I just watched the Bruno Ganz depiction of Adolf Hitler in "Downfall" again and it struck me that a small group of fanatical zealots were able to very nearly destroy Germany. The high command of the Nazi party were true monsters for which I am sure they will burn in hell, but the joe six-pack paid so dearly fo rtheir sins. The film is a deeply moving portrayal of the enevitable end to a despotic regime but the storys are tragic. When Geobels wife kills her children in their sleep you can help but wonder what the hell could make someone so completely evil and corrupt. I am a staunch republican however this is the type of historical lesson that makes me so glad we have the Ted Kennedy's and the Kerry's to give a balance to our goverment. I do support our president - but he IS a president and he will leave office in a couple of years and someone else will lead - as it should be.

Well, I guess, Hitler&Co should be a lesson to all how fragile democracy is, how easily it can be corrupted.

I agree- although National socialism was hardly a democracy from the start

Well, don't forget, Hitler was elected, and the Weimar republic was a republic after all.

Personally, I think it's a VERY flawed film and shows how difficult it is to portray (recent) history, It's based on two sources, which to me are suspect from the beginning. It's a film worth watching although with many question marks hanging over it...

Jim, could you expand a bit on the flaws of the film?



Sean

When was he elected? - he was appointed Chancellor by Hindenberg -Then after president Hindenburg died on 2 August 1934. Rather than holding new presidential elections, Hitler's cabinet passed a law proclaiming the presidency dormant and transferred the role and powers of the head of state to Hitler as Führer und Reichskanzler (leader and chancellor)

The Nazi Party won the democratic elections fair and square. Just because the head of state is not elected directly by the people, like in the US, rather appointed from the winning party, does not make any difference. Different system -but democratic nevertheless. Most of the European countries still function the same way -I'd still call them democratic.

You stated hitler was elected -not me

Yes. I'm sorry, I wasn't 100% accurate. I restate my statement: "Don't forget, the Nazi Party was democratically elected, which, in turn, lead to the appointment of Adolf Hitler as head of state in accordance of the laws of the Weimar Republic, and to the systematic undermining of the said republic, and eventually to the hostilities we call Second World War."