How Does It Happen?

Have you ever wondered how good and decent German people chose to align themselves with Hitler?

Yes, there are sociological and cultural explanations for what happened in Germany that led to Hitler’s determination to take over the entire world. But what I am asking is how did an individual turn from his or her ordinary life to endorse Nazism.

Take an example. Herr Schmitz, as we shall call him, was a hard-working man. He arose in the morning, ate his breakfast, took his lunch made by his wife, kissed her goodbye and headed off to his job. His hausfrau stayed home to raise their children, kept their home neat and tidy, and had dinner ready when he returned home. Exhausted from a hard days work, he was thankful that he was fortunate to have a job.

When did Herr Schmitz first hear Hitler’s rants and plans for world domination?  Did a co-worker say to him: you ought to hear this guy. He is quite a leader to listen to.

I ask myself the question because my family could still be living in Germany – as some of my ancestors are German. My mother could have been Frau Schmitz. If they had not immigrated to this country, would I have met my husband, whose immigrant grandparents were all German?

Our heritage must be written all over us. I remember walking into a restaurant once with him when  traveling in Germany. The waitperson assumed we were both German and handed us a menu written in German.

But my family stories are not all happy ones. During WWI, my grandfather, who was the youngest son, was literally run out of the southern Minnesota town because he had a German-sounding name. Losing the successful hardware store he started and ran. He never recovered financially, doing odd jobs to support his family. Ironically he was not German, but Dutch.

My father was drafted during WWII, leaving my motherr with a three year old and an infant son. As a member of the Navy, he served on a troop carrier - going back and forth across the Pacific. Hitler had aligned himself with Japan and with Mussolini, broadening his efforts to rule the world. My life was changed forever by these events, leaving a deep mark across my soul.

So I return to my question. What went on in the heart and soul of German individuals as they became swayed to Hitler’s rants? What would I have done if I had been a German woman in the thirties watching the changes going on around me? Would I have dissented and risked my life living under a tyrant? Or would I have kept my mouth shut and pretended I had little interest or knowledge of my country’s political climate?

The world we live in today is so chaotic. Shootings of innocent people occur too often in so many countries. Or  a truck is used as weapon and driven into crowds enjoying Nice, France. A place where I have fond memories of strolling along that same street.

Curious, I looked up the definitions of end-times – Armageddon and Apocalypse. After much devastation, Armageddon heralds a new millennium of peace.  Apocalypse is total destruction of humankind. And I ask myself if we are living in the Apocalypse.

Yet, we need to hope. The message of doom and gloom preached by the GOP candidate for president does not match with reality. Ready access to death via the internet does not reflect the lives of so many decent and hardworking people – tragic as those deaths are. And the leadership of brave women and men, who don’t remain silent, but speak the truth as they see it.

Nelson Mandela was one of those leaders. All those years he spent in a wretched prison cell and solitary confinement, he finally emerged with wisdom and courage to bring about great change. I ask myself if I would have had that kind of courage after so many years of prison? Let the following words resonate within you:

Prayer – Nelson Mandela Funeral  – 2013

Beyond the absence, there is hope.

Beyond the pain, there is healing.

Beyond the brokenness is wholeness.

Beyond the turmoil there is peace.

Beyond the hurting there is heaven .

Beyond the silence, beyond the silence. .

God speaks:

Be strong, Let your heart take courage,

All you who hope in God (Ps. 31)