[Pedantic RANT] Re: [HUMOR] End Times

[Paul Lussier]

Randy Edwards <redwards at golgotha.net> writes:

>    Do you have a reference for the law making membership in the
> Hitler Youth mandatory? 

Nothing which I can claim to be 100% accurate.  Based on my lifelong
fascination of WWII history, I know it's true.  But that's relying on
my memory of the various texts I've read and/or classes I've taken
over the last 20 years or so.

> Myself, I don't put much validity in Wikipedia articles on serious
> topics; it's fine for referencing computer trivia and "light"
> topics, but there are many criticism about Wikipedia's political
> stance and the caliber of its mainstream articles.

I was in no means implying that the Wikipedia article should be
considered canonical on the subject.  I was merely using it as a quick
reference.

> "...but first, let's dispense with the claim that every young person
> in Germany at that time was in the Hitler Youth. That is nonsense."

Nor did I claim that every youth in Germany was in the Hitler Youth.
Only that it was compulsory.  There were various waivers and
exemptions, and obviously anyone not of the "correct" ethnicity
(i.e. Aryan) was not a member.

>    Now, give me the choice between a Wikipedia statement and an article 
> publicly written by a professor and I'll take the latter every time.

How's this (again, I can't vouch for the veracity, but Google turned it up):

  http://adolfhitler.ws/lib/proc/youth04.html
  http://branemrys.blogspot.com/2005/04/panzer-and-hitler-youth.html
  http://www.nizkor.org/hweb/imt/tgmwc/tgmwc-14/tgmwc-14-137-04.shtml

The last one appears to be a section from the Nuremburg Trial, which
is actually quoted and refered to by the second.  All three state
rather clearly that membership was compulsory as early as 1939.

Give me the choice between some article publicly written by a
professor (Ward Churchil anyone?) and transcript from historical
trial, and I'll take the latter every time :)

-- 

Seeya,
Paul