In the last years of the Qing Dynasty, modern China was invaded by foreign powers, and these world powers at that time constantly waged wars and plundered China's wealth, land, and resources. However, even in the face of such severe aggression, China eventually succeeded in driving the invaders out of its homeland and creating a state that was both old and new. It is worth mentioning that Napoleon and Hitler, two historical figures, actually held similar views on China, and both believed that invading China was a stupid move. What is the reason for this, and why do they have this view?
[1. Napoleon and Hitler's views on China]
Napoleon's exile after the Battle of Waterloo and Hitler's self-destruction after his defeat in World War II were the end of their illustrious careers, which can be described as "defeated". Both men are known to the world as war maniacs, and although their wars ended in defeat, there is no denying that they do have extraordinary talent in military affairs.
Although these two war giants who crossed the ages, although they each showed outstanding military skills in their own times, they coincided in their views on China, and they both believed that it was stupid to invade China. So, what were the factors that led these two leaders of different eras to have the same view? Combined with Chinese history, we can summarize three reasons.
[2. The national character of the Chinese]
Napoleon once commented on the Chinese that they possessed talent, self-esteem and wisdom and would not tolerate the enslavement of outsiders for a long time. Even when oppressed occasionally, they will fight back and turn defeat into victory. However, not all leaders had Napoleon's vision, such as the British naval captain who once despised China.
History proves that Napoleon's insights are even more profound, and the Chinese have shown their tenacity and wisdom to the world through practical actions. This stems from the unique national character of the Chinese, who have been deeply influenced by Confucianism for thousands of years and have cultivated a strong national integrity. In the face of strong enemies, they can always stick to the bottom line, and even fight to the death, embodying the spirit of "rather for the jade to be broken, than for the whole tile".
[3. China has a large population]
This is one of the important reasons why Hitler was reluctant to become an enemy of China. China and Germany are far apart, and although Germany achieved technological mechanization during World War II, this achievement did not spread to all fields. As a result, international exchanges are relatively limited.
As one of the leaders of fascism during World War II, Hitler upset the whole world with his powerful influence. However, his relations with China have been particularly cautious. He also believed that China was inviolable, and even persuaded his ally Japan not to invade China during World War II. However, greedy Japan did not heed the advice and suffered a crushing defeat.
The main reason why Hitler warned Japan in this way was because of China's huge population base. Although Japan was ahead of China in science and technology during World War II, China has a profound heritage as a thousand-year-old country. Japan suffered an inevitable defeat in the end by underestimating the enemy. Hitler knew that Japan would not be able to conquer the vast China, but Japan failed to recognize this reality and ultimately reaped the consequences.
[4. The cohesion of the Chinese]
Although there have been various ethnic contradictions in China's history, after thousands of years of integration and evolution, all ethnic groups have formed a united big family. In the face of foreign invasion, the people of all nationalities can unite and jointly resist foreign aggression.
The unity of the Chinese people is not empty talk, but has been tested by history. In modern times, China has experienced hardships, but the Chinese have always adhered to the belief in unity. They proved to the world with their practical actions that if a foreign enemy came to attack, they would be united in their determination to resist to the death. This is also an important reason why the two military giants, Napoleon and Hitler, are reluctant to become enemies of China.
Although Napoleon and Hitler were both powerful figures, their aggression against China was unforgivable. Their failure also confirms the truth that "good and evil will be rewarded in the end, and heaven is good for reincarnation".