My Years with Ludwig von Mises, by Margit von Mises (full text, pdf)
When Hitler invaded the Netherlands on May 10, 1940, I really became frightened. I had to talk to Lu. He did not want to leave. He never had been so happy as he was in Geneva, and he did not feel any fear. I reminded him of the night the Nazis came to Vienna. I told him the Nazis would never take him off their black list. I begged him, I implored him to leave, to think of me, if he would not think of himself. But it took the breakdown of the Maginot Line, the occupation of Paris on June 14, and the raising of the German swastika on the highest point of the Eiffel Tower to make Lu aware of the danger. Finally, he gave in and promised to make the necessary preparations for us to leave for the United States.
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The most frightening aspects of totalitarian government action like this is the speed with which the final step occurs.
In typical government fashion, they make their initial preparations slowly. Things are done in a very plodding, bureaucratic way. Networks are built. Systems are implemented — all of the reports, checks, stops, supervisors, approvals, databases, regulatory requirements. We are lulled into complacency as they tell us these things are public safety measures, economic improvements, merely the organization of efficient, modern life.
In a flash, it snaps shut, and the true purpose of all of these preparations is revealed. All along, they were fashioning an open-air prison. People always seem very surprised at the final moment when they finally lock the door.
did he ever think of taking up the fight against the nazi menace? or was that that to be left to the serfs—to save the nobility
W. Murphy-
At the start of WWII Mises was a 60 year old married man with adopted children who was wanted dead or alive (preferably dead) by two opposing socialist empires (Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia). What do you propose he should have done? Joining the resistance against either would have result in capture by the other – not to mention jeopardizing family and friends who would have been targeted as hostages.
CC
When he was younger, he did end up snared into WWI, like everyone else his age.
I wonder who he was supposed to fight the Nazis with? Switzerland is neutral and the English were pretty much the last ones standing in Europe at that point.
Brent wrote “…the English were pretty much the last ones standing in Europe at that point”.
Absolute nonsense – unless he has forgotten the rest of the UK (we are a 20% or so minority, don’t forget, and it is offensive knowingly to call us English – and irritating to be overlooked), plus Irish volunteers, plus forces from the rest of the British Commonwealth (you know, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, Kenya, both Rhodesias, much of the Caribbean…).
P.M. Lawrence, I recently had to learn the demography of the UK so your reaction is interesting!
My Years with Ludwig von Mises is a great book. You learn about how the folks lived in Europe at the time and of course, about Mises.
The real fight wasn’t against Nazis (drafted young Germans). The real right was against Nazism and collectivism in general!
Ludwig von Mises fought well against it.
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