Hitler gave us orders - and we believed in him. Then he commits suicide and leaves us to bear the guilt. He should have remained alive to bear his share.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker blames Hitler for leaving them to bear guilt after suicide.
- In plain terms
- Hitler gave orders then died leaving us with the blame.
- What can you take from it?
- Leaders should share responsibility for their orders.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who bears guilt in war?
- How do leaders fail followers?
Another view
Blaming a dead leader may avoid accountability for those who followed.
More from Wilhelm Keitel
I believe German soldiers are good and decent, and if they did anything wrong it was because of military necessity.
Permalink to quote #3 It isn't right to be obedient only when things go well; it is much harder to be a good, obedient soldier when things go badly and times are hard. Obedience and…
Permalink to quote #5 I am a soldier and I worked for the kaiser, under Ebert, Hindenburg, and Hitler, all the same way, for the past forty-four years.
Permalink to quote #2
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