Why did Guderian, Rommel et al. continue fighting when aware of Nazi evils?

[Frozzy]

I am supposed to write a speech on a person and I chose Heinz Guderian. I was somewhat surprised when I was told to "tread carefully" when researching and coming up with my presentation, considering Guderian was not charged with war crimes and was looked down because he was not a Nazi.

Yet joncha brought up a solid point.

jon. says:
well... you also need to address why he continued serving the regime
Frozzy says:
Why did Rommel?
jon. says:
that will be the question they ask, though
jon. says:
same goes for Rommel, too
jon. says:
"if he's such a nice guy, why didn't he resign?
Frozzy says:
Because he was a soldier.
jon. says:
not good enough
jon. says:
and that's where you need to be careful


[...]

jon. says:
and their actions supported a regime that did
Frozzy says:
A case of the few blotching the record of the many right?
jon. says:
no
jon. says:
even the "good" ones were in support of the wrong
jon. says:
and should have known better

So? If Rommel and Guderian are considered "good WWII Germans", why did they continue fighting?

[The Emperor Fabulous]

Why did Colin Powell go along with the Neo-con agenda?

[Lawrence of Arabia]

because they believe that patriotism is the be all and end all. we can see how dangerous being a patriot can be, especially when you are misguided like many of americas conservaties who toss that word around like its nothing.

[notyoueither]

So? If Rommel and Guderian are considered "good WWII Germans", why did they continue fighting?

Rommel didn't, or did you miss the bit where he was forced to commit suicide after being implicated in the July '44 plot to topple Hitler?

As for Guderian, he was shuffled off from important posts. At one point he was retired, but was brought back to push papers as a superintendant of mobile forces, or some such. I do not recall him doing anything of significance after 1941, but there may be something I am forgetting.

[Lancer]

Wasn't Rommel told by a friend never to go near a concentration camp? Read a tory about this once but don't have a link or anything. Anyway, he never did visit one and resisted invitations iirc.


Also, he was in France, africa, sick, and occupied France. Most camps were in Germany and Poland.

[notyoueither]

The question of who knew what is a good one.

An equally good question would be how many Germans paid with their lives to resist.

[notyoueither]

... and why they did it.

[Harry Tuttle]

I think they had an idea about being honorable and true to their people. It may have been wrong, but I believe that they liked being soldiers and thought that they were doing it for their country more than a regime.

But you're right, why would they support the Nazis? Wouldn't the fact that people were being exterminated weigh more than "God and country"?

[Frozzy]

Rommel didn't, or did you miss the bit where he was forced to commit suicide after being implicated in the July '44 plot to topple Hitler?

That is slightly different. If you are told to commit suicide, or go in front of a trial which will in all likelyhood sentence you to death by pianowire hanging, I'll take the quick cyanide death any time...

[Frozzy]

I do not recall him doing anything of significance after 1941, but there may be something I am forgetting.

Chief of the OKH? Not majorly major, but he did that after being appointed inspector of the mobile forces.

[notyoueither]

Being dead is different in what way?

[Drake Tungsten]

Why did Colin Powell go along with the Neo-con agenda?

Because fighting tyrants in the name of democracy is the moral course of action.

[Space05us]

So? If Rommel and Guderian are considered "good WWII Germans", why did they continue fighting?

If they stopped they and thier families would be killed by the nazis. That would motivate me right quickly to fight for evil.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Kalius

Chief of the OKH? Not majorly major, but he did that after being appointed inspector of the mobile forces.

In late '44 when Hitler was giving all the orders from the bunker.

You are right though. Why would he have agreed to serve again after being cashiered in late '41?

I wouldn't like to guess at his motives or his knowledge of what was going on.

have you checked out his memoirs? I have not read them, but they could be important to your project.

[Drake Tungsten]

If they stopped they and thier families would be killed by the nazis. That would motivate me right quickly to fight for evil.

Would you fight for the Nazis if they said they could teach you how to save your wife?