Tag: Nazi Germany

Is history repeating itself, again?

Is history repeating itself, again?

I wrote about this a few years ago but it seem this needs to be repeated. So I’ll copy what I wrote I wrote and add a little bit.

The philosopher George Santayana said that “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

Wikipedia has an interesting article on Historic recurrence which I ran across as I was thinking about history repeating itself.

I was reading The Death of Democracy: Hitler’s Rise to Power and the Downfall of the Weimar Republic” by Benjamin Carter Hett and this quote got me thinking about this.
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Nazis are not Nice

Nazis are not Nice

Do you like Nazis or allied groups such as White Supremacists? Do you think they are good for America? If you answer “yes” to both questions you probably won’t like this book. But it might open your eyes if you decide to read it anyway.

Personally, I don’t like Nazis. They were bad for Germany. We fought them in World War 2 at tremendous cost. These hate groups were fringe in the United States but are becoming more mainstream.
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The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson

The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson

Erik Larson’s newest book” is “The Splendid and the Vile : A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz”. In it he tells a well known story in a most unusual and interesting way.
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Trump Comparison With Hitler

Trump Comparison With Hitler

Some Republicans are upset about a Trump Comparison With Hitler. To me, it seems very appropriate.

But this story was just a small note in my Sunday paper. It was probably a bigger story in the Baltimore area. So when I had the time, I looked for more information. Now seems like a good time to say what this is all about.
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Is history repeating  itself?

Is history repeating itself?

Is history repeating itself? The philosopher George Santayana said that “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Wikipedia has an interesting article on Historic recurrence which I ran across as I was thinking about history repeating itself.

I’m reading “The Death of Democracy: Hitler’s Rise to Power and the Downfall of the Weimar Republic” by Benjamin Carter Hett and this quote got me thinking about this.
Continue reading “Is history repeating itself?”

Beware of alliances

Beware of alliances

I’m reading “The Death of Democracy: Hitler’s Rise to Power and the Downfall of the Weimar Republic” by Benjamin Carter Hett and wanted to share this quote with you.

“These conservatives could have stopped Hitler in his tracks. Instead, they chose to use him, although the Nazi-conservative alliance was always an awkward one.”

Alliances can be useful. They can also be dangerous. Beware of alliances.

I first thought of President Trump and his Republican enablers, especially those in Congress. But it also applies to many other cases.

Facts matter, at least to some of us

Facts matter, at least to some of us

Do facts matter to you?

I am reading The Death of Democracy: Hitler’s Rise to Power and the Downfall of the Weimar Republic
by Benjamin Carter Hett. I just started, about 10% into it according to my Kindle, but I thought this was an interesting quote from the book.
Continue reading “Facts matter, at least to some of us”

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

I finished reading In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson while on a trip last weekend.

A mild mannered history professor, a free spirited daughter, Nazis, Russian spys – what’s not to like. As I said before, it is a wonderful book and I’d highly recommend it.

Reading Now: In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

Reading Now: In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

I am now reading In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson. I heard an interview with the author on NPR and was intrigued by the subject.


FDR had trouble finding someone to be our ambassador to Nazi Germany. The American consul general describes the Nazi government as a “danger to world peace” and adds that some members of the government are psychopaths “who would ordinarily be receiving treatment somewhere.” A mild mannered professor becomes the US ambassador to Nazi Germany after several others turn down the job. This is further complicated by his free-spirited daughter who admires the “New Germany”, enjoys elite society, and has a series of affairs including one with the head of the Gestopo and another with a Soviet spy. I’m only about a third through the book but I am completely enjoying it and learning quite a bit of history never covered in school.