Henry Ford was a Nazi sympathiser

[Dash_XR]

I don't know about that but yeah your right.

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by Dash_XR

While true I don't think anyone in the history of the world committed genocide to the scale or ruthlessness that Hilter did.

Things like using the injured and disabled to test his gas chambers before giving his commanders the ok to use them mass scale to me is just beyond words.

Places like Auschwitz just don't even compare.

And it true the Nazi's were a legit political party that some argue brought Germany back from the brink of financial ruin.

Nazi germany did not achieve true genocide with the obliteration of a race, we did!

Having said that, as much as I despise what they did, and I do a lot. You have to remember that in the early to mid 30's AH was rebuilding Germany to its former industrial might and many corporations got on board with the intent of furthering their own business interests. They did not have the benefit of hindsight we have.

[neptune blue]

Originally Posted by jaydee

Was watching a doco on SBS last night about the early years of Adolf and his rise to power.

Apparently in 1927 when he was forming the Nazi party, Henry Ford donated all profits from any Fords sold in Germany, to the party and he also sent $50,000 every year to Adolf on his birthday (for how many years it didn't say).

It's surprising there wasn't any fallout in later years against Mr Ford over this (well there may have ben but nothing was mentioned).
I bet that was one decision Henry regretted.

Hiel Henry !

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Dash_XR

While true I don't think anyone in the history of the world committed genocide to the scale or ruthlessness that Hilter did.

Things like using the injured and disabled to test his gas chambers before giving his commanders the ok to use them mass scale to me is just beyond words.

Places like Auschwitz just don't even compare.

And it true the Nazi's were a legit political party that some argue brought Germany back from the brink of financial ruin.

Not even in the top 3....

Mao Zedong (China) > 75,000,000
Stalin (USSR) > 12,000,000
Leopold II (Belgium) > 8,000,000
Tojo (Japan) > 7,000,000

Then Hitler

But if you are all upset about mass murderers particularly more recent ones look up which country's government supported Pol Pot and his Kymer Rouge during the mass murder of 1,700,000 Cambodians in the 1970s. Here is a clue "It's time & where are my pants".

[Dash_XR]

I don't really know allot about the others and forgot about Stalin as far as scale I was more referring to the method, not sure about the rest but didn't Stalin use bungled farming as an opportunity to starve millions where as Hitler specifically built huge networks of factorys for the the sole purpose of killing.

Anyway I'd rather not talk about it anymore tonight.

[Jim Goose]

Oh.. politics is allowed on here... well i never...

[geckoGT]

Its not really political discussion in that it does not discuss political issues of today, more historical really.

[thefargo]

thought I'd get in (again) before it is locked!
as many have stated, Henry supported an idea, which seemed to be moving a country in the right direction. It doesn't make him a jew hater, etc. The German nation had a lot of recovery to do after WW1. Flappist, although being very broad in his direction that "we all" need to do some research, hits the nail on the head, by saying perhaps NAZI Germany wasn't/isn't the only country with a blot in the past. My reading also takes me to the Evian conference, prior to WW2, where a few countries made their own positions clear. But I don't see the relevance to the topic of where Henry decided to spend his own money.

[GK]

Before it became known as the Nazi Party, it was officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party.

That in German is Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei which became abbreviated as NAZI.

I just double checked that on Wiki. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Party

I guess I can see why Henry might want to invest or take interest in a worker's party.

Hindsight of course for us all is one heck of a task master.

GK

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

Its not really political discussion in that it does not discuss political issues of today, more historical really.

plus, isn't he putting down both major parties

[flappist]

Originally Posted by gtxb67

plus, isn't he putting down both major parties

There was no "party" in it at all. It was just an oblique clue as to which country was involved.

As gecko pointed out it is history and no real impact on current issues although is very relevant to those who think that the world is black and white.

Have a look at all the world leaders around the time of Hitler and see who was the alcoholic misogynist, who murdered their own military officers and who was involved in the opium trade.

History is always written by the victors.......

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by flappist

There was no "party" in it at all. It was just an oblique clue as to which country was involved

i don't see a problem with your post - as has been pointed out it has no real relevance to current issues, and on top of that, it seemed that you were not supporting/putting down one party or the other

[Jim Goose]

Originally Posted by gtxb67

i don't see a problem with your post - as has been pointed out it has no real relevance to current issues, and on top of that, it seemed that you were not supporting/putting down one party or the other

Funny how a few posts of mine was deleted a few weeks back... whereby i talked about voter apathy and it was deleted because it was deemed "political".. and nowhere did i mention political parties at all!

