# Color pictures of Nazi Germany **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 17, 2009, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219 "2009-02-17T02:28:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/81 "2009-02-18T16:36:23Z")
> [@Stealth\_Potato](#): > > You know, I could almost see your point if you changed your desktop background to a photo of Hitler and had a little Nazi flag arrangement next to your telephone. But simply perusing interesting historical photos? Seriously? No person in possession of their mental faculties is going to assume that looking at historical photos from WWII means than the viewer is a covert (or overt) Nazi sympathizer. > > I have a special sore spot for this kind of reaction, since it basically represents an effort (unconscious or otherwise) to turn a blind eye to our history. Go much farther and you’d be referring to Hitler as “He Who Must Not Be Named.” 😛 And they seem to be from that bastion of Neo-Nazism and Holocaust denial, _Life_ magazine. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/82 "2009-02-18T16:56:57Z")
In the photo of the Piedimont Hotel, who is in the third painted picture? (High Center. I recognise Der Leader and Mussolini.) Stand Hitler next to Himmler or Goebbels, and he doesn’t look like such a dufus. Still, when an average looking dude seems to have been able to build up such a cult of personality, it must be through sheer willpower, and not movie quality good looks. In hearing his speeches (I speak English only), I don’t get the impact his followers did at the time. (Of course, I always hear them in the context “here’s that evil Hitler dude giving a speech”, so I start with shields up.) Are there any German speakers here that can testify to his silver tongue? ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/83 "2009-02-18T21:12:50Z")
[http://www.fuckthemeat.com/foto2/worldwar/28.jpg](http://www.fuckthemeat.com/foto2/worldwar/28.jpg) That one, from the link to the combat photos, makes me a little sad. I know what’s going on, and I can understand why they would do it, but it still makes me sad. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/84 "2009-02-18T21:48:37Z")
> [@Cerowyn](#): > > I saw these pictures linked from [Fark.com](http://Fark.com), and I had precisely the same reaction. It’s spooky how much more vivid and _recent_ it all seems when you see it in colour. Makes it all the more chilling and horrific. Add me to this as well. Seeing it in color does kind of make it a little more real. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/85 "2009-02-19T01:17:19Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > In the photo of the Piedimont Hotel, who is in the third painted picture? (High Center. I recognise Der Leader and Mussolini.) King Vittorio Emanuele III, IIRC ---
**Author:** ![cardinal\_fang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal_fang/32/15316_2.png) [@cardinal\_fang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cardinal_fang)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/86 "2009-02-19T02:15:58Z")
> [@Tristan](#): > > [http://www.fuckthemeat.com/foto2/worldwar/28.jpg](http://www.fuckthemeat.com/foto2/worldwar/28.jpg) > > That one, from the link to the combat photos, makes me a little sad. I know what’s going on, and I can understand why they would do it, but it still makes me sad. From [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pursuit_of_Nazi_collaborators). > [@](#): > > After the liberation, France was briefly swept by a wave of executions of suspected collaborators. Women who were suspected of having romantic liaisons with Germans, or more often of being German prostitutes, were publicly humiliated by having their heads shaved. Edit: Sorry **Tristan** , misread your post. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/87 "2009-02-19T02:47:22Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Stand Hitler next to Himmler or Goebbels, and he doesn’t look like such a dufus. Still, when an average looking dude seems to have been able to build up such a cult of personality, it must be through sheer willpower, and not movie quality good looks. > > In hearing his speeches (I speak English only), I don’t get the impact his followers did at the time. (Of course, I always hear them in the context “here’s that evil Hitler dude giving a speech”, so I start with shields up.) Are there any German speakers here that can testify to his silver tongue? I’m not a German speaker, but my understanding is that a lot of Hitler’s success was technique; he would start by making statements that were manifestly true and everyone agreed with- (“My friends, things are bad, and Germany is but a shadow of her former self!”), and generally get everyone agreeing with him. Then he’d throw in something that was less true but still agreeable to most people (“Someone is to blame for this!”), then