They Thought They Were Free

Abstract

This excerpt from Milton Mayer's "They Thought They Were Free" offers a chilling account of the incremental erosion of democratic norms and individual liberties in Germany during the Nazi regime (1933-45). Through interviews with German citizens, including a colleague who remained politically disengaged until it was too late, Mayer illustrates how subtle shifts in government policy and public sentiment created an environment where dissent was gradually silenced. The narrative explores themes of complacency, moral decay, and the dangers of unquestioning conformity, culminating in a stark reminder that "the world you live in—your nation, your people—is not the world you were born in at all." This work serves as a cautionary tale about the fragility of democratic societies and the importance of vigilance in preserving freedom.