I'm sorry Chris, but quite honestly I can't see where the Tau-similar-to-Nazi-Germany argument comes from. (And although I fully realise this is a fictional game universe, and despite the effort in helping out with the Epic and BFG Tau lists - as well as working on additions of my own - I should not consider your comment to be intended as anything other than a candid statement. However, I find this remark a deeply unsettling one, which derailed me completely when trying to put together some responses to Xisor's comments on some fluff for the CPF, and one which I find very difficult not to take personally. I apologise for my failure in this regard)
In terms of military structures, doctrines and training regimens, the Fire Caste are far more akin to the German, French, US and other modern (21st Century) Western armed forces in their deployment and their operational norm - the closest fit to the Wehrmacht of the Third Reich would more likely be found in the ranks of the approporiately-helmeted Steel Legions of Armageddon.
In terms of political system, how one could confuse the ruthless, highly xenophobic, totalitarian state under the sway of an overwhelming personality cult centred on a rather... unpleasant individual with the generally benevolent, tolerant and pluralistic oligarchy under the Aun (for all we know the Aun operate as a democracy within their own caste - putting their government on a level setting politically as early modern democratic states, such as the UK in the early 19th century, where you could only vote if you were a white male landowner, or in classical Athens, if you were an Athenian male citizen. Without universal suffrage, a democracy is, in truth, an oligarchy - and in the Tau's case, the Aun are fairly secure in their position, as they are quite willing to involve the other castes and races of the Empire in a wide range of economic, military, diplomatic and political spheres) is quite beyond me, to be honest.
And in terms of grand strategy, while Nazism sought to enslave or exterminate the 'lesser races' sitting on what they claimed should be prime German real estate, and were inevitably confronted with the need to conquer the vast Soviet Union - another fun place to be... - to do so, the Tau Empire has no such policy (except against the Orks, and probably the Tyranids) Every world with former Imperial inhabitants has been welcomed into the Empire, despite - or more likely, precisely because - the Tau knowing full well that the Imperial Navy would, had, show no such mercy or acceptance over the skies of Tau colonies lost in the Lithesh War. Plus, there are a vast number of systems in the Eastern Fringe and Ultima Segmentum which has no Imperial or Ork presence, either uninhabited or home to a human or alien society, to whom the Tau offer a place in the Empire (or a handy trade pact if they agree to at least maintain neutrality with the tau'va)
And why do you think that so many humans in the Tau Empire are glad to be rid of Imperial rule? Because that ruthless totalitarianism and pervasive personality cult operated in the Third Reich is all too closely mirrored by the chaps in charge on Terra.
Sorry if I am over-reacting, but I just could not let your comment go unchallenged.
Gary
_________________  Gue'senshi: The 1st Kleistian Grenadiers v7.3 pdfHuman armed forces for the greater good.
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