Misremembering

In today’s riveting segment of Dave Does History on Bill Mick Live, Dave Bowman takes us on a journey exploring the chilling implications of Nazi ideology and why historical memory is vital. Using Adolf Hitler’s calculated policies in 1938 and his fascination with Napoleon’s mistakes as a starting point, Dave discusses why merely “knowing” history isn’t enough. Bowman argues that it’s our failure to *remember* history that leads us to make the same errors—mistakes like Hitler’s ill-fated Russian campaign, made with full knowledge of Napoleon’s blunders but without any real lessons learned.

The discussion also tackles the casual use of terms like “Nazi” and “fascist” in modern politics. Bowman explains how using these words as casual insults, detached from their historical weight, diminishes our grasp on what these ideologies truly represent. Together with Bill Mick, Dave sheds light on how historical narratives shape societal values and warns against the perils of forgetting these lessons. With calls from listeners and powerful anecdotes, this episode reminds us that misusing historical terms not only disrespects the past but also endangers the moral foundation they teach us to uphold.

Tune in as Dave Bowman and Bill Mick delve into a thoughtful conversation on why history matters now more than ever.

In today’s episode of Dave Does History, Dave Bowman takes us on a thought-provoking journey into the dangerous terrain of forgotten history and misunderstood labels. With characteristic wit and a historian’s precision, Dave dissects our modern tendency to casually throw around terms like “Nazi” and “fascist,” especially in political settings. But as Dave passionately explains, these words carry heavy historical meanings that should make us think twice before tossing them around as insults. By remembering — truly remembering — what these terms mean, we preserve the lessons they hold and respect the sacrifices made to stop them in the past.

The discussion kicks off with a fascinating anecdote from June 23, 1940, when Adolf Hitler visited Paris and gazed at Napoleon’s tomb. Dave reminds us that Hitler was fully aware of Napoleon’s fatal mistake in Russia, yet he went on to repeat it himself in 1941. Knowledge of history didn’t save Hitler from a disastrous outcome. What he lacked, Dave argues, was not knowledge but the insight to *remember* history’s lessons and apply them wisely. As the famous quote by George Santayana goes, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Dave underscores that the critical takeaway here is “remember” — not just to know history, but to hold its lessons close enough that they shape our values and actions.

This theme of remembering, rather than simply knowing, weaves through the episode as Dave and Bill delve into why historical terms have become diluted and distorted. How often do we hear “Nazi” hurled as a political insult, when it once represented one of the gravest evils the world has known? It’s a careless use that reveals a societal memory slipping, as we lose the raw understanding of what the Nazi regime truly stood for and the horrors it unleashed. To drive the point home, Dave recounts how 1938 Nazi laws restricted Jewish livelihoods, banning Jews from owning businesses, attending theaters, and even growing their own food. These laws were among the early steps on a path that would eventually lead to mass atrocities.

The episode touches on a rarely discussed idea in history: the power of inculcating values and principles through storytelling. Dave points to ancient Roman society and the role of historical tales in embedding Roman virtues into their culture, explaining that recounting these stories instilled shared values that held society together. In today’s world, he argues, when history is forgotten or distorted, we risk losing our own moral foundation and unwittingly paving the way for the same atrocities to repeat.

Listeners chimed in, sharing experiences and perspectives, from memories of World War II to questions about modern-day Nazis and fascists. One caller drew a stark comparison between political opponents and the real Nazis, revealing how easily such terms are misapplied. Bowman took this as an opportunity to remind us that “Nazi” isn’t just an insult; it’s a name forever marked by its place in history for unthinkable crimes. Simply throwing around that label reflects either ignorance or a deliberate misremembering of history, neither of which we can afford.

Bill Mick adds to the conversation with a personal anecdote about his time as a telephone operator when a woman repeatedly used the phrase “Nazi German baby rapers.” This story, while humorous, highlights how language and historical terms can lose their true meaning when repeated without understanding.

Toward the end of the episode, Dave suggests that real change starts with each of us choosing our words with greater care. He challenges listeners to reflect on their understanding of history before labeling anyone a Nazi. After all, unless the person in question is marching people onto a frozen river and shelling the ice to kill them — as real Nazis did — we’re probably misapplying the term. And in doing so, we’re failing to remember the sacrifices that were made to prevent a world governed by such ideologies.

This episode of Dave Does History isn’t just a history lesson. It’s a call to awareness, a reminder to honor the past by protecting the meaning of words rooted in history. For Dave Bowman, history is a living dialogue that holds society’s virtues, values, and principles. And as we let history’s words slip into misuse, we risk losing those very things that make us who we are.