This fantastic little film made in 1945 just after the war is a fine example of classic propaganda. The enemy is demonized, portrayed as the ultimate evil, etc. But the problem is that…roughly, it’s true. Germans are a ruthless people. They are as savage as any other nation with imperialistic ambitions can be. They want to conquer the world and rule it as emperors and dictators, not as liberal democrats. Starting in 1870, they were at the onset of every major conflict in the world. And if you look at their mythology, the Nordic/Germanic/Scandinavian myths, legends and stories, you will see that there is no trace of democracy, freedom of speech, love of one’s neighbour, sharing or giving to people in need. This mythology presents stories of warriors who fought to win. Period. There is no project of civilization, no one for the betterment of mankind, nothing in terms of social progress. In fact, the mythology is the complete opposite of the Judeo-Christian tradition in which the things that I have mentioned are important and take a central role. No. The Nordic/Germanic/Scandinavian mythology aims at one thing: conquer and rule. So it is no surprise if Germans tried on three different occasions in the last century to install their domination over the world.

One element that is tremendously important in this movie, is the assumption that Nazis are now (in 1945) in America planning for the next war. The film shows images of Nazi Party rallies in the U.S. where the swastika and the U.S. flag are side by side. And the narrator goes on to say that now they (the Nazis) are among us, trying to set the conditions necessary for them to establish their fascist state. Well…when you look at all the events that took place since 1945 in the U.S. and throughout the world, one has to be a fool to think that it is not exactly what has been taken place. Just think how our rights have diminished and are ridiculed now. Certain things that are going on today would have been literally impossible in the ’70 when I was a little kid. And when you look at the general level of intelligence, understanding and awareness that standard citizens possess today compared to what it was in the ’70 at the height of the Flower Power movement, of the Return-to-the-Land movement, etc, you will see that that level has decreased significantly. Conversations on politics, values and moral issues that were standard, normal and appreciated in these days are now marginal, exceptional and sometimes judged non-relevant, non-productive, boring or even suspect, curious, or labelled as « conspiracy theory ». Continuer la lecture →