The hottest World War Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top History Topics

The Nazis Did Not ‘Weaponize’ Free Speech. They Crushed It.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2119 implied HN points • 20 Feb 25
💾 History World War Free speech Totalitarianism Media Critique Censorship
  1. The Nazis did not use free speech to their advantage; instead, they suppressed it completely. This shows how dangerous it can be when a government controls speech.
  2. There is a significant amount of historical misunderstanding today, especially in media discussions. This leads to misleading narratives about past events and their implications.
  3. Critiquing historical figures without proper context can lead to false conclusions about their actions and the times they lived in. It’s important to understand history accurately to avoid repeating mistakes.

Things Worth Remembering: Winston Churchill’s Christmas Message to America

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3913 implied HN points • 22 Dec 24
💾 History World War Speeches Political Leaders
  1. Churchill's Christmas message during a tough time reminded people to find peace in their spirits despite the ongoing war. It's a reminder that hope can exist even in dark times.
  2. The speech shows how powerful words can inspire and unify people, especially during challenging moments in history. Great leaders use their voices to encourage others.
  3. Reflecting on Churchill's ability to lead through words makes us wonder about our current leaders. We often crave charismatic leaders who can guide us through struggles.

Robert Paxton's Vichy France

Castalia • 219 implied HN points • 29 Aug 23
💾 History World War Fascism Totalitarianism Democracy
  1. Vichy France was formed after France fell to Germany in 1940, and many French people thought it was an embarrassing part of their history. However, Robert Paxton showed that Vichy was more of a proactive choice rather than just a forced submission to Nazi demands.
  2. The Vichy regime gained popularity by promoting a vision of a united, family-centered society. Many people believed it was a chance to create a better country, despite the regime being deeply tied to fascist ideas.
  3. Paxton warns that democracies can fail when people lose faith in them, as seen in France during the 1930s. Illiberalism can rise when political groups become extreme and the center loses confidence, which can lead to the collapse of democratic systems without much notice.

Europe's Kristallnacht

Diane Francis • 659 implied HN points • 14 Mar 22
💾 History World War Holocaust Cultural Events
  1. Kristallnacht was a violent attack against Jewish people in Germany in 1938, where many properties were destroyed.
  2. Around 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps during this event.
  3. The lack of action from local authorities and other nations highlighted a troubling indifference to the suffering of the Jewish community at that time.

War Games

The Weekly Gazette • 37 HN points • 11 Jul 24
💾 History World War Holocaust Resistance Technology Ethics
  1. René Carmille, a French engineer, secretly sabotaged Nazi efforts to track and deport Jews by slowing down census data collection. This helped save many lives during the Holocaust.
  2. Carmille cleverly used his knowledge of technology to delay the census and even altered data to protect Jewish citizens. He is often called the first ethical hacker for his actions.
  3. Despite the risks, including imprisonment and torture, Carmille's efforts contributed to fewer Jews being deported in France compared to other countries occupied by the Nazis, showcasing the impact of individual resistance.
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