One rule for some... one rule for others...

[solarite_guy]

for what it's worth, old man kennedy was not only involved in the bootlegging business during prohibition but was a financial supporter of hitler as well.

interestingly enough, here in the states nazis would come over here to drum up support for their efforts even to the extent of public demonstrations and knocking on the doors of known americans of german descent. these personal visits to a families home was meant to not only recruit but to intimidate these sons of the fatherland to leave their families to go support the nazi cause. my grandfather on my mothers side had to put up with several of these visits. once they became blatantly intimidating, my grandfather had to break some arms. literally. "they", the "legally" permitted nazis from the fatherland never returned after that.

keep in mind this was in the mid to late 30s at this point.

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by GK

Before it became known as the Nazi Party, it was officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party.

That in German is Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei which became abbreviated as NAZI.GK

Their anthem (Horst Wessel Lied) with english subtitles (they didn't love the 'reds' that much is certain). Brits had similar (Mosely).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb5MjWZ7kxk&noredirect=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horst-Wessel-Lied

[Franco Cozzo]

What did Stalin do to kill 12,000,000 people? We didn't cover that in history at school, just focused on the Germans in WWII.

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by thefargo

It doesn't make him a jew hater, etc.

Oh don't you worry, old Henry's anti-Semitic leanings are well documented...and existed long before becoming mate's with AH...

May i suggest looking up "The Dearborn Independent" and "The International Jew" for starters...

[Russ]

Just to throw a spanner in the argument it would appear that GM were a lot more involved than good ol' Henry Ford

http://www.jewishjournal.com/article...e_third_reichs

On a lighter note I came across the name of one of the original founders of GM, William C Durant, wait till you see what the "C" stands for, now that explains a lot about the vehicles

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_C._Durant

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by flappist

Not even in the top 3....

Mao Zedong (China) > 75,000,000
Stalin (USSR) > 12,000,000
Leopold II (Belgium) > 8,000,000
Tojo (Japan) > 7,000,000

Then Hitler

But if you are all upset about mass murderers particularly more recent ones look up which country's government supported Pol Pot and his Kymer Rouge during the mass murder of 1,700,000 Cambodians in the 1970s. Here is a clue "It's time & where are my pants".

History is an interesting thing...for some reason some leaders are made out to be way worse than others. No idea why Hitler gets hammered so badly from every side when as you say, there are plenty worse than him. Is it because he persecuted Jews? No idea. It does make it a bit sad when Jews keep crying about the six million Hitler is supposed to have killed, when you could easily point to much much worse atrocities by other leaders. Hitler and the Jews seem to be a "special case" that no one is allowed to forget...but it seems to be OK to forget the other tens of millions...

[Dash_XR]

Is that directed at me?

I would guess it's because of World War 2, that is why it is more well known then the others.

[Sprint]

why ww1 happened

was to stop germany from having a oil line to arabia.

http://www.engdahl.oilgeopolitics.ne...of_world_w.HTM

Lawrence of arabia days and england gave birth to the talliban.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Dash_XR

Is that directed at me?

I would guess it's because of World War 2, that is why it is more well known then the others.

No actually it is because the vast majority of information delivered to the general public in the last 50 years has come via the US media which has a much stronger focus on some parts of history than others.

History tends to always be biased by the victors who vilify the enemy and gloss over any attrocities or debarcles in which they were involved.

WW2 was actually one of the shortest and cleanest engagements in the last 100 years........

Originally Posted by Sprint

why ww1 happened

was to stop germany from having a oil line to arabia.

http://www.engdahl.oilgeopolitics.ne...of_world_w.HTM

Lawrence of arabia days and england gave birth to the talliban.

Oil (energy) has been the primary cause of most major wars in the last 100 years. Apart from the obvious Gulf war and Iraq, the Japanese were cut off from oil by the yanks which triggered Pearl Harbour, the Russians went into several "stans" over oil, Germans into Africa etc..

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Funny how a few posts of mine was deleted a few weeks back... whereby i talked about voter apathy and it was deleted because it was deemed "political".. and nowhere did i mention political parties at all!

