Adolf Hitler Changes Europe
The personality and power of the man who ruled Germany 1933-1945
Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933 but what was it about this man's personality that led people to follow him and endorse his brutality?
The 20th century brought about many world changes and many world leaders but there is no individual who left a bigger impact than Adolf Hitler. The mark he left on the 20th century runs deeper than that of Mussolini, Stalin, Mao, Roosevelt, Churchill or Kennedy.
12 Years that Changed the World
Adolf Hitler ruled Germany for 12 years (1933-1945) and that rule permanently changed Germany, Europe and the world. It can be truly said of Hitler that he is one of the few individuals without whom the course of history would have been different.
Hitler first entered the limelight in the 1920’s and has been viewed in many varying fashions. Some have seen him as an opportunist entirely without principal, barren of all ideas save one - the further extension of his own power and that of the nation with which he had identified himself. Others have seen him as a type of political conman, hypnotizing and bewitching the German people. Then there are those who would say he was demonic, a lunatic or just plain mad.
A Leader who feared Bolshevik Terror
In fact when Hitler was first put forward he was a leader who had a paranoid fear of Bolshevik terror, of class genocide. It can be said that the underlying cause of Nazi race genocide was the Soviet class genocide. If the spotlight is removed from Hitler’s crimes against humanity there can be seen a Hitler who cared about the transformation of German society. Hitler was interested in social mobility, better housing for workers, modernizing industry and erecting a welfare system. All good intentions but the means were brutal.
There can never be any apologies for Hitler’s crimes against humanity but seeing that some of his intentions could be viewed in a positive light at least allows some understanding of his popularity and wide appeal in a Germany that was going through a time of social crisis.
Lacking Formal Education but not unintelligent and able to Impress
Hitler’s formal education left much to be desired but he was not unintelligent and possessed a sharp mind which could draw on his formidably retentive memory. This ability made it possible for Hitler to impress not only his own entourage but also the cool critical statesmen and diplomats with his grasp of issues.
Winston Churchill once stated that Hitler was “ a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” Hitler certainly was a mystery and highly secretive especially about his personal life, his background and family. Hitler’s life outside of politics was a black hole.
Personality or Power?
It is perhaps easier to look at Hitler not as a personality but as a power. Hitler did not believe his power came from his position as a party leader but as an historic mission to save Germany. To put it simply his power was not institutional but charismatic. This power was wholly dependant on the readiness of others to see ‘heroic’ qualities in him. Unfortunately they did see those qualities and possibly even before Hitler himself saw and believed in them.
Source Hitler- Ian Kershaw
