What about those generals … Let’s look at a few.

Hitler became the dictator of Germany in 1933 through an act of the German parliament called the Enabling Act. This gave Hitler the power to make and enforce laws and bypass the system of checks and balances. Hitler used the laws of Germany to seize power. Trump is ahead of schedule. The Supreme Court has already ruled that he can do anything, whether it’s against the law or not, once he becomes President. Trump has said in public that he intends to take advantage of that power. That’s more than Hitler ever said before he became Chancellor of Germany.

By 1934, Hitler murdered hundreds of the very people who supported him in his thirst for power in the Night of the Long Knives. They including Ernst Röhm, Chief of Staff of the Sturmabteilung (SA) and Kurt von Schleicher, former Chancellor of Germany in 1932. Hitler did this to eliminate any possibility that one of them could ever plot against him.

The Republican politicians who are supporting Trump now should keep this in mind.

What has happened, can happen.

But, in general, the traditional German army was loyal to Hitler. For example, Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus, commander of the German 3^rd Army. He invaded Holland, Russia, and Poland for Hitler. But then Hitler commanded him take the Russian city of Stalingrad. It became the single largest and costliest urban battle in military history. The entire army was lost. Paulus’ family in Germany was punished because Paulus was taken prisoner by the Russians and couldn’t be punished further by HItler. This was his reward for his loyalty.

Not all German officers were loyal. General Stauffenberg, Henning von Tresckow and Hans Oster were executed along with about 200 other German officers for the failed Operation Valkyrie to assassinate Hitler.

What has happened, can happen.

The time to prevent Hitler would have been before he was able to seize absolute control in Germany. Once he had power, it became a job for the rest of the world. There is still time – about two weeks – for the people of America to prevent Trump from doing what Hitler did.