Posted on 02/23/2014 11:06:23 AM PST by nickcarraway
In almost any science-fiction scenario involving time-travel, the default action is to kill Hitler. As terrible a human being as he was, there are many reasons why this probably isn’t a good idea
If you find yourself suddenly gaining access to a time machine, what’s the first thing you’d do? If you said “kill Adolf Hitler”, then congratulations; you’re a science-fiction character. Actually, the whole “access to a time machine” thing suggested that already, but the desire to kill Hitler clinches it. Any time-travelling sci-fi character (at least ones created by Western society) seems to want to kill Hitler, so much so that there’s a trope about how it’s impossible.
That attempting to kill Hitler has become such a common sci-fi plot device speaks volumes. What about Stalin? He was arguably worse, killing 20 million of his own people to fuel his ideology. But no, Stalin went about his business unmolested by time travellers, all of whom are busy targeting Hitler.
It’s understandable. Who wouldn’t want to prevent the holocaust? It’s probably the worst thing in history. And I only say “probably” because I don’t know all of history, and the human capacity to be awful should not be underestimated. But as noble as it seems, killing the Fuhrer via time travel is a terrible idea, for real-world reasons, not just those in fiction. So should you get hold of a time machine and make plans to kill Hitler, here are some reasons why you shouldn’t.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
Was already done.
Couldn't happen, no one took Jesus' life, He laid it down willingly. John 10:17-18.
I’m thinkin’ I’d whack the apple outta Eve’s hand.
Maybe punch the serpent in the mouth?
ThanksPerdogg
You missed the 2012 episode “let’s kill Hitler”? No the doctor didn’ try, but River Song did. One of the better episodes of that season.
CC
Can't say I care much for the Doctor after him.
Following their defeat in Greece, the British hold on the eastern Mediterranean was shaky. Had the Germans pressed their luck in that region--say, invading Cyprus and then moving into Syria and Lebanon, where the French would probably not have resisted, they might have forced the British clear back to India and Kenya.
Another colossal blunder by Hitler was not keeping his mouth shut after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. By going to war with the USSR, then the USA, Germany found itself at war with two continents as well as the British Empire.
Hitler had no choice but to attack Russia when he did...Stalin was busy beefing up the Red Army to attack the Germans by ‘43, so Hitler knew he had to hit while he still had something of an advantage....While I do not believe that either way Germany was going to prevail, at least attacking when he did gave them at least a fighting chance.
Now the prosecution of Barbarossa itself, is a whole other matter.
We were at war with Germany after Pearl Harbor no matter what.
Since Britain was also at war with Japan, any restrictions we had on aiding Britain were automatically lifted, only a matter of time before the Germans would attack our ships aiding Britain, to give us the Casus Belli.
I was thinking along similar lines. The leftists don't want to lose one of their primary role models.
And don't forget the Communist parties that they sponsored all over the world, which sought to overthrow the governments of their host countries and turn them into Soviet satellites.
And if not for Pilsudski, and the “Miracle on the Vistula” in 1920, the Soviets would have swept towards Germany.
Exactly. Had Rommel and his fellow officers succeeding in assassinating Hitler, command would have defaulted to military geniuses. The war might have had a whole different outcome.
As it was, they had a faggot who insisted on consulting psychics and astrologers for military strategy. No, I wouldn't have killed him either.
If Valkyrie succeeded there would have been Civil War.
A better alternative would be to have convinced British and French leaders to grow a pair in 1935 and taken action against Hitler instead of appeasing him. This may have resulted in Hitler’s downfall and stabilized the World for decades afterward.
Either that, or take out the guy who assassinated Archduke Ferdinand and started WWI.
The Bible doesn’t quite say where he was during the initial temptation....though some do assume he was right there.
Had similar thoughts myself. If it didn't end in pregnancy, I'm thinking "No harm ...no foul". But, life goes on.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.