German people, he said, would follow Hitler with absolute loyalty provided they are allowed to have a share in the making and carrying out of decisions, provided every word of criticism is not immediately interpreted as malicious, and provided that despairing patriots are not branded as traitors. The time had come, he proclaimed, to silence doctrinaire fanatics.
In "In the Garden of Beasts," Erik Larson presents an insightful perspective on the dynamics of loyalty among the German people during Hitler’s regime. A key point made is that Germans would follow Hitler unwaveringly if they felt included in the political process. This implies that a sense of participation and shared decision-making is crucial for fostering loyalty within the populace.
Furthermore, the text highlights the need for an environment where criticism does not automatically lead to accusations of disloyalty, and where those with genuine patriotic concerns are not labeled as traitors. The call to silence extreme factions suggests a desire for a more moderate and inclusive approach to governance during a tumultuous period in history.
