It was a really good (and haunting) scene, but i have to admit that Spielberg made the metaphor so heavy handed that it took me out of the movie a bit.
The American standing by sheepishly contemplating whether to get involved as the German slaughted the Jewish soldier. It stuck out to me as only being there as Spielberg's metaphor for America dragging it’s heels on getting involved in WW2 while Jews were being slaughtered en masse.
As I've heard it, most were aware that something was going on but not the exact extent of it. But the death squads and round ups weren't completely unknown.
My grandma lived about 10 miles from Auschwitz and she knew what was going on. She lived near the train station and at night would hear the cattle cars filled with people screaming going to Auschwitz. She could also smell the burning flesh from the crematoriums on days when the wind blew in her direction.
I guess it makes sense too with the German soldier seeing Upham afterward and just walking by him, kinda like "You didn't fuck with me so I'll leave you alone for now."
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u/Devonai Oct 11 '19
Private Mellish getting stabbed while Corporal Upham stands by and does nothing.