Good and evil, together in one Tumblr.
November 13, 2013 10:11 AM Subscribe
is "Nazi" Germany's "N-word"?
posted by Dr. Twist at 10:21 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Dr. Twist at 10:21 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Strictly speaking, not all the men in the pictures are Nazis. That said, it's hardly a more than a split hair.
posted by Thing at 10:22 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Thing at 10:22 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
These pictures are fascinating. I find them really uncomfortable to see. That narrative of obviously every Nazi was an evil part of the evilest empire -- which I know intellectually is bunk, but is such a part of the emotional throughline on the WWII romanticism every generation now grows up with -- is hard to escape and very jarring when you look at pictures of normal-seeming smiling dudes who find the kitties as adorable as any reasonable person would.
I guess this was, at least in part, what Inglourious Basterds was about, only with fewer cats.
posted by Kybard at 10:25 AM on November 13, 2013
I guess this was, at least in part, what Inglourious Basterds was about, only with fewer cats.
posted by Kybard at 10:25 AM on November 13, 2013
That was disturbing.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:26 AM on November 13, 2013
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:26 AM on November 13, 2013
So, boots n' cats?
posted by The Whelk at 10:30 AM on November 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 10:30 AM on November 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
I always thought Nazis would be dog people.
Cats are so disobedient, aloof, willful, and difficult to control. They do not follow orders.
posted by louche mustachio at 10:30 AM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Cats are so disobedient, aloof, willful, and difficult to control. They do not follow orders.
posted by louche mustachio at 10:30 AM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
I shudder to imagine the grim visage of Das Mürrischkatze.
posted by Strange Interlude at 10:30 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Strange Interlude at 10:30 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Good and evil, together in one Tumblr
You're... saying that the nazis were good???
posted by ominous_paws at 10:32 AM on November 13, 2013 [22 favorites]
You're... saying that the nazis were good???
posted by ominous_paws at 10:32 AM on November 13, 2013 [22 favorites]
Man, that's weird.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 10:36 AM on November 13, 2013
posted by A Terrible Llama at 10:36 AM on November 13, 2013
Gotta admit, I sort of like the one third from bottom: the pantsless guy with high boots and a cat on his head.
posted by easily confused at 10:41 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by easily confused at 10:41 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
These pictures are fascinating. I find them really uncomfortable to see. That narrative of obviously every Nazi was an evil part of the evilest empire -- which I know intellectually is bunkYeah, hello? Stalin?
posted by This, of course, alludes to you at 10:46 AM on November 13, 2013
Gotta admit, I sort of like the one third from bottom: the pantsless guy with high boots and a cat on his head.
I didn't get that far, so in my mind it is a picture of either Spike Milligan or Alexei Sayle and I feel much better now.
posted by louche mustachio at 10:51 AM on November 13, 2013
Well yeah but of course those nazis ate the heads off those cats in the next frame
Peter, mascot of the German submarine U-953 during WW2
Imagine serving on the submarine that has a cat
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:54 AM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Peter, mascot of the German submarine U-953 during WW2
Imagine serving on the submarine that has a cat
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:54 AM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Peter wasn't a very good mascot. U-953 sank one small merchantman in 2 years of service. On the other hand, U-953 survived the war and surrendered to the British in Norway so perhaps he was a good mascot after all.
posted by Justinian at 11:06 AM on November 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 11:06 AM on November 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity,
There never was a Cat of such deceitfulness and suavity.
posted by octobersurprise at 11:09 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
There never was a Cat of such deceitfulness and suavity.
posted by octobersurprise at 11:09 AM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Imagine serving on the submarine that has a cat
Many ships had a cat.
posted by entropicamericana at 11:10 AM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Many ships had a cat.
posted by entropicamericana at 11:10 AM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
If it will help with your cognitive dissonance: Just imagine that all the cats were brutally tortured and killed after the pictures were taken.
posted by Young Kullervo at 11:10 AM on November 13, 2013
posted by Young Kullervo at 11:10 AM on November 13, 2013
posted by octothorpe at 11:13 AM on November 13, 2013 [6 favorites]
Peter wasn't a very good mascot. U-953 sank one small merchantman in 2 years of service. On the other hand, U-953 survived the war and surrendered to the British in Norway so perhaps he was a good mascot after all.
