Tuesday, August 18, 2009

THE DECLINE OF THE WEST

The DECLINE OF THE WEST is the English title of a book by the late Oswald Spengler, that I read while in college and which made a great impression on me in several aspects and which has been ignored by historians and scholars who tend to prefer Arnold Toynbee's A STUDY IN HISTORY and his particular theories,etc. Although Spengler was sort of 'grabbed' by the Nazis and 'wooed' apparently by Hitler,according to some, Spengler in actuality despised Hitler and the overtures made in his direction but this did not stop others from attributing to Spengler Racist and Nazi Ideas, just as it did in attributing the Philosophy of Nietsche as being the actual foundation of Nazism to a great extent. We also should mention that the German Philosopher, Heidigger was also a member of the Nazi Party,etc. and that JUNG, one of the founders of the three schools of Psychoanalysis, also 'toyed' with Nazi and racial ideas,though he tried to repudiate his early consideration of such. To understand the intellectual appeal of Nazism to persons who supposedly should have known better, we have to examine their lives and philosophy,etc.

Monday, August 10, 2009

HITLER WAS A CATHOLIC

Although Hitler seemed to have revived certain old notions of Teutonic/Germanic/Nordic mythology, it would seem that it was more for his policies and programs and similar things but, of course, he was an opera lover, namely of Richard Wagners(Wagnar?) works. He also tended to espouse the Philosophy of Nietzche,or his undeerstanding of it. Portrayed as a paper hanger, a postcard artist, etc. Hitler vented his wrath and frustrations on the world but he had willing helpers, including very wealthy industrialists. Even though he committed suicide, he never renounced his Catholicism for some good reasons not to do so.

FACTS ABOUT HITLER

Certain 'facts' about Hitler will posted here from time to time. Please comment on them.

THE TRIUMPH OF THE WILL

THE TRIUMPH OF THE WILL was filmed in 1934 and released in 1936, the year I was born. The director of this film was LENI RIEFENSTAHL. For some years this movie/film/documentary was banned. However, it was released in Video,VHS,some years back and I obtained a copy. It has now been issued on DVD. The film is in black and white, of course, but it shows Hitler and the Nazi Party. I have to say that as a child, the radio carried some of the speeches or excerpts of Hitler's speeches which I heard and later some years back I also was able to listen to some recordings of his speeches. Most people will tend to dismiss all this as 'ancient' history, that deals with a 'madman'. But there is still quite an interest in Hitler, Nazism, and WWII Germany. Over the years, I became somewhat interested in Hitler, what his background was or was supposed to have been, what made him 'tick', and so forth. Every now and then something crops up that arouses my interest.