A Partial Defense of Adolf Hitler Presentation Feb. 19th

Posted By: Steve Urness
February 13, 2026 @ 12:14 pm
News

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Gilbert Kuipers will give a partial defense presentation about Adolf Hitler on Thursday, February 19th at 7pm in the Barnes County Historical Society Museum in downtown Valley City.

The Barnes County Historical Society Lecture Series Season 25 presents Dr. Gilbert Kuipers (Professor Emeritus, VCSU) with the lecture, “A ‘Partial’ Defense of Adolf Hitler?” at 7:00 PM on Thursday, February 19th, at the Barnes County Museum, 315 Central Ave N, Valley City, ND. We recognize that the subject matter is deeply sensitive and may evoke strong emotions; our intention is to provide a respectful, educational environment for thoughtful historical analysis and critical engagement.

This lecture aims to examine historical arguments and the ethical standards established following WWII. As depicted in the 2025 film “Nuremberg,” post-war trials put former Nazi leaders on trial for crimes against humanity committed during WWII, resulting in the tragic loss of millions of innocent lives. While Adolf Hitler did not survive the war, this presentation will consider what defenses might have been offered if his actions had been judged by universal moral standards, and whether such defenses could have succeeded.

The discussion will explore Hitler’s justification for Germany’s expansion, referencing his belief in conquest and colonization, and his adoption of social Darwinism and racial hierarchy, which led to the pursuit of Lebensraum in Eastern Europe. The Nuremberg Trials, however, firmly rejected these arguments, establishing that prior injustices by other nations could not excuse new crimes, nor could personal belief justify actions that violate basic human rights and human dignity.

Dr. Kuipers, Professor Emeritus at Valley City State University, has been with VCSU since 1981, teaching physics as well as math, chemistry, and computer science. He has a longstanding interest in history, current events, and politics, and has presented several times for this lecture series.

The public is cordially invited to attend. All lectures are held at the Barnes County Historical Society Museum in conjunction with Valley City State University. They are free and open to the public. We invite attendees to participate in respectful dialogue and educational engagement, and a Q&A session will follow the presentation. For questions or concerns about the topic ahead of time, please contact Wes Anderson at 701-845-0966.

We look forward to welcoming you for an evening of critical historical discussion and encourage your thoughtful participation in this important conversation.

The following is a summary of Kuipers upcoming presentation: “Let’s not worry which, if any, religion is the correct one, but suppose that after Adolf Hitler’s death, his soul had been given a fair trial according to broad concepts of universal morality. What defense could it have had, and could that defense have succeeded?

That war’s major decisions were not made by the so-called, Greatest Generation, of young men born around 1915, but by those born in the nineteenth century. At that time, Herbert Spencer’s “survival of the fittest” philosophy was used to justify “scientific racism” as an explanation for European domination of the world. The Jewish-Masonic-Communist conspiracy theory was smoldering beneath the surface. Although their world was shattered by the Great War, in hindsight they should have seen the approaching disaster.

Hitler’s logic drew heavily on historical precedent, arguing that Germany’s quest for territorial expansion was simply following the example set by other world powers. He believed that if Britain, France, Russia, and especially the United States had all justified their growth through conquest and colonization, then Germany’s pursuit of Lebensraum in the east was not only reasonable but necessary for national survival. The hope was that unlike the 1914 war, Germany would only have a one front war to the east. A greater Germany, about the size of the 48-state continental U.S. could then form an alliance with other nations for mutual defense against the expanding American empire.

The Nuremberg Trials marked a major turning point in the evolution of international law. For the first time, the principle of “might makes right,” which had governed the conduct of nations for centuries, was replaced by the ideals of the Enlightenment. Jackson’s opening statement said, “We must never forget that the record on which we judge these defendants today is the record on which history will judge us tomorrow.” Yes, American exceptionalism taking Native American land was wrong. And so was its continued expansion beyond North America, as described in Daniel Immerwahr’s book, “How to Hide an Empire.” But the rules had changed, and two wrongs didn’t make a right.

What I’ve written is too intellectually difficult for many people. But if they reject logical understanding and instead accept personal belief as the ultimate measure of right and wrong, then any action—even those universally condemned—could be justified by the perpetrator’s conviction, or in other words, Hitler is innocent because he was doing what he believed was right. This is why the Enlightenment principles, and the legal precedents set at Nuremberg, are so essential—they affirm that belief alone cannot excuse actions that violate universal human rights and dignity.”

The presentation about Adolf Hitler will be held on Thursday, February 19th at 7pm in the Barnes County Historical Society Museum in downtown Valley City. The presentation is free and open to the public.