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About this quote

What does it mean?
Himmler believed Russia was unconquerable despite his personal hatred for it.
In plain terms
He thought Russia could not be beaten even though he disliked them.
What can you take from it?
Personal bias can be overridden by strategic assessment.

Where it applies

  • military planning
  • intelligence analysis
  • political strategy

Putting it to work

  • assess enemy strength objectively
  • separate emotion from strategy

Questions to consider

  • How does hatred affect strategic judgment?
  • Can an enemy be hated but still respected?

Another view

This view ignores the potential for resilience or change in warfare.

More from Heinrich Himmler

  1. The only difficulty with Himmler was that he was of a sneaky nature. I never knew whether I would be alive or imprisoned the next day. But I gained new strengt…

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  2. Himmler was such a coward he refused or was afraid to act because of Kaltenbrunner and Hitler.

    Permalink to quote #29
  3. Himmler was not sadistic - he was a stingy, small person. He was formerly a schoolteacher and he was always of that kind of mentality. He obtained pleasure fro…

    Permalink to quote #26

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