Tom Cruise will have to find another country besides Germany to shoot his latest film Valkyrie--he's been banned from certain areas by the German Defense Ministry because of his affiliation with the Church of Scientology. Valkyrie is based on the actions of Colonel Claus von Stauffenbeeg, leader of any unsuccessful assassination attempt on German leader Adolf Hitler in 1944. Ministry spokesman Harald Kammerbauer said:
"[Film makers] will not be allowed to film at German military sites if Count Stauffenberg is played by Tom Cruise, who has publicly professed to being a member of the Scientology cult. In general, the Bundeswehr (German military) has a special interest in the serious and authentic portrayal of the events of July 20, 1944 and Stauffenberg's person." (Source)
Keep in mind Tom is being banned from Germany, the country that helped launch David Hasselhoff's singing career. The country that started two World Wars. The country without speed limits. That country thinks Tom Cruise is too crazy.
As a history professor at a university, it is common knowledge that Germany started the first world war with the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the Habsburg throne, on June 28, 1914. On August 31, 1939, Hitler and the Nazis staged a Polish attack on a minor German radio station in order to justify a German invasion of Poland. On September 1, Hitler declared war on Poland stating one of his reasons for the invasion was because of "the attack by regular Polish troops on the Gleiwitz transmitter." France and Britain had a defensive pact with Poland. This forced France and Britian to declare war on Germany, which they did on September 3. Kaiser Wilhelm was very similar to Hitler: a hate-filled expansionist with visions of world domination. So the history books do show that Germany is responsible for both world wars.
so, is the podium like 1 foot tall?
Germany is a country where they don't like weak suckers crawling around like loony Tom. Nothing wrong with Germany, they kick ass.
Germany, as much of Europe, is a much ... more modern and free country than the US. They have a woman head of government. And they don't have speed limits, because they don't need them. They have one of the most respected film festivals in the world (Berlinale). And yes, Tom Cruise is "too crazy" for almost ANY country in the world. You should go to Germany some time. You might be pleasently surprised to find out that the US, is not the center of the world.
Mr. History professor huh? Living in books while some of us live what you teach. WRONG. You teach where? P.U? WW-I Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia first, Germany followed suite three days later. Which none of this has to do with Tom Cruse' film "Valkyrie." An historical-fiction account of the third attempt to kill Herr Adolf. I served in Cold War West Berlin and West Germany. Why should my US Army brothers and sisters serving in Germany, many with US-American families be denied a piece of home? The Bundesweir, you must be joking. I'll sell you a rifle, never fired and only dropped once. Over fifty percent are draftees and hate it and, after the troop reductions the Bundesweir and US Army share several bases in and around Frankfurt Am Main. Before open criticism of an actor playing a part, think about the real world. US Citizen Volunteers kept the Soviets and East German Volksarmee from destroying the freedom they now enjoy as a unified country. Where were you people when US Troops froze on guard duty, manned observation and listening posts for US Army NATO - Europe. I'm a third-year history education undergrad at forty-seven, professors like you are why I have to take a test to prove I'm worthy to graduate.
Furthermore, you socialist - communist. The US and Germany share identical views on religion. The freedom to worship and practice all religions without fear of persecution.