If you had lived in Nazi Germany, would you have "supported the troops"?

Answer 1

Most people did. Patriotism is a virus that knows no frontiers.

Answer 2

A very good question. I'd like to think that I would have objected to war at least in principle. However, what level of objection is the key question. Would I have been a silent objector, or would I have spoken out publicly as did Hans and Sophie Scholl (who were eventually murdered by the Nazis for their opposition)?

A number of considerations should be looked at when questioning why the average German did not stand up against the Nazi atrocities.

1. Once the war had started, it was the patriotic duty of German citizens to "support the troops" whether you agreed with the war or not.

2. It was not clear to the average German what exactly was happening in the camps. Sure, there were rumors. But it's easy to pretend to not hear such things when they are so uncomfortable.

3. The Nazi crimes were generally directed only at Jews and other foreigners. The typical German citizens had nothing to fear as long as they kept their heads down.

It's a dangerous thing to speak out against evil. I'd like to think that in the right circumstances that I'd do so. However, if I had a family (as I do now), I would certainly think twice.

To those who are blithely responding that of course they would oppose Hitler and the troops, I pose this challenge. How do you reconcile the average Germans supporting what turned out to be such an evil regime? Do you simply believe that the average German was also evil? That would be convenient but, I am persuaded, wrong. Germans are as good as any other people.

So how could otherwise good people have supported leaders who committed such crimes? I am linking an article (for what must be the 6th time here on Answers - this question has kept coming up) that provides some historical perspective. I hope that you will read it and enjoy.

Answer 3

That is a question that really can't be answered. Just how courageous and morally strong are you? There was a German resistance, but not in the terms of French Resistance or the Maqui in Spain where they were strong in numbers and carried out military type operations. They were people, that at great risk to their own lives tried to get the ranking military to assassinate Hitler and end the war. Of course from 1933 to 1944 nothing was done. Everyone was either scared or so into the Nationalism thing that neighbors and even own family were turning each other in. There is no way you can ever know. You can "think" you would do the right thing, but that is the best you will do.

Answer 4

Very few German military members were members of the NAZI Party, especially the Navy. If my family were faithful Germans for over 200 years with a strong civic duty, yes I would have fought in uniform. But my ancestors immigrated in the 1760's and fought to create the USA. Generations have proudly worn this nation's uniforms in many conflicts. I wore the uniform for eleven years. This American supports those in the military at all time in all situations. Our Constitutional representative republic survives because there are citizens who don the uniform to defend freedoms and liberties.
Those who chose not to serve in the military, police, or other publically risky position must ask themselves when will they place their own liberties in danger to protect this country? There is a difference between being a member of society and a citizen of this great country. Citizenship requires sacrifice for the greater good. Being part of the crowd only requires breathing.

Answer 5

I'm sorry, but if I were an ordinary citizen in Nazi Germany, I probably would have lived in fear like the rest of them, but privately opposed everything they stood for.

That's the kind of terror that their government strikes in me. Millions of people are dead because of their warmongering.

If I knew about the holocaust and were in danger of arrest, I would try to get to another country not occupied by the Nazis. If I thought I could survive under the guise, I might help to hide Jews trying to flee the country. I probably would not stand up to them openly, because that would be an instant death sentence.

Answer 6

In most probability. The fact is that eight out of ten Germans have faith and believed in Adolf Hitler (so you could say his approval rating is about 80% in Nazi Germany). It was the dream of every German male of military age to pass and be accepted to the elite SS battalions, and for every adolescent male and female of sub-military age to be a member of the "Hitler Youth" movement. And of course, German parents and wives were also very proud of their sons and husbands who are serving in the German military. They always believed in "Germany first before oneself". Just how much did the German people supported Germany's wars?. It is very obvious that most Germans supported those wars just by watching on the film footages of German military parades and the millions of people who came to watch and throw flowers at them, with their voices shouthing "Sieg Heil!" in unison. In fact, the fanatical belief on Nazism became so deeply ingrained in the minds of the German people, that the Allied powers imposed a requirement for all German citizens to undergo intensive de-Nazification programs after the war.

Answer 7

No way, but I think I would have been scared to death to say it. I do not think you can really compare that situation to ours in the us. I think Bush is a fool and I do not have to be afraid to say it. The people that say support the troops mean literally support the troops. Not the war. They think it is bad for moral to not be supportive, but the support could also keep the solders there longer. I want them to come home, we need to focus on protecting our homeland. We need to stop spending $$ that will not protect us, the war has only stirred things up more and therefore made us less safe.

Answer 8

What a question!!!! There are many assumptions that are loaded in that question:

1- Depending on whether or not I was German and if I actually had brothers in the "reign".

2.- If I were there as I am today and of the ethnicity I am, I ABSOLUTELY WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE TROOPS- I would and my family as my ancestors were- hauled off to concentration camps and the ovens----and no I am not Jewish!!

3. Why would you ask such a question? It was the most horrific genocide that ever plagued this world.....

Answer 9

boy is that a loaded question , you never know how something will turn out when you are in the middle of it no one has that kind of awareness. i guarantee you most of the solders that started in the war ever though that the horrors that happened were going to happen

hell most of the soldiers that were in the army at the beginning were not even alive come the end of it.

Answer 10

Yes prolly would I dont like the SS they where the mean bastards but the Wehrmacht yes they where just ordanary soldiers, but the fact is is the time issue, back in those days most ppl looked up to the Army...

Answer 11

Yes, or you or your family would have been killed. At least here in the US now people be totally unsupportive and can show outright disrespect to the troops and it is "freedom of speech."