Soldiers and Heinrich Himmler (spoiler)
Why would the German soldiers listen to him and arrest Heusmann? What was his role in the German government?
shareLeader (Reichsfuehrer) of the SS. Minister of the Interior. National Chief of Police. Director of the Reich Main Security Office, which controlled the Gestapo, the concentration camps, the police, and the Security Service. The only person senior to him in the German government was Adolf Hitler. He's a rather well known historical figure.
shareThat being said I thought the whole thing happened way too quickly to seem plausible. Smith shows Himmler a folder, he's immediately convinced of the conspiracy and gets his soldiers to depose Heussman in a matter of a few minutes. It just seemed way too rushed.
shareI agree it seemed rushed, but at the same time Himmler may have already been planning to remove Heusmann anyway, and Smith's dossier merely prompted him to advance the plot to also short-circuit Heusmann starting the war with Japan. (In both the novel and in Ed's summary of the German leadership in season 1, Himmler was mentioned as being one of the individuals likely to seize power in the shake up of the Nazi leadership.)
shareYes, that is what led me to my question. I understood Himmler was a high ranking official from history, though not to the extent listed above. But if Heussman was the new ruler, you'd think there'd be a little more questioning. Himmler seemed to be the one with absolute authority, not the Chancellor.
shareNot to mention the reaction of the crowd. Sure, they're Nazis but Nazi Germany wasn't Orwell's Oceania. I'd expect even that crowd to react to Himmler's announcement with "Wait, What?!"
shareYes, while I loved the story of the final episode, I wish the process of showing that Smith had compiled a damning case against Heussmann, his presentation of it and the film to Himmler, Himmler's overthrow of Heussmann and Smith held up as a hero hadn't been so rushed. It was a great example of political suspense and intrigue that was almost lost if you blinked.
shareI'd be curious as to how much of the back half of the second season feeling rushed was the result of Spotnitz's departure/removal from the show.
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