(Untitled)

[inquisitor_jc]

Alan Bullock in summation of the similarities of Hitler and Stalin in regards to personal lives and their views of humanity:

"Stalin and Hilter were materialists not only in their dismissal of religion but in their insesitivity to humanity as well. The only human begins who existed for them were themselves. The rest of the human race was seen

Comments

[building7]

I'm of two minds about it. As an account of history it's the kind of melodramatic one-dimensional drivel you'd see on the average History Channel documentary, only with a slightly more interesting vocabulary.

However, as a primary historical resource in and of itself (because writing like Bullock's was what helped build the 'Great Myth' of the Second World War as a modern epic of the triumph of supreme good over supreme evil) it's actually quite spectacular.

[inquisitor_jc]

Hahah I should explained further, its taken from his very very good dual biography of Hitler and Stalin. He spent about 3 chapters building up to that conclusion in the classic dry proper historical way - he is the former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford and is also sits in the house of Lords.

I might of spoken of this before but to be honest I don't think historians - outside of the "History" channel stress enough the for lack of a better term drama of the event. It is all too easy to read hundreds of books on the war without any sense of anything really unusual happening. For example the sheer destruction collectivization had on Russia and Ukraine was only brought home from reading this book. Normally its only referred to as a bit of a end note or discussed in economic terms (was it worth it?) rather than a systematic destruction of a countries peasant culture.

[building7]

Yes I agree that a history told in a lively and interesting way is a good thing - history is a fascinating subject and to suck all the life out of it does a great disservice.

However this conclusion you've quoted goes a little too far off the poetic deep end to the point where it just becomes untrue and simplistic.

[inquisitor_jc]

Hmmm maybe it was unfair of my to just remove this bit from the book as it is not a reflection of the entire thing at all. However it is an attempt to create a simple summary of what was a mind boggling event and I always aperchiate someone who will put their foot down and say 'it happened for these and these reasons'. Fence sitting is so blah

I know in the true academic sense I am wrong but heeeeeeeeey

[antioxidote]

Don't know the source aside from what you've posted but the first paragraph seems to be a very overly simplistic and opinionated view.

[inquisitor_jc]

See above,

I wasn't going to post the huge discussion that lead to Bullocks conclusion but don't worry there was one