Right. Sorry - that bit's always been pretty obvious to us old school fans to the point we hardly even think about it anymore. Yes - Domel in the original was very obviously Rommel.
However in the 2199 version I think he's more than that. Most of the characters are, now that they've been more fully fleshed out in. It may be just that simple.
But thinking about references to WWII Germany in regards to the Gamilas and Domel makes me think of something... and I can't quite remember it... Kinda frustrating. But I seem to recall that there was a German Kriegsmarine officer pretty high up in the chain of command who stepped in to prevent the persecution of some competent officers under his command. They were either Jewish or "half-Jews" (however that was defined... ugh... even saying it like that gives me a bad taste in my mouth) but all he saw was competent men under his command. I don't think he was anything like a "Schindler" type. He didn't go out of his way to protect anyone not in the navy. But he stopped or stone-walled the Gestapo etc, from persecuting the men under his command. That's all I've got really that I can recall. Maybe someone else knows and can jog my memory?
In any case - seeing that Domel doesn't think anything of employing "lesser Gamilons" as his officers but treats them with full respect - and apparently receives a LOT of personal loyalty from them in return - that's what makes me think of that vague recollection above.
So that, at least in my mind, Domel might be in some way a pastiche of Rommel and this (half-remembered) German Navy Officer.
And of course Desslok is not Hitler. He's almost more of a Roman Emperor. And though he may have started off as a bored playboy noble type (in both versions) as he becomes more personally involved, his competence and native intelligence become more and more obvious. And the more seriously he begins to take things.
And Domel is NOT plotting to kill him. That was someone else.
So things do begin to skew away from any kind of direct comparison with WWII Nazi Germany pretty quickly the more closely you look, despite some of the obvious trappings.
However in the 2199 version I think he's more than that. Most of the characters are, now that they've been more fully fleshed out in. It may be just that simple.
But thinking about references to WWII Germany in regards to the Gamilas and Domel makes me think of something... and I can't quite remember it... Kinda frustrating. But I seem to recall that there was a German Kriegsmarine officer pretty high up in the chain of command who stepped in to prevent the persecution of some competent officers under his command. They were either Jewish or "half-Jews" (however that was defined... ugh... even saying it like that gives me a bad taste in my mouth) but all he saw was competent men under his command. I don't think he was anything like a "Schindler" type. He didn't go out of his way to protect anyone not in the navy. But he stopped or stone-walled the Gestapo etc, from persecuting the men under his command. That's all I've got really that I can recall. Maybe someone else knows and can jog my memory?
In any case - seeing that Domel doesn't think anything of employing "lesser Gamilons" as his officers but treats them with full respect - and apparently receives a LOT of personal loyalty from them in return - that's what makes me think of that vague recollection above.
So that, at least in my mind, Domel might be in some way a pastiche of Rommel and this (half-remembered) German Navy Officer.
And of course Desslok is not Hitler. He's almost more of a Roman Emperor. And though he may have started off as a bored playboy noble type (in both versions) as he becomes more personally involved, his competence and native intelligence become more and more obvious. And the more seriously he begins to take things.
And Domel is NOT plotting to kill him. That was someone else.
So things do begin to skew away from any kind of direct comparison with WWII Nazi Germany pretty quickly the more closely you look, despite some of the obvious trappings.