Mykhailo Rohoza@MykhailoRohoza
During the Nuremberg Trials, Hermann Göring gave an interview to psychologist Gustave Gilbert and said:
“Of course the people don’t want war. Why would some poor farmer want to risk his life in a war when the best he can hope for is to come back to his farm in one piece?
Naturally, people don’t want war. No one wants war in Russia, England, America — not even in Germany. That’s obvious.
But in the end, it’s the leaders of a country who determine policy. And it’s always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it’s a democracy, a communist state, a parliament, or a fascist dictatorship.”
Gilbert objected:
“But there is one difference in a democracy — the people have a voice through their elected representatives.”
To which Göring replied:
“That’s all well and good, but whether the people have a voice or not, they 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 for exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”
— Nuremberg Diary, April 18, 1946
Doesn’t it sound familiar?
