Tom Cruise's bizarre Scientology rant has been compared to to a call to war by Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels by German historian Guido Knopp. Knopp, an expert on Second World War history, told Bild newspaper that Tom's bizarre video address delivered to Scientology members - which shot across the internet like wildfire last week - 'inevitably' recalled Goebbels.
The 'Top Gun' actor asks fellow members of the church: "Should we clean this place up?"
Guildo said that the film - which caused uproar at Scientology HQ, after it was leaked, was bound to remind Germans of Goebbels' notorious speech in Berlin on February 18 1943 when he asked the audience: "Do you want total war?".
The historian added: "It may be the case that Cruise's delivery style is not uncommon in certain religious movements in the US.
"But for Germans with an interest in history, that scene where he asks whether the Scientologists should clean up the world and everyone shouts 'yes' is inevitably reminiscent of Goebbels' notorious speech."
It is not the first time the 45-year-old Hollywood superstar has compared to the vile Nazi.
His portrayal of resistance hero Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg, an aristocrat who led a failed plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944, in his movie Valkyrie caused unhappiness in Germany.
During filming, the chief spokesman of the country's Protestant Church said: "Cruise has become the Goebbels of Scientology.
"This film will have the same propaganda advantages for Scientology as the 1936 Olympics had for the Nazis."
Scientology is often described in Germany as a sect that exploits its members financially.
In December, regional ministers agreed to investigate the possibility of banning it.
By Owen Williams, Jan 21 2008 © Copyright 2008 - Showbiz Spy
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