Quote:
Originally Posted by Bewolf
Göring is an eye opener. From an interview in 1946
Göring: Why, of course, the people don't want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship.
Gilbert: There is one difference. In a democracy, the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars.
Göring: Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.
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Did not know that one. Actually, Göring seems to be most likeable Nazi character. He wasn't anti-semitic or dogmatic, a fatalist like Hitler, fanatic like Himmler or a ruthless b@stard like Heidrich, or as naive nationalist like Hess.. he seemed to have a view on things what we call in these parts "sober farmer's intellect', meaning seeing things just as they are. Gilbert comment is extremely naive as well - it may be that only the Congress had the right to declare war, but this didn't quite stop the President from de facto waging a war on the seas on his own initiative from the spring of 1941, or to drive the US into war with any possible means.