[weikel]

In regards to the knowledge of the German population and the members of the Wehrmarcht about the holocaust, I think most people were either ignorant or willfully ignorant about it( willful ignorance being people who had jewish friends who were "resettled to the east" and never heard from). Knowledge about the Soviet holocaust in the Ukraine and other areas was more widespread among the German and Russian population( though America is pretty ignorant of it). Thus the Bolsheviks were seen by most of the European population as the greater evil. Hitler in fact refused a lot of foreign volunteers, including the entire Russian and Ukranian population( which he stupidly abused to the point they turned on the Germans).

Franco was the lesser evil by far compared to the communist he was fighting. He also benefited the Allies by being close enough to Hitler that Der Fuhrer was reluctant to attack and seize Gibraltar( which would have cut off Britain from its raw materials lifeline in India and the Middle East and stopped the Russian supplies through Iran) but strong enough not to join in the war with him( he did send a division of volunteers to the Eastern Front). Pinochet was an unblemished hero.

[MattinNJ]

In regards to the knowledge of the German population and the members of the Wehrmarcht about the holocaust, I think most people were either ignorant or willfully ignorant about it

Agreed

Hitler in fact refused a lot of foreign volunteers, including the entire Russian and Ukranian population( which he stupidly abused to the point they turned on the Germans).

Agreed. What is often overlooked is that the Russians and Ukranians looked upon the Germans as liberators. The Wehrmacht left them alone. It was Himmlers boys that came in afterwards and abused the native population to the point that Stalin was able to coax them to fight for their motherland. This is an often overooked turning point in the war as the Germans divert troops to watch their supply lines.

Franco did send a division of volunteers to the Eastern Front).

Yup. the famed Blue Division. Hard core fanatical anti-communists. When the Bulgarians, Romanians, and Italians fled in droves the Blue Division dug in and killed commies by the busload.

Pinochet was an unblemished hero.

Absolutely. While South America plunges into the abyss Chile kicks ass. In fact they make us look like socialists.