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View Full Version : 1984=Nazi Germany


luckystreak
11-21-2010, 02:30 PM
From what i've read in Orwells book ,1984,I think that it is very similar to what Hitler did to Germany. In both aspects the people are under control by there government. The government has constant watch on the people and they live in constant fear. In the book the government(BB) has control over who does what and where they do it,also both goverments are small with an inner party. These are my thoguhts,please respond.:toetap05:
kelby_lake
11-21-2010, 02:34 PM
That's why it's called 1984- it's a reversal of 1948, implying that the events of the novel are not too far away from what was happening in Nazi Germany.
The Atheist
11-21-2010, 09:55 PM
That's why it's called 1984- it's a reversal of 1948,

No. This is a frequent flyer in the fallacy club. 1948 is not relevant to the novel.


...implying that the events of the novel are not too far away from what was happening in Nazi Germany.

Although there are similarities between Nazi Germany and 1984, it wasn't what Orwell was saying, beyond Germany having been a totalitarian state during and before WWII. It was not at all specific to WWII, just as it wasn't specific to USSR, despite the obvious similarities there as well.

Orwell was writing about the future of totalitarianism.
kelby_lake
11-22-2010, 09:59 AM
No. This is a frequent flyer in the fallacy club. 1948 is not relevant to the novel.



Although there are similarities between Nazi Germany and 1984, it wasn't what Orwell was saying, beyond Germany having been a totalitarian state during and before WWII. It was not at all specific to WWII, just as it wasn't specific to USSR, despite the obvious similarities there as well.

Orwell was writing about the future of totalitarianism.

Indeed, but he could not have written it had Nazi Germany not existed.

Technically, Germany wasn't a totalitarian state. For a true totalitarian state, you must have control of all aspects of the society. Hitler never managed to take control of religion (arguably he did a cultural brainwash but it's debatable how many truly believed it). It was totalitarian in the sense that there were no opposing parties but not truly totalitarian.
The Atheist
11-22-2010, 02:09 PM
Indeed, but he could not have written it had Nazi Germany not existed.

Not even close. The role model for 1984 was the same as Animal Farm - the USSR.

Funnily enough, because AF references Germany and WWII, it couldn't have been written as it was without the Nazis, but 1984 doesn't have that problem.


Technically, Germany wasn't a totalitarian state. For a true totalitarian state, you must have control of all aspects of the society. Hitler never managed to take control of religion (arguably he did a cultural brainwash but it's debatable how many truly believed it). It was totalitarian in the sense that there were no opposing parties but not truly totalitarian.

This is wrong as well. The churches were controlled by Hitler - it's just that, unlike Stalin & Co., he was a Roman Catholic and allowed churches to exist. Many followers of other religions were put to death.
kelby_lake
11-23-2010, 07:45 AM
This is wrong as well. The churches were controlled by Hitler - it's just that, unlike Stalin & Co., he was a Roman Catholic and allowed churches to exist. Many followers of other religions were put to death.

Why would he allow churches to exist when Catholics will invariably choose to follow God above Hitler? He may have been a Roman Catholic but he clearly wasn't much of one.
The Atheist
11-23-2010, 12:52 PM
Why would he allow churches to exist when Catholics will invariably choose to follow God above Hitler?

Those Catholics were German. The RCC was an open supporter of Hitler, so there was no conflict.

It wasn't as though German congregations were hearing that peace and love was the answer, they were hearing that god had chosen Hitler to do his worldly work. South Africa was much the same, with 100% of Apartheid supporters being staunchly religious, yet I just don't see Jesus being much of a racist.


He may have been a Roman Catholic but he clearly wasn't much of one.

Depends on how you measure Catholics. The current pope was in Hitler Youth. If you look at Catholics like the Borgias and the leaders of The Inquisition, Hitler could be classed as quite a good one!