This seems to argue for the idea that the problem with this isn't that there were Nazis who liked cats, it's that there weren't enough cats. The internet turns out to be an agent of peace just because people are increasingly distracted by kitten videos.
posted by Sequence at 11:14 AM on November 13, 2013
This seems to argue for the idea that the problem with this isn't that there were Nazis who liked cats, it's that there weren't enough cats. The internet turns out to be an agent of peace just because people are increasingly distracted by kitten videos.
posted by Sequence at 11:14 AM on November 13, 2013
Imagine serving on the submarine that has a cat
Many ships had a cat.
A submarine though. Imagine "The Hunt For Red October"; sitting there under the sea in silence in a cat-pee-smelling ship hoping no one will hear a sound, then the goddamned cat decides it's time to meow loudly and charge around at top speed for no reason.
posted by Hoopo at 11:15 AM on November 13, 2013 [11 favorites]
Many ships had a cat.
A submarine though. Imagine "The Hunt For Red October"; sitting there under the sea in silence in a cat-pee-smelling ship hoping no one will hear a sound, then the goddamned cat decides it's time to meow loudly and charge around at top speed for no reason.
posted by Hoopo at 11:15 AM on November 13, 2013 [11 favorites]
Yeah, hello? Stalin?
He (well, the Soviet people) reduced at least one German soldier to fancying at bit of cat meat in the defence of his eponymous city:
He (well, the Soviet people) reduced at least one German soldier to fancying at bit of cat meat in the defence of his eponymous city:
The horses have already been eaten. I would eat a cat; they say its meat is also tasty.posted by Abiezer at 11:16 AM on November 13, 2013
Lots of subs had cats --- and while a litterbox can smell, there's a reason the old diesel submarines were referred to as "pigboats". My submariner father used to tell us how water was so limited that you were lucky to get a two minute shower once a week, and the biggest reward the captain could give you was a five minute "Hollywood shower"..... a hundred or so guys doing strenuous work, showering once a week? I'm thinking nobody was worried about the litterbox!
posted by easily confused at 11:23 AM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by easily confused at 11:23 AM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
The problem with the site "Cats that look like Hitler" is that the meme has become so watered down, that any cat with mustache-like patch of black hair under its nose becomes a Kitler. Example A - way too broad a mustache for Hitler. Example B - someone actually understands the scale of Hitler's mustache!
posted by filthy light thief at 11:23 AM on November 13, 2013
posted by filthy light thief at 11:23 AM on November 13, 2013
I guess this is what we mean by jackbooted hugs, eh?
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:27 AM on November 13, 2013
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:27 AM on November 13, 2013
A submarine though. Imagine "The Hunt For Red October"; sitting there under the sea in silence in a cat-pee-smelling ship hoping no one will hear a sound, then the goddamned cat decides it's time to meow loudly and charge around at top speed for no reason.
They made that movie. It was called Alien.
posted by localroger at 11:29 AM on November 13, 2013 [7 favorites]
They made that movie. It was called Alien.
posted by localroger at 11:29 AM on November 13, 2013 [7 favorites]
Year ago, Rhino released a compilation of Hitler's home movies, which was exactly that. It was weirdly chilling to see Hitler, Goring, and other architects of the Final Solution playing with their dogs, enjoying dinner with their families, and admiring their kids' drawings.
posted by ThatFuzzyBastard at 11:30 AM on November 13, 2013
posted by ThatFuzzyBastard at 11:30 AM on November 13, 2013
The problem with the site "Cats that look like Hitler" is that the meme has become so watered down, that any cat with mustache-like patch of black hair under its nose becomes a Kitler. Example A - way too broad a mustache for Hitler. Example B - someone actually understands the scale of Hitler's mustache!
