"Our Struggle": What If Hitler Had Been a Communist?
- Thread starter The Red
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I didn't want to be gratuitous, the slurs that probably would have been used didn't really feel necessary to get the point across.
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I for one have not been reading this on the assumption that an ATL, leftist Hitler must automatically by some conservation law be as wicked as our OTL version. In principle, Marxist thought ought to free him of his own mind-forged manacles and racial prejudice of any kind. Of course in reality many Communists have managed to remain racist anyway, to their shame, and we are after all dealing with a Hitler who diverges at a rather advanced age. So yes, the odds are high that he will use Marxism to rationalize basically racist programs. And that he remains a petty asshole who will nurse grudges and seek revenge on anyone who slights him, though it may take decades to get into position to do that. Such pessimism seems all too realistic.
But his leftward turn remains an opportunity for him to gain deeper insight and learn to rise above his worst nature, and I don't think a TL with a reformed Hitler is out of bounds.
Since the real OTL Hitler was so very odious, and his latter day fans remain so dangerous, we might want to avoid stories humanizing him, for reasons of expediency. But in principle, I think it is a shame many assume he must be wicked and despicable in any possible TL.
But his leftward turn remains an opportunity for him to gain deeper insight and learn to rise above his worst nature, and I don't think a TL with a reformed Hitler is out of bounds.
Since the real OTL Hitler was so very odious, and his latter day fans remain so dangerous, we might want to avoid stories humanizing him, for reasons of expediency. But in principle, I think it is a shame many assume he must be wicked and despicable in any possible TL.
He probably will, though instead of the Jews being godless Marxists, they're now reactionary bloodsuckers.
Deleted member 92121
Has it been implied or stated that Hitler's regime falls and/or loses the war? I forgot and i confess the idea of a socialist german dominated Europe as a replacement for OTL USSR is looking more and more interesting.
Greenville
Banned
So after Germany becomes a communist ally of the Soviet Union, how long does it take before their used in a Russian invasion of western Europe?
That is the sort of matter over which I would reserve judgement. I think it is rather too early to predict what the author has in store for the character of alt-Hitler's regime.
Lost Freeway
Banned
Hitler could be to Stalin what Mussolini was to Hitler IOTL-the "very bad man" to Stalin's "VERY bad man."
Well, that offers an explanation for why the Second World War was so long ITTL - the West was fighting without the help of, and indeed against, the USSR.
I'm not sure, but Peter Hitchens may not necessarily be in line with mainstream/consensus thought.
He called him the worl'd most infamous mass murderer. Now OTL Hitchens might call Stalin that but he's unlikely to call Tito that. It indicates that in british eyes Hitler is the figurehead of the communist block.
OTL Hitchens (or somebody like him) might call Mao that, though—not the most powerful communist leader but a pretty powerful one and one who is especially despised for whatever the reason.
I think this is overinterpretation when it could just be Hitchens being edgy.
Posssibly, but it's not just that bit. I don't think 'what if hitler is a minor villain to stalin's boss villain' fits the general tone of any of the academic pieces from the future. When the original piece about socalism mentions lenin, stalin and hitler, hitler is in the last place rather than before stalin.
And well there are so many books written about hitler quoted in the top sections. Books about hitler's childhood, about hitler in ww1, about hitler in bavaria, etc.
He comes over very much as someone who is as central to history as otl's hitler. OTL's Mussolini simply isn't examined to that degree.