The problem with killing Hitler is we have no idea what the effects would be, beyond our DESIRED effects. It would be nice to have that ship from ST Voyager, where the timeline is viewed from outside, and you can continually tinker with it to get closer and closer to the goal..
Of course the 'killing Hitler' idea is all based around the 'Great Man' theory of history which just isn't true. If he'd been killed prior to WW1 (here in 1913) the 1st WW would have happened just as it did as would the situation in Germany afterwards. Without Hitler it's entirely possible that the Nazi party wouldn't have risen to prominence but maybe it would've just under a different (more competent?) leader. Or maybe the Communists would have triumphed in Germany between the wars and then joined with Stalin in the late 30's to take Europe leading to WW2 anyway but, quite possibly, with an even worse outcome... FAR too many variables! Killing Hitler before it all kicked off *sounds* good but is hugely simplistic.
2 comments:
The problem with killing Hitler is we have no idea what the effects would be, beyond our DESIRED effects. It would be nice to have that ship from ST Voyager, where the timeline is viewed from outside, and you can continually tinker with it to get closer and closer to the goal..
Of course the 'killing Hitler' idea is all based around the 'Great Man' theory of history which just isn't true. If he'd been killed prior to WW1 (here in 1913) the 1st WW would have happened just as it did as would the situation in Germany afterwards. Without Hitler it's entirely possible that the Nazi party wouldn't have risen to prominence but maybe it would've just under a different (more competent?) leader. Or maybe the Communists would have triumphed in Germany between the wars and then joined with Stalin in the late 30's to take Europe leading to WW2 anyway but, quite possibly, with an even worse outcome... FAR too many variables! Killing Hitler before it all kicked off *sounds* good but is hugely simplistic.
Post a Comment