That Exhibit A looks definitely like a certain Marx brother.
Very few things are more odd than seeing pictures of the German/Nazi war machine when it's not war machining.
posted by Atreides at 11:35 AM on November 13, 2013
That Exhibit A looks definitely like a certain Marx brother.
Very few things are more odd than seeing pictures of the German/Nazi war machine when it's not war machining.
posted by Atreides at 11:35 AM on November 13, 2013
Say what you will about National Socialism, Dude, but they knew how to give scritchies.
posted by bondcliff at 12:00 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by bondcliff at 12:00 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
C'mon, kitty, how are you being so adorable yet allowing that Nazi to get paperwork done? Do your part! Nap on that ledger!
posted by maryr at 12:09 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by maryr at 12:09 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
I always thought Nazis would be dog people.
About that.
posted by Celsius1414 at 12:16 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
About that.
posted by Celsius1414 at 12:16 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
orme: "Needs more laser beam kitties."
More Nein Cat...
posted by symbioid at 12:17 PM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
More Nein Cat...
posted by symbioid at 12:17 PM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Catzis!
posted by Mike D at 12:39 PM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Mike D at 12:39 PM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
That's just so wrong, symbioid. It was wrong to create it, and it was wrong of you to bring it here. It was definitely wrong of me to laugh, despite myself, as I watched it. It was wrong to tell you that I laughed. It is wrong.
posted by Mister_A at 12:49 PM on November 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Mister_A at 12:49 PM on November 13, 2013 [4 favorites]
For some reason, I have the Lovin' Spoonful's "Nashville Cats" playing in my head.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 12:51 PM on November 13, 2013
posted by Kirth Gerson at 12:51 PM on November 13, 2013
EVERYBODY* likes cats!
*except for those that don't
is "Nazi" Germany's "N-word"?
Katzenkrauts?
The "K-word" maybe?
posted by BlueHorse at 12:51 PM on November 13, 2013
*except for those that don't
is "Nazi" Germany's "N-word"?
Katzenkrauts?
The "K-word" maybe?
posted by BlueHorse at 12:51 PM on November 13, 2013
The pantsless guy is from WWI so he is not a Nazi. Well maybe later, we don't know.
posted by interplanetjanet at 1:22 PM on November 13, 2013
posted by interplanetjanet at 1:22 PM on November 13, 2013
Year ago, Rhino released a compilation of Hitler's home movies, which was exactly that. It was weirdly chilling to see Hitler, Goring, and other architects of the Final Solution playing with their dogs, enjoying dinner with their families, and admiring their kids' drawings.
Also known by Hannah Arendt's apt phrase, "the banality of evil". From that link, "[Arendt's] thesis is that the great evils in history generally, and the Holocaust in particular, were not executed by fanatics or sociopaths, but by ordinary people who accepted the premises of their state and therefore participated with the view that their actions were normal." So sure, why not own cats and enjoy your kids' drawings? Über Bond villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld had a cat as well.
posted by mosk at 1:28 PM on November 13, 2013
Also known by Hannah Arendt's apt phrase, "the banality of evil". From that link, "[Arendt's] thesis is that the great evils in history generally, and the Holocaust in particular, were not executed by fanatics or sociopaths, but by ordinary people who accepted the premises of their state and therefore participated with the view that their actions were normal." So sure, why not own cats and enjoy your kids' drawings? Über Bond villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld had a cat as well.
posted by mosk at 1:28 PM on November 13, 2013
The pantsless guy is from WWI so he is not a Nazi. Well maybe later, we don't know.
