I would never have surrendered, because of my pledge as a German officer. But when Hitler died, that pledge ended. By killing himself, Hitler saved thousands of lives. They relieved us of our oaths as soldiers.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker honors his oath until Hitler dies, claiming Hitler's death ends soldier oaths and saves lives.
- In plain terms
- I kept my oath until Hitler died which ended my duty as a soldier.
- What can you take from it?
- Oaths end when the authority dies.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When do oaths end?
Another view
Death of a leader does not necessarily end moral responsibility.
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