@Einherjar
Let's put things in perspective first. Are we historians or priests? How does the acceptability or morality of a thing even enter in our argument?
1. Primarily we are political wonks using history as our chosen battlefield. So both your suggestions are not completely accurate.
2. You can't analyse history without considering the perspectives of people around during the period.
Now, as for the subject in question, it is my idea that opposition to German imperialism (and indeed all other aspiring imperialists) is closely, mainly but not exclusively, tied to British Imperialism.
A problematic approach, since early British policy condoned early German imperialism as a counterbalance to other powers.
Humanitarianism and anti-imperialism, which are so prevalent and "detached" these days, trace their origin to British imperialism.
To stick another wrench in the works, you all have the French and other western European colonisers to thank for that. The public outcry over Leopold’s Congolese empire after all was fairly general.
Therefore anti-imperialism or what became as such or - more accurately - the rhetoric that gave rise to such was originally intended as a means to safeguard British global hegemony against potential disturbers like Germany and Italy.
The British Empire encouraged sentiment that contributed to its own dismantlement? That’s just absurd.
the American inheritance of the British mantle
American hegemony has been different in function and style to British Empire. In fact at a time when the US is often portrayed as ‘inheriting’ the British legacy, the British were engaging in their own post-colonial (or at least final colonial) actions, making such a simple transition narrative flawed.
@Qatz
There could be a million reasons for the timing of the Second World War.
The point, which you as always are trying to evade, is that none of the reasons you provide make sense in light of actual events.
That none of us can explain the exact dates of aggressive actions (or have much knowledge of behind-the-scenes politics)
You ignorance of the historiography of the period shouldn’t be mistake for absence of such things. Economic and military explanations actually do go a good way to explaining the timing of Hitler’s invasion of Poland (and subsequent trigger of the wider war). These explanations are not based on, as you pathetically wail, on propaganda, but on German archival materials ranging from official government documents to Hitler’s lunchtime chatter.
doesn't mean the Evil-Allies theory doesn't stick.
A theory that you can’t substantiate in any way doesn’t stick either.
British torture and aerial bombings aren't "worse" than German ones. And there have been many, many more British ones.
So quantity counts for more than ‘quality’? On what basis do you make that assumption?
The Germans were saints compared to the British when it came to colonizing the rest of the world. And this is because the Germans lived in small city-states for most of Modern history
The Germans elite instead had a savage history of wars amongst themselves (remember where the wars of religion were fought?), followed by wars with all of their neighbours. The British, who built their strength on trade rather than war, were generally a lot more tolerant of existing hierarchies in subject areas than the Germans proved to be.
whereas the UK became a giant sprawling mess of master-race-themed aggression
That would be why the British Empire consistent set its own limits on expansion right? Remember your Zinn Qatz, the British were blocking American colonial expansion into the interior.
I would argue that you've read books that were written by British and American and Jewish historians who have spun Germany's history as "sinister."
So you have just explained, but I guess Einherjar needs your ‘me too’ post a lot.
I tend not to evaluate historians based on their national or cultural background, but based on the work they have actually done. It is only a very lazy, and probably basically unpleasant, character who dismisses work based on who said it rather than what was said.
Spin and self interest.
Tools you happily employ in your posts.