Don't reviewers study history?

After watching this film, and reading the reviews of it on this site, I'm a little appalled at the apparent ignorance of some modern-day viewers. I don't know if it's willful ignorance, as part of some "Politically Correct" agenda, or just true unawareness of what really happened during WWII. I'm referring to the fact that some reviewers pretty harshly criticize this film for portraying the Nazis as heartless, and lacking in conscience. A number of reviewers fault the film for using the "usual Nazi stereotypes," etc. Well, I have to say, how else would you portray the Nazis? They really were evil bad guys, who were cruel and heartless, and didn't have consciences. Just ask anyone who came into contact with them, and/or was imprisoned by them. It's true that films made during WWII portrayed the German and Japanese militaries as being cruel and unfeeling war machines, but that's exactly what they were. We all know that there were individual soldiers in those armies who weren't so bad, but they had no power to speak out, or act against their orders. They were cogs in the fascist machines. That goes for the civilians in those countries, too-- some disagreed with their governments' war policies, but didn't have the power to protest against them (and the ones who did were imprisoned and executed, if caught). It's also true that there have been plenty of bad military and civilian types throughout history, in every country-- not just the WWII Axis powers. But in relation to WWII, they really were the bad guys, and no amount of PC is going to change that.

Some people today kind of like to snicker at the films made during WWII, and look down upon the strong sentiments those films engendered. It's true many of the movies made then about the war were somewhat over the top at times. They were mostly made to rally people on the home fronts, and to show just what was at stake in that fight. They didn't deal in subtle analyses of fascist motivations or actions-- they called it like they saw it. Some of the films dealing with Japan did go too far in racist terms, and some of those movies are uncomfortable to sit through now. But in terms of the fascists' wartime philosophies and atrocious behaviors, I think they got it pretty right. It's easy to watch these films now, and laugh at their "black and white" portrayals of the "good guys" and the "bad guys," but they really did hit on the truth in those films, and showed the Axis powers for what they were. They really were the bad guys. It's also true that the allies weren't 100% good, and it's fair to criticize allied behavior when it went too far (some of the bombing campaigns, perhaps, or the occasional shooting of prisoners, to give two examples). But on a scale of good vs. bad, the other side was so much worse that's it's no contest. So I find it a little cheap of certain people today to attack these films for portraying Nazis as being heartless and without consciences. And really, the portrayals of Nazis in these older movies isn't any more severe than those in much more recent films. Look at "Schindler's List." It portrays the Nazis quite accurately, and in much the same way "The Cross of Lorraine" does. If anything, many older films tended to downplay the real life violence and atrocities, and some of them made the Nazis out to be buffoons. So perhaps we should all think before labeling films like "Lorraine" as reactionary and unfair to Nazis. Give me a break.