Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

This guy was an asshole, even for the times. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-nazis-took-be...




The vast majority of people in Axis-occupied Europe, especially in the West (France, Belgium, Netherlands) collaborated with the occupiers. I think this speaks more to the spinelessness of the average human person than to this man in particular.


"Collaborated" is overdrawn. While a very significant portion actively collaborated, it's more accurate to say that the broader majority simply acquiesced the Occupation.

This is not to diminish moral responsibility (which I think is an essentially moot topic at this juncture). But rather to bring the focus back to how these regimes actually worked.

You didn't need to be an active collaborator. You just had to not actively resist, and keep your mouth shut (or at least keep your grumblings insubstantial and subdued).

Rather like in corporate environments today.




Consider applying for YC's Spring batch! Applications are open till Feb 11.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: