Figure 1.--A very difficult question to answer is what the German people saw in Adolf Hitler. Americans and Brits lestening to Hitler's speeches are repelled and have a difficult time understanding how the this frenzied politican could have moved a great nation. We can understand how some of the nationalist issues resonated. What is more difficult to understand is why Hitler captured the hearts of so many Germans. Note that the HJ boy here for a portrait has combed his hair like the Führer.

A very difficult question to answer is what the German people saw in Adolf Hitler. Americans and Brits lestening to Hitler's speeches are repelled and have a difficult time understanding how the this frenzied politican could have moved a great nation. We can understand how some of the nationalist issues resonated (war guilt, loss of territory, Germans left in foreign countries, military restrictions, and repriations). What is more difficult to understand is why Hitler captured the hearts of so many Germans. There is no doubt that he did. His stature steadily grew after he became Chancellor. It should not be imagined that he appealed to all Germans. Some Germans were repelled by him. It is impossible to quantify this given the consequences of freely expressing one's views. There is not doubt, however, that there is one group in particular to which he appealed--young Germans. Again it is not clear what young Germans saw in him. Perhaps it ws the highly nationalistic environmrnt at the time. Perhaps it was the freedom that the Hitler Youth program offered young people in a still very conservative society. Perhaps it was Goebbels effective mass media. It might be argued that a totalitarian state can use its control of the media to turn anyone into a national hero. Perhaps, but we suspect tht more ws involved here. After all, Hitler developed a very substantial following before he had the resources of the state at his disposal. There seems to have been something compelling about Adolf Hitler that tapped into the yearings of the German people. This is probably a question that only the Germans themselves can answer. One German author who has made an important effort to address this question is Sebastian Haffner. Haffner grew up in Germany during the inter-war era. He fled Germany in 1938 when he was 27. He decribed his efforts to resist the NAZIS as "... a duel between two very unqual adversaries: an exceedingly powerful, formidable, and ruthless state and an insignificant unknown private individual". Haffner is not easy on the Germans. He tells us, "At the moment of truth when other nations rise spontaneously to the occasion, the Germans collectively and limply collapsed". [Haffner] And the Germans continue to follow Hitler even after the country physically collapsed around them. Even though the War was lost by 1943, the Germans continued to support Hitler and the NAZIs. There was no national uprising. Almost earily, Germany began to change only after Hitler's death in Berlin was broadcasted. It was almost as if magically his grasp on the national psyche was released.

The Question

A difficult question to answer is what the German people saw in Adolf Hitler. How could such a hateful man rise to power in a democratic country? We can understand how some of the nationalist issues resonated (war guilt, loss of territory, Germans left in foreign countries, military restrictions, and repriations). What is more difficult to understand is why Hitler captured the hearts of so many Germans. There is no doubt that he did.

Outside View

Americans and Brits lestening to Hitler's speeches are repelled. Even without understanding the words we are repelled. The words however repellent do not seem to have the same adverse impact and his histrionics. We have a difficult time understanding how the this frenzied. hateful politican could have moved a great nation.

Rise to Power

Hitler rose to power in a democratic system. He did this without the power of the state behind him. The NAZIs never gained a majority of the electorate, but they became the largest party. And Hitler became the most dynamic politican in the country. He failed in his bid to replace President Hindenberg, but he sucessfully presented himself a modern and dynamic. Flying from city to city in particular made this point. He also used the radio unlike any other German politican.

Governing Years

Seizing control of the German state of course made a huge difference. Now all the resources of the state could be used to build his image. Critics could be easily and permanently stifeled. And his stature steadily grew after he became Chancellor. He put Germans bad to work, primarily through a massive rearmament program. Than came the successes, the Saarland, the Rhineland, the Anschluss )1938), and finally the Sudetenlans (1938)--all achieved without war. It should not be imagined that he appealed to all Germans. Some Germans were repelled by him. It is impossible to quantify this given the consequences of freely expressing one's views.

Humanizing Image

It is often thought that it was Goebbels that buolt Hitler's image. Goebbels was important, but his role came after the NAZIs seized power and he was appointed Minister of Propaganda. It was an appointment that Giebbels did not at first appreciate. And even then, Goebbels was not the only person involved in creating Hitler's image. Particularly important was the work of the work of Heinrich Hoffman who became his personal photographer. Hoff,an loved to photograph Hitler with children. These images were very widely distributed in Germany. And these were images that did not appear in the Western newreels which tended to run images of the belicose Hitler.

Youth

There is not doubt, however, that there is one group in particular to which Hitler appealed--young Germans. Again it is not clear what young Germans saw in him. I am not sure that any author has really explained this. Perhaps it ws the highly nationalistic environmrnt at the time. Young highly idealistic people saw Hitler as reversing what Hitler called the "shame of Versailles". Perhaps it was the freedom that the Hitler Youth program offered young people in a still very conservative society. Perhaps it was Goebbels effective mass media. Or perhaps it was Hitler's interest in youth. No German politican either before or after Hitler has given such attention to youth. He of course did it because he realized the benefits to the NAZI state. But for young people in a conservative society it was exhilerating. Certainly the Hitler Youth program played a critical role in building Hitler's relationship with youth. Wether Hitler could have built his hold on German youth without the Hitler Youth we are not sure. Young people of course were an eaier mark intelrctually. They had fewer experiences and educational experiebces which could have countered the NAZI appeal. But his appeal was of course not intelectual, it was emotional.

Compelling Presence

It might be argued that a totalitarian state can use its control of the media to turn anyone into a national hero. Perhaps, but we suspect that more was involved here. After all, Hitler developed a very substantial following before he had the resources of the state at his disposal. There seems to have been something compelling about Adolf Hitler that tapped into the yearings of the German people. This is probably a question that only the Germans themselves can answer. One German author who has made an important effort to address this question is Sebastian Haffner. Haffner grew up in Germany during the inter-war era. He fled Germany in 1938 when he was 27. He decribed his efforts to resist the NAZIS as "... a duel between two very unqual adversaries: an exceedingly powerful, formidable, and ruthless state and an insignificant unknown private individual". Haffner is not easy on the Germans. He tells us, "At the moment of truth when other nations rise spontaneously to the occasion, the Germans collectively and limply collapsed". [Haffner]

Breaking the Spell

The Germans continue to follow Hitler even after their country physically collapsed around them. The Soviet Winter offensive before Moscow wreaked terrible damage on the Wehrmacht (December 1941). It meant in essence that Germany could not win the war. This was, however, not obvious to the Germany people. This only began to dawn on Germans with the disaster at Stalingrad (January 1943) and the onset of the increasingly intense Allied bstrategic bombing campaign. Even though the War was lost, the Germans continued to support Hitler and the NAZIs. It is unclear how this could hve been the case. Hitler who was once omnipresent disappeared. He rarely appeared in public. He gave few speeches. And he never appeared in bombed-out cities to offer encouragement. Instead Goebbels did much of this. Yet Hitler maintained his sway on the Germans. There was no national uprising. Almost earily, Germany began to change only after Hitler's death in Berlin was broadcasted. It was almost as if magically his grasp on the national psyche was released.

Sources

Haffner, Sebastian. Defying Hitler.

Created: 4:32 AM 12/24/2007
Last updated: 1:16 AM 2/21/2009