Yes, I think that's just how you get out of being sent on Ludendorff's Spring Offensive.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:32 PM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Yes, I think that's just how you get out of being sent on Ludendorff's Spring Offensive.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:32 PM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Related, for those who enjoy profoundly strange books: Long-Whiskers and the Two-Legged Goddess is the fictionalized autobiography of Savitri Devi Mukherji, as told by her beloved cats. Savitri Devi Mukherji (née Maximiani Portas) was a Hindu Nazi Mystic who loved animal rights and deep ecology.
Early in Long-Whiskers, Savitri Devi cuddles one of her widdle kitties, simultaneously bemoaning the use of cats in medical experiments, while also vocally endorsing the use of Jews for medical experiments.
posted by Sticherbeast at 1:45 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Early in Long-Whiskers, Savitri Devi cuddles one of her widdle kitties, simultaneously bemoaning the use of cats in medical experiments, while also vocally endorsing the use of Jews for medical experiments.
posted by Sticherbeast at 1:45 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
mosk: "Also known by Hannah Arendt's apt phrase, "the banality of evil""
I came here to mention that. The Nazis were evil, but they were also humans. Even supremely terrible people eat, sleep, go to the bathroom. That's what makes it true evil so appalling - these guys aren't otherworldly spirits of evil like Sauron. They're just people.
Yes, I know Sauron has a physical form at one point.
posted by Chrysostom at 2:08 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
I came here to mention that. The Nazis were evil, but they were also humans. Even supremely terrible people eat, sleep, go to the bathroom. That's what makes it true evil so appalling - these guys aren't otherworldly spirits of evil like Sauron. They're just people.
Yes, I know Sauron has a physical form at one point.
posted by Chrysostom at 2:08 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yes but did Sauron like cats.
posted by elizardbits at 2:29 PM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 2:29 PM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
i mean the nazgul sound pretty familiar to anyone who has ever been unfortunate enough to give a cat a bath
posted by elizardbits at 2:29 PM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 2:29 PM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Yuck.
posted by Mike Mongo at 2:30 PM on November 13, 2013
posted by Mike Mongo at 2:30 PM on November 13, 2013
I don't think it's why they won, but maybe the Allies just had better animal pals?
posted by hap_hazard at 2:30 PM on November 13, 2013
posted by hap_hazard at 2:30 PM on November 13, 2013
Chaotic evil and lawful evil, together in one Tumblr.
Surely cats are chaotic neutral?
posted by Slithy_Tove at 2:48 PM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
Surely cats are chaotic neutral?
posted by Slithy_Tove at 2:48 PM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
elizardbits: "Yes but did Sauron like cats."
"I fear that to me Siamese cats belong to the fauna of Mordor[....]"posted by Chrysostom at 3:09 PM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]
― J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 219
Yes but did Sauron like cats.
(cut to Sauron seated in a theater, giddily clutching his Playbill, grinning as "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats" plays)
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:17 PM on November 13, 2013 [6 favorites]
(cut to Sauron seated in a theater, giddily clutching his Playbill, grinning as "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats" plays)
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:17 PM on November 13, 2013 [6 favorites]
whoa slam on the siamese cat outta nowhere
posted by angrycat at 3:23 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by angrycat at 3:23 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Eponysterical
posted by Chrysostom at 3:32 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Chrysostom at 3:32 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Vivisection Verboten*
*human vivisection not included
posted by Sys Rq at 4:49 PM on November 13, 2013
*human vivisection not included
posted by Sys Rq at 4:49 PM on November 13, 2013
(cut to Sauron seated in a theater, giddily clutching his Playbill, grinning as "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats" plays)
Down in front!
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 5:17 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Down in front!
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 5:17 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]
Not just the banality of evil, but the pleasantness. I think a lot of post-Arendt fiction on the Nazis portrays them as grey, soulless bureaucrats, to unimaginative to realize what they're doing. But seeing them take pleasure in simple human things is a whole other level of cognitive dissonance.
posted by ThatFuzzyBastard at 11:34 AM on November 14, 2013
posted by ThatFuzzyBastard at 11:34 AM on November 14, 2013
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posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:16 AM on November 13, 2013 [15 favorites]