If you could go back in time and shoot Hitler, would you?

[FUAU]

No, I would most likely undo my own existence. Also, blood makes me squeamish.

 

[Risingblade]

Nope, no good can come from it

 

[Purple Shrimp]

killing Hitler probably wouldn't have ended World War 2, since there was already huge tension between Germany and other nations mainly due to the Treaty of Versailles. killing the assassin of Franz Ferdinand probably would do the job though

maybe, but both sides were spoiling for a fight. even if Franz Ferdinand had not been assassinated, they would probably have found something else too go to war over

Keep in mind, though, that the main reason Russia entered the war was that Serbia, one of its allies, was associated with the assassination of the Archduke and thus was at the heart of the conflict. If not for that then Serbia (and by extension Russia) might have stayed out of the war completely, which would mean that the Austro-Hungarian forces would be far more concentrated on the west. it's possible then that the war would have had a different outcome, which would not have led to the Treaty of Versailles and thus WW2

 

[Ambi]

No. I'd give him a hug, or at least something to eat (considering I arrive at the right time). It's okay that you didn't get into art school, Adolf. I think your paintings are lovely. I'd also try to talk to him reasonably.

 

[Apollo45]

Nope. Do that and Stalin comes in and starts taking over stuff, then shit goes more down the drain, a new mineral-like substance is found, some terrorist organization tries to make a move for power, the substance is found to be alien in nature, it takes over most of the world, aliens come, and so on and so forth. Overall, it ends quite badly, and confusingly, with a poorly made game and some stupid plot points. So, no, killing Hitler is probably not the best idea ever.

 

[Damien Granz]

Basically if you had the chance to kill Hitler, would you? Fame and glory are out of the question, nobody will know that you did it. My question is, is that if Hitler had died would that have prevented world war 2? would it have prevented the holocaust? what would the world look like today? What if the trials of that period were what made the world today as we know it?

my answer is that it wouldn't have done much. depending on the time period, lets assume mid thirties, Hitler would have already started the Nazi party, so thats there. the Japanese were still trying to expand, but Italy wouldn't have without Germany, and they wouldn't have been as effective had they tried. It might have prevented the holocaust though, but I'm not sure.

Hitler's death wouldn't prevent World War 2, and killing somebody before they commit a crime is murder, and a crime.

Hitler was at best a figurehead, and at worst a charismatic dupe and puppet. Killing him to stop the war would be like trying to stop a train by painting over the numbers on it.

I'd rather prepare good people to stop what he started before it rolled out of control than try to play some cosmic time cop killing for thought crime, in the hopes that somebody's death in a vacuum would somehow change history, as if nobody else would pick up the throne, so to speak.

 

[bl4ckh4wk64]

Nope, nothing would have changed. Actually, that's wrong. There would be a new person people consider Hitler. It would probably be Himler...

 

[Athol]

I would, just to see what happens. Although it would be during World War One, making him just another casualty.

 

[PrinceArutha]

killing Hitler probably wouldn't have ended World War 2, since there was already huge tension between Germany and other nations mainly due to the Treaty of Versailles. killing the assassin of Franz Ferdinand probably would do the job though

maybe, but both sides were spoiling for a fight. even if Franz Ferdinand had not been assassinated, they would probably have found something else too go to war over

Keep in mind, though, that the main reason Russia entered the war was that Serbia, one of its allies, was associated with the assassination of the Archduke and thus was at the heart of the conflict. If not for that then Serbia (and by extension Russia) might have stayed out of the war completely, which would mean that the Austro-Hungarian forces would be far more concentrated on the west. it's possible then that the war would have had a different outcome, which would not have led to the Treaty of Versailles and thus WW2

Good point, well made.

 

[Harry Mason]

Yes. He was a bad man. One of the WORST in fact. Shooting him could have potentially saved thousands of innocents.

Captcha sez: "knives skeleton"
How odd.

 

[ultrachicken]

No. I subscribe to the "change anything and you're fucked" theory regarding time travel. Not to mention the fact that without him, I wouldn't exist.

 

[infohippie]

No, it won't stop WW2, and even if it did the war was a huge driver for a lot of modern technology. Computers, rockets & space technology, aircraft, materials science, everything has benefited massively from WW2.
I would, however, try to bring the Allies' attention to the spy report that told, fairly early on, of the construction of the camps and the beginnings of the Holocaust. It wasn't until much later that report was found and investigated, by which time it was too late for millions of Jews, homosexuals, and other "undesirables".

 

[jackpipsam]

no, we would not be here.

 

[BlueGlowstick]

I'm part-German, have natural blonde hair & green-blue/blue-green eyes. Technically I'm biased but yes.

 

[CharrHearted]

SNAKE, YOU CANNOT DO THAT! THE FUTURE WOULD BE CHANGED! You'll create a TIME PARADOX!

 

[Wintermoot]

depending on WHEN you killed Hitler the effects could be either worse or better, if it was BEFORE his rise to power WWII WOULDN'T have happened(including any lessons/developments made due to WWII).
If it was DURING WWII the world could be worse (Hitler was a bad commander and he lost due to bad decisions like not sending Winter uniforms to a battalion or conquering useless areas)a better strategist/leader would take his place.
Even though it would be before the war I wouldn't shoot him, I kinda like this world.

 

[Kyrian007]

Yes, without question or even hesitation I would shoot Hitler. I do get all of the paradox/timeline arguments and have nothing against someone who would not shoot Hitler. But the potential of catastrophic damage to the time continuum would be worth the personal satisfaction of shooting Hitler (to me anyway.) Especially if I went for a gnad shot, or a pair of them.

 

[Slick Samurai]

I can't say much other than what has already been said. WWII and the Nazis caused some terrible stuff, but without it something far worse would have happened. It's like when you get really mad and the only thing you can think of is to punch the wall. Your hand probably hurts like hell and it was probably a pretty stupid idea, but worse things could have happened had you not vented.

 

[StellarViking]

Someone shot him in WWI and if he was supposed to die, he would have right then. He was undeniably evil, but I agree with the whole "Change the past, fuck up the present" idea.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

And erase nearly 70 years of post-Hitler history? Are you insane?

You'd essentially be destroying billions of people.

Edit: Ooh, ooh! What if Hitler's just the guy who was "next in line" for our branch, and thousands of time travelers already killed their Nazi leaders?