Opinion | Historians Confirm: Tomorrow Won’t Be Better Than Today

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by Ian Buruma

February 22, 2026

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Historians confirm that under oppressive regimes, people often adapt to worsening conditions, normalizing horrors over time. This phenomenon was evident in Nazi-occupied Berlin during World War II, where daily life continued despite the atrocities unfolding around them. Even as Jews were deported to death camps and the city faced relentless bombings, many Germans seemed indifferent, continuing normal activities like attending concerts or visiting cinemas. This adaptation highlights how incremental tyranny can erode moral resistance, turning outrage into normalization. The article draws on personal letters from a forced laborer in Nazi Germany, revealing how even those displaced could observe the disconnect between ordinary life and extraordinary horror. For instance, during the final months of the war, Berliners attended performances by the Berlin Philharmonic despite bombs tearing holes in the concert hall’s roof. Similarly, city life thrived with soccer matches, zoo visits, and sunbathing on Wannsee Lake—even as it served as a site for planning the Holocaust. This historical insight is crucial today, offering lessons about the dangers of complacency under authoritarianism. It underscores how regimes like Hitler’s Berlin, Mussolini’s Rome, or Putin’s Moscow operate by gradually normalizing increasingly oppressive actions. Understanding this dynamic helps us recognize warning signs and remain vigilant against incremental tyranny, ensuring hope doesn’t devolve into delusion.

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Originally published on NYT Homepage on 2/22/2026