the answer is no. There is no parallel between your examples and them. You would be no different than McVeigh or the Washington Sniper.

Answer 5

If you fight against your country under any circumstance, you are a traitor. How history judges you is another matter.

Im editing after reading a horrendous post by Elika... people like you make me ashamed to be German. Are you that out of touch with reality? The nazi government, the Political SS... EVIL. No doubt about it. But the common German soldier who did his duty honorably (a vast majority)... NOT EVIL. Even we in America realize this, its reflected in our recent movies and books. EVERYONE who fought and died honorably for their country during that war was a hero.... American, French, German, Japanese, British, Polish, Italian Russian and all of the rest.

Answer 6

Excellent Question the one thing that came to mind as I read it was none of these actions happened overnight and most werent widely know to the general public until later. It would come down to a case by case basis and if I believed that what was happening was Unlawful then I would do what I had to to make it right

Answer 7

Aw, what a cute little insurrectionist you are. For example, I'm British in the mid-1700s and want to be free of an oppressive monarchy and establish colonies then fight taxation without representation and establish a declaration of Independence.

Yes, even that behavior was traitorous and worthy of hanging had they not been successful.

Answer 8

Whoa! 7 Days in May!!!!!

You need to watch that movie or maybe "Fail Safe".

People in all your cited instances rebelled against the unthinkable and were sumarily executed or consigned to the fate of those they spoke out for.

Follow your conscience and "Do the right thing."

Be informed before you commit to folly. Like Hillary and Harry

Ret USAF SNCO

Answer 9

What most people don't seem to understand is that sometimes it takes courage to stand up for what you believe is right. Not everything a government does is right. Good responsible government is dependent of people standing up and holding thier officials accountable for thier actions.

In the US the war in Vietnam and Iraq are excellent examples. Just because we go to war doesn't make it right, and it doesn't necessarily mean the reasons are justified.

Those are two examples I would stand up and say that my government is wrong.

Answer 10

you should study hannah arandt -- she argues that the the "evil" are actually the banal just doing what they are ordered to do - so yes it would be up to the ethical to not support an unethical government. "im just throwing jews in the oven cause thats what der fuhror wants" is a statement without ethic. why do you think the bush regime throws words like "patriot" around when describing those that follow him like sheep and "terrorist" describes those that are against him? its not just accident.