World War II Vs. The Entertainment Industry

 Well, this is my first attempt at my hybrid rant. I am going to try and combine education, along with an issue that I bothers me (and I'm sure other people possibly as well). I am going to try and make this educational, but at the same time, entertaining and insightful.

There are some points in here that are disturbing, and which I will not attempt to take lightly, so just a warning.

True, I know history is known as a boring subject, and as one girl I know said

"Yeah, History is kind of boring, the teacher is blah blah blah old dead guy, blah blah blah 1947 blah blah"

So I am going to attempt to make this article interesting as possible, while retaining historical accuracy.

Shown: Total Historical Accuracy

As many know (I would really hope they know, anyway), World War II was fought from 1939 to 1945, between the Axis powers of Germany, Italy and Japan, versus the Allied powers of England, France, Russia and eventually, America.

Hitler invaded Poland and quickly worked his way through France. After failing at the Battle of Britain, Hitler apparantely got jealous  of Stalin's moustache and decide to invade Russia. This would be his greatest mistake, as it would cost him the war.

Hitler is sad his facial hair will never be as awesome as Stalin's

During this time, Germany was also rounding up and killing Jews, Gypsies, the disabled, homosexuals, etc. This is the key point I make. If you fast forward to today, when one thinks of Nazi Germany, what do they think of? The nations conquest of the world? No, the first thought if the mass murder and atrocities it committed. While this is important, it has also blinded us to what Nazi Germany was.

The United States committed many atrocities against Native Americans, but very few people look back on that with much thought. It was just seen as "land expansion" for the U.S.

Yeah, we're kind of douche bags like that

In many of the movies and video games involving WW II, the Germany military is seen as evil in its own right. Killing German soldiers is not only seen as a normal thing, but it is encouraged, and turned into a sport even, n some movies and games.

Inglorious Basterds (copy and paste to view)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOMKloOEKcU&feature=related

Brothers in Arms: Furious Four Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA_gXXU21jQ

My main issue here is the Brothers in Arms game. This series has sevral games out that are FOCUSED primarily on REALISTIC combat and tactics in World War II.

Brothers in Arms Hell's Highway--Realism Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMWMgX9DKWs

Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa6E2414sYY

The characters each have a story, everyone is important, and the loss of anyone guy resonates with the player. To have that idea tossed to the side for a cheap Inglorious Basterds knock-off infuriates me.

Now, I know that these are works of fiction, and are made for entertainment,but they blur the idea of "Nazis" and the"Wehrmacht". The Wehrmacht was the Germany military, and served on campaigns on all fronts of the war. Being in the Wehrmacht did NOT make you a member of the Nazi party, though some did join. Many of the soldiers in the Wehrmacht actually disliked the Nazi party, and only fought for the glory of Germany.

To those who are saying "but, they attacked innocent countries, blah blah blah", what do you think Alexander the Great did? Napoleon? The Kings and Queens of the Middle Ages? They went on conquests for land and glory, and that is seen as fine. The only difference is that they did not have a government based upon mass murder and corruption.

In the video game industry, almost no game lets you play as the Germans in Wolrd War II, unless it is a multiplayer game with other people. No single player campaign is addressed to them. Yet, a single player campaign is given to the Russians, who did many bad things themselves during the war.

Such as the Rape of Berlin, where over two MILLION women were raped by conquering Soviet soldiers--many of these rape victims committed suicide as a result.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1080493/Stalins-army-rapists-The-brutal-war-crime-Russia-Germany-tried-ignore.html

Very few movies have ever covered this topic, as it is still a very touchy subject between Germany and Russia. Even still, the idea that it has forgotten is disturbing, just based on the simple fact that many saw it as the Germans "getting what they deserved."

While it is true that many of these games and movies strive away from reality, the point still remains, they are teaching the children of today (and yes, young children do play these kind of games. I was one of those kids.) that German soldiers = Nazis. and that they should be killed. Now I know not every child is a stupid dunderhead, and many will grow up and realize how faulty this logic is, there are still those who don't realize it.

Take That, Fascism!

Killing Nazis is like beating a dead horse--it's been done so much it is pointless now. The only reason Nazis are even still a major enemy in video games is because Nazi Germany was the last enemy the U.S. had a strong, moral battle with. Good versus Evil and all that. Ever since then, the U.S. has been the big kid on the block, putting their hands in everyone else sandbox, whether they like it or not. You can't really make games based on that (until the terrorist attacks). because it was an ambiguous battle. Now we have a new enemy again--the Terrorists! Now we will do games about killing them until a new threat comes and passes and we will recycle the same ideas over....

Nazi Zombies: The Game

and over...

Nazi Zombies: The Movie

How...original

As I close, I'm not saying all movies and games like these are bad. Not at all. But there has to be some kind of line drawn, otherwise, we just cover up the truth with a bunch of explosions and bullet holes. Not everything needs to be historically accurate, but when you are basically calling the entire German race during that time Nazis, I'm pretty sure you're an idiot.

Until Next Time!