Inglorious Bastards and Ethnic cleansing in Germany, Weapon technology, Public discourse

Inglorious Bastards and Ethnic cleansing in Germany, Weapon technology, Public discourse

Germany and ethnic rivalry due to extreme nationalism:

Early 1900s was the time when nations over whelmingly dragged themselves towards the feeling of nationalism. Voluntarily and involuntarily shown their actions in the open sky between the diverse cultures. War was fought in the elimination of other nations and cultures. Germans are different from Italians and even the language being the same differs from region within the country. When Mrs. Fraulien meets Lt. Archie Hicox (Michael Fassbender) in Auberge la louisiane for a rendezvous in the Nadine village, Major of German army recognizes them even in disguise from their accent and mannerisms. (Chapter four – Operation Kino).  

Early 20^th century was the time period when the economic activity of the society was very much dependent upon the national interest unlike on the present day individual interest or a company’s interest. This was very much seen among the axis power controlled areas during the world wars. Irrespective of the economic activity an individual holds, they have been recruited into military to fight for their country. Serving in the military has become main political and economic activitity of the entire nation. State has given importance to its military strength rather than other occupations. People with former occupations such as detectives, Movie critiques, Public speakers have joined the ranks of army (Lt. Archie Hicox, Paul Joseph Goebbels-Germany military and close aide to Hitler).

Nationalist feelings have made nations to take defensive and offensive stands. Nazism, Fascism have rose by taking offensive stand and Jews have taken defensive stand. At the time of Second World War, Jews have considered offence as a tool for its defence taking up arms for their survival from Nazis. This can be seen in Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglorious Bastards – Chapter two”, where Aldo Rhine also called “The Apache” recruits Jewish-Americans to kill Nazi German soldiers. These recruits are from different places of Europe. ON the contrast, Germans have taken up offensive stand exterminating Jews and Slavs. The extermination has gone to such an extent that soldiers even go to remote country side and hunt Jews who play no part in the war or the ethnic rivalry. This hunt has also been encouraged by the German authorities by giving medals to the soldiers who successfully hunt Jews. In every aspect, Germans wanted to overthrow Jews, may it be academics, Cinema, Science etc. Scientists like Oppenheimer have fled to America after their survival being threatened. In the movie- chapter four: Operation Kido, conversation between Lt. Arche Hicox, General reveals that German movie makers have thrown away the Jews in their own game. It was mentioned that Dr. Joseph Goebbels has taken over David O Selznick). The rise in the rift between Germans and Jews has turned into violent hatred (Lt. Aldo orders his men to bring scalp of every German killed and they mark Nazi symbol on their fore head if left alive).   

Nazi Germany has gone into expansion and occupies entire central Europe, Southern Rhine region extending into southern France, Northern Sahara leaving Egypt and also the Scandinavian countries. 

(26:00:00 Inglorious Bastards – Chapter two). Such Expansion have rose concerns among the British,)

There have been many attempts to kill The German fuller and these attempts were not only made by Allies’ military but also Jews whose survival has been threatened. The rift between different ethnic and cultural groups is also a parcel from the offensive nationalism. Before the holocaust, we need to observe that many of the positions which are highly respectable in a society have been occupied by the Jews. They can’t be pointed out for the latter but this has created a sense of inferiority among the others and this has been taken as a leverage and some leaders with vested political interests have ameliorated the latter with a false propaganda. The nationalist feelings of Germany can be traced back to the period of Metternich where the southern states have been blocked politically from being united. It was after the abdication of leadership by Metternich, their unification has got some concrete path. With the leaders like William I, Otto van Leopald Bismarck at the helm, there was no room for the liberal ideologies and the unification was carried out with blood and iron policy. Germany was never a liberal state and this explains their hatred towards the non-indigenous people. 

Germany and the War:

Germany has achieved a disciplined state structure and military where its subjects obey the order without questioning. Germany has only one authority in the 1930s i.e. military rule with its fuller Adolf Hitler. During the World War II, not only the unified-central command Germany but also the axis army was under the command of Germany. (Inglorious Bastards – Chapter one: Austrian colonel SS colonel Hans Landa works under the German command and has a nick name “Jew Hunter”). The arms used by Germany in World War II are pretty advanced from that of World war I. Manufacturing and research has been concentrated on the military development and expansion. In the world war there were assault rifles with limited rounds and most of the time soldiers used to reload after maximum of 10 rounds. In the Second World War magazines of higher capacities have been developed and different types of assault rifles, sub machine guns have come into picture (Volkssturmgewehr 1-5, Maschinenpistole 38, Maschinengewehr 42 to name few.) Germany has widely used sub machine guns due its advanced speed (rounds/min) and effective range.

The rapid industrialization and capitalism has changed the way of war. Walther pistols used in the 20^th century is the pistol manufactured by Private industry. It has been introduced to replace the costly Luger pistol used in WWI. The industrial revolution has completely changed the politico economics of the Europe.

Nazism and Public:

The public opinion always plays a major role in the geopolitics. The transition from Feudalism to capitalism has seen changes in the political powers with the change in the mindset of society. The latter is due to Renaissance, commercial revolution, reformations which finally led to fall of feudalism. Similarly in order to uphold the Nazism ideology, it must have a public backing. This has been fulfilled from mass media. Press, Media, Movies have played an important role to propagate the ideologies of leaders. In the movie Hitler makes his presence in the premier of “The Nation’s Pride” in France to promote nationalism among their citizens. The movie shows the end of war by killing all the four kingpins of Germany (Adolf Hitler, Paul Joseph Goebbels, Martin Bormann, Johann Ludwig Graf Schwerin von Krosigk) in the theatre but the scar on the Germans will be carried by generations. The scar looks beautiful from the eyes of non-Germans but not from that of Germans. The congress of Vienna (1815), treaty of Versailles (1919), Paris peace treaties all show the vested political interest of few countries which dominate the peace making process. Congress of Vienna has resulted in rise of liberal orders turning blind eye towards Metternich, treaty of Versailles has resulted in Second World War and Paris peace treaties have created the haves and have not world of 21^st century where economic war is moving on its tracks.