Everything Old is New Again

I’m re-reading The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, a late 60s account by William Shirer, a reporter who had observed and reported on Hitler since the 1920s.

Very interesting to read again with a more mature perspective; I missed a whole lot the first time!

I know that in a historical sense, the book is dated, has a somewhat skewed perspective, and was written without the more complete history we have today. Nonetheless, great book on the topic.

Anyway, I’m up to 1933, when Hitler has become chancellor. The quote below just jumped out at me.

If you perform the substitutions I show below it’s a story from today’s headlines.

At the crest of their popular strength, in July 1932, the National Socialists Donald had attained but 37 per cent of the vote.

But the 63 per cent of the German people  Republican primary voters who expressed their opposition to Hitler  Trump were much too divided and shortsighted to combine against a common danger which they must have known would overwhelm them unless they united, however temporarily, to stamp it out

 

To counter the negativity and bad memories this post might cause, here’s a picture of a rose, a symbol of peace.

Pink Rose
Pink Rose