One rule for some... one rule for others...

i don't think i read your actual post, but i guess when voter apathy is mentioned, some passionate people might buy into the discussion which could send the thread around in circles

flappist's post in question to me was harmless enough. along with the main reason given, it seemed to me that flappist was referencing 2 consecutive australian prime ministers from different parties. it wasn't highlighting the parties as such or even the prime minister's in question, it was more highlighting the actual time that australia had moments in history that might be considered less than pure

[Dash_XR]

Originally Posted by flappist

No actually it is because the vast majority of information delivered to the general public in the last 50 years has come via the US media which has a much stronger focus on some parts of history than others.

Exactly my point.

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Funny how a few posts of mine was deleted a few weeks back... whereby i talked about voter apathy and it was deleted because it was deemed "political".. and nowhere did i mention political parties at all! One rule for some... one rule for others...

...... and there is a difference discussing history vs someones personal political views with an attached agenda. While some points are very boarder line .... Mods discretion always plays a part on where threads go but if someone is offended or thinks otherwise there is always the report button rather than sending a thread Off Topic.

That's all for now on this particular topic thanks.

[Peter B - CV8]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

What did Stalin do to kill 12,000,000 people? We didn't cover that in history at school, just focused on the Germans in WWII.

Forced repatriation of Russian citizens who had fled the country - or who were taken prisoner during the war. They were then sent to gulags (ie forced labour camps) in Siberia & basically starved/froze to death. Oh & he also sent all family members as well & particularly focused on removing teachers/doctors/lawyers (ie anyone with an education who would question/argue against the party principles).

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

History is an interesting thing...for some reason some leaders are made out to be way worse than others. No idea why Hitler gets hammered so badly from every side when as you say, there are plenty worse than him. Is it because he persecuted Jews? No idea. It does make it a bit sad when Jews keep crying about the six million Hitler is supposed to have killed, when you could easily point to much much worse atrocities by other leaders. Hitler and the Jews seem to be a "special case" that no one is allowed to forget...but it seems to be OK to forget the other tens of millions...

Nobody has forgotten them....it's a simple fact of geography that you are in the wrong place.....go to the respected countries and you will hear plenty....

Don't you think Hitlers low score (when did this become a competition ffs) may have had something to do with his suicide and the defeat of Germany, if he had had his way (Lebensraum Policy) most have no doubt he would have been on the top step of the podium......

And I agree with flappist, some people do need to get history lessons, preferably without the blinkers on....

"Kill one man, and you are a murderer. Kill millions of men and you are a conqueror. Kill them all, and you are a god." Jean Rostand, 1939

And just maybe you need to tone down the "Jews keep crying" remarks, your starting to sound like......

[302 XC]

Originally Posted by basteve

I guess anyone who drives a Mercedes or a BMW or Volkswagen likewise is a true Nazi.

I got a VW beetle , and ill tell ya im fairly level headed but IF anyone called me a nazi lover or such id drop em like a bag of spuds on the spot and id gladly wear the assault charge
I bought the car for various reasons and it means alot to me the reason , so id be instant boiling hot ,if someone mentioned absolute dribble like that

[cheap]

Many people sympathised with the Nazi's in 1920's/1930's.

Why, because of the threat posed by that curse on humanity aka Communism. Lets be fair and call Communist/Socialism/Anarchism for what it really is, the worse form of slavery ever devised by man to inflict upon his fellow man.

Rewind back to the 1920's/1930's, communism was a real a danger to the industrial world, religious freedom and democracy.

Here is what Ford motor corporation experienced in 1932, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Hunger_March

As I recall Adolf hated commies and anyone that hated commies was a friend. It was once Adolf invaded Czechoslovakia and Poland that he became a baddie.

As I recall, Saddam was a goodie whilst he fought the Mullahs in Iran and then when he invaded Kuwait he became a baddie. Pol Pot was once a goodie and then became a baddie, Osama was a goodie and then became a baddie...funny how history repeats itself.

[Keepleft]

They like their marching these Germans during cultural events (schutezenfest etc), play nice and loud @ 3:36

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8yUjOjghco

NB - The recent Russia vs Georgia conflict was oil pipeline route related. Funny old geo-political world in which we live.

Cheers.