The Victor Davis Hanson Show

More WWII ‘Revisionist’ History & the Vulgarity of a Kennedy Scion

36 snips
Aug 28, 2025
A controversial interview invites debate on World War II alliances, questioning whether a pact with Hitler could have shifted outcomes. The legacy of the Kennedy family is scrutinized, particularly a grandson's social media antics and critiques of JFK's impact. Discussions on political language reveal how rhetoric can disconnect elites from everyday citizens, while also shedding light on the complexities of historical narratives and their implications today. The show navigates tensions between academia and public opinion, highlighting the ongoing battle over historical interpretation.
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INSIGHT

Alleged 'Ally With Hitler' Argument Is Flawed

  • Victor Hanson argues David Collum's claim we should have sided with Hitler is historically wrong and ignores Nazi intentions described in Mein Kampf.
  • Hanson emphasizes Nazi plans for starvation and mass murder predated the Soviet invasion and make any alliance with Hitler morally and practically untenable.
INSIGHT

Claims About Missing Americans After WWII Overstated

  • Hanson disputes Collum's claim that 15,000–20,000 Americans disappeared in Soviet custody and explains postwar prisoner-exchange complexities.
  • He says most Allied prisoners were eventually exchanged and the large missing-number claim lacks archival support.
INSIGHT

U.S. Aid To USSR Was Strategic, Not Naive

  • Hanson explains U.S. Lend-Lease and material support to the USSR were deliberate strategies to let the Soviets bleed German forces.
  • He frames U.S. assistance as realpolitik: sacrificing fewer Americans by empowering Soviet resistance against Germany.
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