4 ms·

Fascists weren't efficient, broadly speaking. They presented the aesthetic of efficiency and disappeared anyone who called them out on their bullshit. For examp

Fascists weren't efficient, broadly speaking. They presented the aesthetic of efficiency and disappeared anyone who called them out on their bullshit. For example, Mussolini's trains didn't run on time, apart from one or two showpony lines.

baobabKoodaa 3y ago
Ok so maybe the trains didn't run on time, but they invaded a lot of neighboring countries really fast. Something that Russia doesn't seem capably of doing, as was pointed out upthread. It's not a good idea to broadly think "nazis are stupid, they won't get anything done". Sometimes they get things done and then we're fucked.
- jacquesm 3y ago
  Germany was the 1930's equivalent of the USA in roughly comparable industrial output, the difference is that instead of creating a nicer society they gambled that they could overrun all of Europe by redirecting that output towards a war machine. The scary thing: their gamble almost worked.
  - reactordev 3y ago
    And committing genocide in the process. Let’s not forget that part.
    - jacquesm 3y ago
      Definitely not forgetting that part. Letters like these are written today as well: "027 – Letter by guard Hugo Behncke to his wife, 28 January 1945 Today I’m on duty from 10 to 12, though without anyone relieving me and without the NCO [non-commissioned officer], so I’ll be able to cut a few corners. I can sit down and that makes the work fairly easy, so two hours are bearable. In the SS, everything apart from breathing is forbidden, but if you don’t break a few rules you’re not a soldier. But I always take care that nothing happens. Anyway, in the winter time the prisoners are disinclined to “travel” [escape]. I haven’t heard of a single case all the time I’ve been here. But in spring and summer we have to keep a really close eye on things. All they were good for was to be burned There’s no table to write on and so my writing looks funny. Last night I slept in the next room. It was really cold in there. There has never been any heating in there. I have the space to myself because the others prefer to stay in the warm fug, but I moved out in particular because my neighbour in the bed above me has lice! Yes, lice! I’m not keen on those. I had enough of them in the First World War. He probably got them from being on the recent transport of prisoners to Neuengamme. The prisoners were all sick, dirty and thin as skeletons. All they were good for was to be burned in the Neuengamme crematorium. And a lot of them thought they were being brought to Neuengamme to be burned. Of course, many of them are stupid, primitive people. […] The war situation is still gloomy, of course, but I’m putting my trust all the same in our counter attack after our enemies’ latest offensive. As I see it, everything is ready. […] So we’re hoping we’ll have victory soon, first over the Russians and then over the western powers. After we’ve won my comrades want to carry on […] as soldiers but not me! I want to get home to you and my children. " http://www.camps.bbk.ac.uk/documents.html http://www.camps.bbk.ac.uk/documents.html
  - philwelch 3y ago
    > Germany was the 1930's equivalent of the USA in roughly comparable industrial output Not even close. US had many times Germany’s industrial output in the 1930’s.

baobabKoodaa 3y ago

Ok so maybe the trains didn't run on time, but they invaded a lot of neighboring countries really fast. Something that Russia doesn't seem capably of doing, as was pointed out upthread. It's not a good idea to broadly think "nazis are stupid, they won't get anything done". Sometimes they get things done and then we're fucked.

jacquesm 3y ago
Germany was the 1930's equivalent of the USA in roughly comparable industrial output, the difference is that instead of creating a nicer society they gambled that they could overrun all of Europe by redirecting that output towards a war machine. The scary thing: their gamble almost worked.
- reactordev 3y ago
  And committing genocide in the process. Let’s not forget that part.
  - jacquesm 3y ago
    Definitely not forgetting that part. Letters like these are written today as well: "027 – Letter by guard Hugo Behncke to his wife, 28 January 1945 Today I’m on duty from 10 to 12, though without anyone relieving me and without the NCO [non-commissioned officer], so I’ll be able to cut a few corners. I can sit down and that makes the work fairly easy, so two hours are bearable. In the SS, everything apart from breathing is forbidden, but if you don’t break a few rules you’re not a soldier. But I always take care that nothing happens. Anyway, in the winter time the prisoners are disinclined to “travel” [escape]. I haven’t heard of a single case all the time I’ve been here. But in spring and summer we have to keep a really close eye on things. All they were good for was to be burned There’s no table to write on and so my writing looks funny. Last night I slept in the next room. It was really cold in there. There has never been any heating in there. I have the space to myself because the others prefer to stay in the warm fug, but I moved out in particular because my neighbour in the bed above me has lice! Yes, lice! I’m not keen on those. I had enough of them in the First World War. He probably got them from being on the recent transport of prisoners to Neuengamme. The prisoners were all sick, dirty and thin as skeletons. All they were good for was to be burned in the Neuengamme crematorium. And a lot of them thought they were being brought to Neuengamme to be burned. Of course, many of them are stupid, primitive people. […] The war situation is still gloomy, of course, but I’m putting my trust all the same in our counter attack after our enemies’ latest offensive. As I see it, everything is ready. […] So we’re hoping we’ll have victory soon, first over the Russians and then over the western powers. After we’ve won my comrades want to carry on […] as soldiers but not me! I want to get home to you and my children. " http://www.camps.bbk.ac.uk/documents.html http://www.camps.bbk.ac.uk/documents.html
- philwelch 3y ago
  > Germany was the 1930's equivalent of the USA in roughly comparable industrial output Not even close. US had many times Germany’s industrial output in the 1930’s.