Book Review: They Thought They Were Free by Milton Mayer
Posted in Academic Pursuits and tagged with Book Review, Germany, History, Movie, Nazism, Reading, Star Wars on August 2, 2010
Due to how little I’ve been reading lately (thank you, summer), it’s taken me a while to finish this book, but I’m so glad I have. Why? Because since I opened it, I wanted to share it with you all. I don’t know if it’s the history major or the teacher within me, but I love to share what I learn, especially when it’s something as fascinating as the rise of Nazi Germany.
I’ve read books set during World War II ad nauseam, and while I didn’t want to pick up another for a while, it got me thinking about the roots of Nazi Germany. How in the world did someone like Hitler come to power, to murder over 11 million of his own people? How did people much like me actually vote him into power?
I won’t lie, my fascination with this in part comes from my fascination with the Star Wars series. Actually, the more I study it, the more I see how George Lucas created the Empire in the type of Nazi Germany. The scene where the senate votes Palpatine emergency powers and Padme’s comment, “So this is how liberty dies, to the sound of thunderous applause” is easily in my top 5 favorite moments of the series.
Enough Star Wars. I promise I’m not that geeky.
Milton Mayer, an American journalist and a Jew had the same question about Hitler’s rise to power. So in the early 50s, he goes to West Germany to interview 10 everyday, former Nazis. The answers they give him are insightful into human nature and in many cases, frightening.
In spite of what I believed before, these people weren’t hypnotized by Hitler. It wasn’t chiefly his charisma or his ability to rally the people that drew them to him. They chose him and his party because they saw him as the only practical answer to communism–the great enemy.
They joined the Nazi party to gain jobs and because they thought that Germany would be better off under Nazism (remember, that the Great Depression of the 30s was as big a motivator for them as it was for them). And in some cases, they still thought that at the time of their interviews.
It is that motivation that is incredibly scary to me. Americans seem to evaluate politicians based on what they promise to do for them. What a poor evaluation criteria, but one you’d expect from a selfish people.
Only one of the 10 Nazis really regrets his party involvement, and he knew it was wrong from the beginning. He joined primarily in order to be able to help out his friends (both Jews and Jewish supporters), but he rightly argued afterwards that by saving say 300 people is nothing like saving the millions that died because he went along with it. Sure, by himself he couldn’t have stopped the momentum of the Nazi movement, but if more people had stood up against it, it would have made a difference.
I’m afraid I would have been like him…know that it was wrong, but go along with it because I perceived some greater good. But we know now, 11 million lives is a high cost for any earthly good. Don’t go along with anyone or anything–politician, social activist, or party–just because it’s against a perceived evil.
There is so much more to this book (and certainly to the discussion) than I can talk about here. I wish I could quote huge chunks, but that’s just not practical. I’ll just say that if this interests you at all, pick it up. I had to order it through Interlibrary Loan, but I’m so glad that I did. Though it’s printed by an academic press, it’s accessible to any who are at all familiar with World War II in Europe.
I look forward to one day using this book to teach my children about the rise of Nazi Germany (and you bet we’ll watch the Star Wars movies alongside).
Twitter: cammyconfesses
Says:
August 2nd, 2010 at 10:38 am
This looks really interesting. I have always been fascinated with how dictators like Hitler came to power. I’ll have to check this out.
August 2nd, 2010 at 11:06 am
This book sounds ABSOLUTELY fascinating! I would LOVE to read this one. Marking the title down and seeking it out.
Thanks for the heads up on it!
August 2nd, 2010 at 3:10 pm
thank you thank you thank you for this title. I am so excited to surprise my husband with it for an anniversary gift. WOW, perfect timing for me. He has read so many books about Hitler and just like you, everything about it fascinates him. So, I am sure he would love this. Thanks for sharing :)
August 3rd, 2010 at 9:48 am
Carrie: Yes! I love when I can get you excited about a book. =)
Julie: He’d definitely love this one, then…glad I can help out!
Twitter: heythere_ann
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August 5th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Very interesting. I have read a few of his speeches as well as watched them. The man was a phenomenal speaker and I’m not sure that anyone can doubt his charisma. To get “regular” people to go so far as to kill millions of other human beings… imagine what he could have accomplished if he had ambitions for a REAL greater good.
August 5th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
As always, I enjoy reading your book reviews. My grandfather fought in WWII and maybe that is why I particularly enjoy the history surrounding it. I know that much of Hitler’s desires for Germany’s rise to power stemmed from the way Germany was treated at the end of WWI. (The one in ten number surprised me.)
I’ll have to see if one of my libraries has this book. I hope so!
August 5th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
I just checked…not a single one of the libraries in the Detroit-metro area has it.
August 5th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Kayren: Yeah, they didn’t have it here. But it should be easy to order on inter library loan (ILL). I was able to do that on my library’s website (it’s free), and hopefully you can, too.