Excerpt from They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-45 by Milton Mayer But Then It Was Too Late A philologist and colleague of the author reflects on how, after 1933, a widening gap emerged between the German government and its people. Despite claims of democracy, Germans were gradually habituated to: Being governed by surprise Secret decision-making Trusting government secrecy under the guise of national security This gap grew without alarm because people identified with Hitler and believed in the government’s intentions. The changes were gradual and disguised as temporary emergencies or patriotic acts, distracting citizens with crises and reforms so they did not grasp the fundamental erosion of freedom. The Intellectuals and the 'Diverting' Dictatorship Even educated Germans, including scholars, were preoccupied and distracted by new official activities and social demands. The regime’s continual crises and battles with "national enemies" kept the population too busy or too fascinated to think critically or resist. The dictatorship functioned as a diversion, providing excuses not to think. Political awareness and resistance were rare and difficult. Every new restriction or oppressive act seemed only slightly worse than the last. People waited for a decisive moment to unite in resistance, but such an occasion never materialized. The Danger of Incremental Change The regime’s oppressive measures followed a slow and incremental path, conditioning people to accept each step: Early minor acts paved the way for more severe actions. Failure to resist small measures made later, worse acts easier to accept. Over time, Germans adjusted to a new moral and social reality without realizing the full extent of their acquiescence. The Crushing Realization Eventually, many experienced a sudden collapse of denial and self-deception—often triggered by personal incidents—that revealed the complete transformation of their world into one dominated by hate and fear. Life appeared superficially unchanged but was fundamentally altered in spirit. The regime ruled without accountability, even to God. Many found themselves compromised beyond repair by their inaction. Individuals faced the painful consequences: suicide, moral adjustment, or living with shame, which Mayer calls a form of heroism. A Story of Moral Conflict An example is told of a judge who acquitted an innocent Jew of a lesser charge to protect him but failed to prevent Party capture. The judge was tormented by this moral dilemma, ultimately arrested after the failed 1944 plot against Hitler. The War and Unstoppable Tyranny Once war began: Resistance became nearly impossible and punishable by death. Defeatism was criminalized. Propaganda promised revenge against dissenters. The "final solution" was carried out under wartime cover. Germans who hoped the war would end Nazi oppression and save Jews were mistaken. Only a few gambled on Germany’s defeat to justify or attempt protest. --- Summary Milton Mayer’s excerpt reveals: How ordinary Germans were incrementally lured into complicity with Nazi rule. The psychological and social factors preventing early resistance. The tragic consequences of gradual moral surrender. The importance of awareness and courage to resist oppression in its beginnings rather than waiting for a crisis. This testimony serves as a warning and reflection on human nature, political naiveté, and the peril of silence in the face of growing tyranny. --- Book info: They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-45 by Milton Mayer University of Chicago Press, ©1955, 1966, 2017 Book info and purchase