it was something everyone could agree with again (“They must be punished!”) and then people were psychologically agreeing with whatever he said, so “Kill all the Jews and invade Russia in the Winter!” didn’t sound nearly as much of a Really Bad Idea as it does to us nowadays. Having said that, I can’t testify to the accuracy of that summary; it’s just something I’ve heard from a few places that seems to make some sense. Oh, and just for fun: [A Surprisingly Good Modern Take on Hitler’s Rants](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfkDxF2kn1I) (It’s taken from the movie _Der Untergang (Downfall)_, which is, IMHO, the best movie about Hitler ever made and is essential viewing for anyone with an interest in World War II). ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/88 "2009-02-19T02:48:49Z")
> [@Tristan](#): > > [http://www.fuckthemeat.com/foto2/worldwar/28.jpg](http://www.fuckthemeat.com/foto2/worldwar/28.jpg) > > That one, from the link to the combat photos, makes me a little sad. I know what’s going on, and I can understand why they would do it, but it still makes me sad. > [@cardinal\_fang](#): > > From [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pursuit_of_Nazi_collaborators). Wow. I did not know that. I thought it was after the war and the Americans were delousing people or something. [http://www.fuckthemeat.com/foto2/naziincolor/6.jpg](http://www.fuckthemeat.com/foto2/naziincolor/6.jpg) This is the one where Hitler looks like he’s wearing Depends. [http://www.fuckthemeat.com/foto2/naziincolor/54.jpg](http://www.fuckthemeat.com/foto2/naziincolor/54.jpg) Now I know where Kim Il Sung got the idea for the Arirang Mass Games. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/89 "2009-02-19T03:11:32Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Oh, and just for fun: > > [A Surprisingly Good Modern Take on Hitler’s Rants](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfkDxF2kn1I) (It’s taken from the movie _Der Untergang (Downfall)_, which is, IMHO, the best movie about Hitler ever made and is essential viewing for anyone with an interest in World War II). [Back atcha](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4s7dXMuAPo) ;). “After everything I did to the Jews and the world still thinks of me as a funny man!” ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/90 "2009-02-19T03:23:22Z")
Never mind the above link, [this one is better](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9mjEF_lEDE&feature=related). ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/91 "2009-02-19T03:27:32Z")
Actually, could we have a warning next time about size issues-my computer slowed to a crawl (I really, really need to get a new one)! This guy needs to learn the word “thumbnail”. Yikes! [Ooooh!!! Mr. Hitler!!! I know it!!! Call on me-I know the answer!!!](http://www.fuckthemeat.com/foto2/naziincolor/50.jpg) [Yeah, they want me.](http://www.fuckthemeat.com/foto2/naziincolor/93.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/92 "2009-02-19T03:42:45Z")
I never realized being a Nazi required so much standing around. No wonder they were so pissy, they probably all had sore backs. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/93 "2009-02-19T05:37:31Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > [Thailand was a Japanese Ally during World War II](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Thailand#Military_rule) (Thailand declared War on the UK and US 25/01/1942; although they were bascially forced to do so by Japan), which means that Thailand also “lost” the Second World War, technically speaking. > > Having said that, there was also a very sizeable anti-Japanese Guerilla force (the [Seri Thai](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seri_Thai)) that operated with tacit approval of a lot of Highly Placed People in Thailand (and the general public, of course) at the time. > > Most people accept that Thailand only got involved in World War II because Japan made them, so that’s why you don’t see them included in the “Axis” category very often; ditto places like Romania and Bulgaria that sort of got conned into it as well. Yes, but even though there was a little activity in Thailand – or Siam as it was then – with some bombing and even [Jim Thompson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Thompson_(designer)), the legendary American, parachuting in, in reality there was not much going on here for the duration. Most Thais today know next to nothing about the war. (The Seri Thai were a bit like the French Underground; after the war, people who’d barely paid attention to it suddenly all claimed membership.) BTW: Japanese HQ was the old Thai Chine Building on Sathon Road, which was the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, now refurbished as the [Blue Elephant Restaurant](http://blueelephant.com/bangkok/). See the building [here](http://blueelephant.com/bangkok/thaichine_history.html). ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/94 "2009-02-19T05:40:05Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > Also, it’s obviously hard to judge objectively, since most people have a fairly deeply ingrained reaction to swastikas, but _damn_ did the Nazis develop amazing symbolism. The swastika and eagle just scream that you are about to get run the hell over by an unstoppable force. One thing I’ll give the Nazis: their command of propaganda was brilliant. The flag design, the ceremonies… I saw _Triumph of the Will_ when I was at university, and it’s the scariest movie I’ve ever seen. Why? Because I started to believe… ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/95 "2009-02-19T14:00:00Z")
I know different eras and different communications, but it always strikes me as odd that Hitler and Mussolini had so many cheering with their performances. It seems so odd in this era. Then again there was Chamberlain… and whoever we had… ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/96 "2009-02-19T14:11:01Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > I know different eras and different communications, but it always strikes me as odd that Hitler and Mussolini had so many cheering with their performances. It seems so odd in this era. > > Then again there was Chamberlain… and whoever we had… What, it’s odd that people cheer politicians’ speeches? Or that they were cheering those particular guys? I read somewhere on these boards (I think) where a poster said they had a young-ish female German friend who had never been exposed to any recordings or films of Hitler at all, such stuff still being strictly _verboten_ in her home country. So when she came to the US to study (or something like that) she got curious and went to the library to listen to a recording of one of Adolf’s speeches. Poster said that her friend emerged from the library shaken and almost crying, because she found while she was listening that she found herself (at first almost unconsciously) _agreeing with so much of what he had to say_. Half-remembered hearsay so take it with a grain of salt, but I would be interested to hear from any German speakers on this question. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/97 "2009-02-19T14:27:04Z")
I am not talking of people cheering speeches. Rather it is the histrionics of those people and how they could excite such fervour. I really thought I said “performances” rather than “speeches”. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/98 "2009-02-19T14:27:22Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > I’ve never been able make WWII seem anything but surreal, myself. By the end, some seventy million people had died. How do you make the death of seventy million people over six years seem anything but almost comically absurd? > > Also, it’s obviously hard to judge objectively, since most people have a fairly deeply ingrained reaction to swastikas, but _damn_ did the Nazis develop amazing symbolism. The swastika and eagle just scream that you are about to get run the hell over by an unstoppable force. A lot of Nazi imagery is pretty obviously ispired by that of the Roman Empire. And of course, the feeling of being an unstoppable force was very much the point of the Romans’ approach. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/99 "2009-02-19T15:19:10Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > I am not talking of people cheering speeches. Rather it is the histrionics of those people and how they could excite such fervour. > > I really thought I said “performances” rather than “speeches”. I think people nowadays can be just as histrionic, it’s a persistent force or theme that’s just channeled in different directions. For the second part, don’t know if that’s the snark, but I’ve always assumed a really good speech _is_ mostly performance. Obama’s pretty good at it, for one. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219/100 "2009-02-19T16:34:51Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > I’m having a different reaction than others seem to be having. I see the photos as depicting a time where the German people were finally coming alive after years of hardship. Before they plunged the world into war, the German people seemed happy, unified, and proud for the first time in years. You aren’t alone. If I’m honest with myself - and only look at my emotional reaction and not the intellectual one - those photos are inspirational. Then the intellectual “those are Nazis” kicks in and my next emotional reaction is disgust. Of course, I spent a lot of time deconstructing Triumph of the Will as a film major to understand it as propaganda. The Nazis did have a great marketing machine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/color-pictures-of-nazi-germany/486219.md?page=6)