Saturday, October 4, 2008

Hermann Goering: Quote for October 4, 2008

Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor, for that matter, in Germany. That is understood.

But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.
These remarks were made during Goering's imprisonment after World War II to an American intelligence officer named Gustav Gilbert. Goering was found guilty of war crimes at Nuremberg and was sentenced to death by hanging. On October 15, 1946, a few hours before his scheduled hanging, he committed suicide by taking a poison capsule.
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