I'm not very familiar with this particular person. But in those parts of europe it was common to join Nazi-adjoint (SS or otherwise) formations to defend against inevitable comeback of Soviets. After experiencing Soviets first-hand in 1939-41, many people weren't exactly looking forward for them coming back.
I have an old friend who is Jewish and whose father survived a NAZI concentration camp in Poland. He was basically an infant when we went in.
He naturally hated the NAZIs and the German nation of the time, but he maintained a lifelong deeper distrust and probably-bigoted hatred for Poles (and Slavs from that part of the world in general) because it was Polish neighbours who put him in there, and he saw plenty of enthusiastic Polish accomplices.
Germans back in Germany or on the western front could often claim plausible ignorance of what the NAZIs were up to with the concentration camps. Volunteering in an SS militia in the lands where the bulk of the extermination of Jews was happening is another form of evil entirely.
The holocaust is the most horrible crime of the 20th century, probably of all of human history. Being an accomplice to it, even just in thoughts and ideology, is repugnant with no excuse.
Why? Is history too complex? If at least one person was encouraged to read about events in this part of the world during and around WWII, my goal is reached.
You've been here for 15 years. You shouldn't have to ask why posting comments depicting the SS as after-all-not-so-bad and really-just-defensive, might come across as flamebait or trolling.
I'm sorry, but this is just a historical fact that core Wafen-SS was very different from some auxiliary units. There's Nuremberg trials and plenty of research came after that.
As far as I understand Hacker in HN stands for hacking both technology and mainstream culture to build a better future. And discussing troublesome historical events is a part of it. IMO a huge portion of political divide in West is precisely because many historical events are brushed under the carpet with very vague understanding.
Personally I like reading HN threads that go deep discussing such topics in other parts of the world. Of course, as long as discussions are civil and based on facts rather than name calling.
The part that you seem to be missing is in this guideline: "Comments should get more thoughtful and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive." - https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
Part of what "thoughtful" means is taking into account how your posts might be landing with others, especially those on the other side of divides like this one.
I'm not going to try to persuade you that you owe better to someone who you perceive this way; however, you definitely owe this community better if you're participating in it, and on that basis I have to ask you not to post like this again.
I do not subscribe to the idea the regular german army was entirely clean. And all war is dirty!
Furthermore you are absolutely correct that Soviet rule was not something you'd wish for.
Waffen SS was however a truly heinous organisation. If you consider it common to join the SS I would state that it also paints a rather extreme picture of those persons.
I think it is very dangerous to apologise for SS "just because they killed Soviets".
The main Waffen SS and ethnic units in eastern europe were two different things.
You're thinking about SS units formed in Nazi Gerrmany-proper. Ethnic units, while technically a part of Waffen SS, were quite a different story. At least up here in between Nazis and Soviuets. Recruitment was mostly about defending from Soviets. In most cases leaders were well-known figures from interwar era. And usually those leaders did a lot to make sure their units ain't used for stuff you typically think of when you hear „Waffen SS“. At the end of the war, those units were the starting point for post-WW2 anti-soviet resistance. Both people and guns/ammo.
"While technically he was a literal Nazi in the literal SS..."
Buddy, think about what you are writing. You don't need to defend these people. What they did, what they were a part of, is in fact bad and they should feel bad.
Was wondering why you were going so hard to defend the SS and then saw you’re in Lithuania. A country that still tries to downplay/deny its role aiding the Nazis in the holocaust. Must be something in the air there.
