• Leonard Kelley@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    Herman Goering himself had this to say when questioned by American Psycologist G.M. Gilbert who collected testemonials among the Nazi leaders at Nuremberg.

    “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,” Goering reportedly told Gilbert in his cell on the evening of April 18, 1946.

    Gilbert replied: “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 war.”

    To which Goering said: “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.”