As the Trump presidency unfolded and he revealed himself to the American public, it became increasingly tempting for critics to compare him and his MAGA movement to Hitler and the Nazis. Doing so was an easy and satisfying way to show one’s contempt. Linking Trump and his allies to Hitler, of course, was the ultimate condemnation.
For most of this time, I’ve been hesitant to join the chorus as the comparison seemed too easy and not sufficiently grounded in history. After all, Germany of the 20s and 30s/40s was not the United States of the early 21st century. Further, even the most cursory glance in the differences between the two countries suggests the folly of linking the two experiences.
With this in mind, I’m enclosing the introductory remarks for the popular Netflix documentary, "Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial." I’ve only watched the first couple episodes but I recommend your attention as the program is both chilling and informative. See what you think.
Hitler and the Nazis’Review: Building a Case for Alarm
By Mike Hale
"Hitler’s project: “Making Germany great again.” The Nazis’ characterization of criticism from the media: “Fake news.” Hitler’s mountain retreat in Berchtesgaden: “It’s sort of like Hitler’s Mar-a-Lago, if you will.”
Donald Trump’s name is not mentioned in the six episodes of “Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial,” a new historical documentary series on Netflix. But it dances just beneath the surface, and occasionally, as in the examples above, the production’s cadre of scholars, popular historians and biographers can barely stop themselves from giving the game away.
The series was directed by the veteran documentarian Joe Berlinger (“Paradise Lost,” “Metallica: Some Kind of Monster”), who has a production deal with Netflix and has given it popular true-crime shows like “Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich” and the “Conversations With a Killer” series.
In promotional material, Berlinger explains his decision to step up from true crime to total war and genocide: “This is the right time to retell this story for a younger generation as a cautionary tale,” he says, adding, “In America, we are in the midst of our own reckoning with democracy, with authoritarianism knocking at the door and a rise in antisemitism.” In other words, you can’t make a documentary about Germany in the 1930s and ’40s without holding the United States of the 2010s and ’20s in your mind.’"