Is patriotism always good? Was it admirable that Germans fought for Hitler because they were good patriots?

Question

Do Americans do the same thing today?

Answer 1

I don't believe patriotism is always a good thing. It's easy and convenient for people to assume all German forces in WW2 were Nazis and blindly obeyed Hitler, but the cause in many cases was patriotism - regardless of how stupid they believed their leader was, an obligation to protect their home, the Fatherland was the real motivation.

For instance, Nazi leaders only tolerated criticism from Erwin Rommel and his refusal to commit war crimes because of how well he led their armies.

Admirable? Yes. But doing the admirable thing is not always the best thing. I'd rather that people don't enlist out of patriotism alone.

Answer 2

The Germans fought for Hitler because he was a good manipulater of the truth, he gave then phony reasons for losing WW1 and they bought it, to reward them for letting himtake control he brainwashed their children and got hundreds of thousands of the killed in a war he had no chance to win against the Soviet Union.

Recently on a visit to Germany I met some WW2 era Germans, they said Hitler was the biggest idiot in the world, but you could not risk saying that then as you and your family would be carted off to the extermination camps.

There is no comparission between WW"2Nazi Germany and the USA of today.

Answer 3

Patriotism is always good for any nation, no doubt about that.

But what is really dangerous is when any political leader, no matter what country, uses and manipulates the citizens' sense of patriotism to gain support for the pursuit of his hidden political agendas.

Answer 4

I don't know if patriotism is good or not.

Being in the military means one has to obey orders. Simple as that.

Answer 5

I don't think that the Germans were "good patriots" rather, they were brainwashed by their "madman" leader.

Answer 6

you are equating patriotism with a communist, dictatorship and blind obedience. there is no way in america that the majority of ppl would accept this, thanks to democracy, free speech etc. also being a patriot does not necessarily mean you are for killing and harming others, being a patriot to many just means being proud of your country and heritage, that doesn't mean america is perfect but other countries are afforded that privilege to be proud of their cultures and beliefs and so should americans

Answer 7

all people should be loyal to their countries and help change them if they are screwed up..........