New German Biography: Hitler's Underestimated Charisma

Der Spiegel ^ | October 11, 2013 | Interview conducted by Jan Fleischhauer

[2ndDivisionVet]

There's no disputing Adolf Hitler was responsible for some of the most monstrous acts ever committed. In an interview about his new biography, however, historian Volker Ullrich discusses a dictator who was an anti-Semite but also a man of considerable charm.

SPIEGEL: Mr. Ullrich, how normal was Adolf Hitler?

Ullrich: He was not as crazy as some scholars of psychohistory would have us believe, at least, with their far too simplistic lines of argumentation. He may even have been more normal than we might wish.

SPIEGEL: Most people consider Hitler a psychopath. Many historians, too, believe that someone capable of committing such crimes cannot have been normal.

Ullrich: Hitler was without a doubt exceptional in his criminal deeds. Yet in many respects, he was not at all out of the ordinary. We will never be able to understand the terrible things that happened between 1933 and 1945 if we deny from the outset that Hitler also had human characteristics, and if we fail to take into account not only his criminal energies, but also the appealing qualities he had. So long as we view him only as a horrifying monster, the allure he undoubtedly exerted will remain a riddle....

[2ndDivisionVet]

Sounds like an interesting book.

[martin_fierro]

Yeah, and Mussolini made the trains run on time.

[Netz]

Yes, he was so charismatic that he convinced millions of his countrymen and women to go completely berserk (in a calculated and efficient way of course) and murder millions in his name. He was an orator, they were willing executioners.

[GOPJ]

Most psychopaths are superficially charming...

[Pollster1]

Hitler was as normal as Obama, the problem comes in when a leader or the voters choose between good and evil and choose poorly.

[nathanbedford]

I tend toward the view that the majority of people did not approve of this violence. Interestingly, "Kristallnacht" was not associated with Hitler. He managed to remain behind the scenes, even though he was the one pulling the strings, with other Nazi leaders being held responsible. This exoneration, along the lines of people saying, "If the Führer had known about it…" comes up again and again.

This description reminds me of someone but I just can't put a name to it…

[lafarge]

Yep, just look at all those who have held Office of the President. Monsters spreading fiery death around the world, waging economic war against Citizens, outlawing rights. And yet, we vote them in and praise them.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Hitler Learns About the Obamacare Exchanges

[devolve]

- American citizens know more about Adoph Hitler’s roots, background, family, WWI military record, WWII military record, politics, leadership, and honesty than they do about Barack Hussein Obama Junior’s.

Obama cannot even produce an actual authentic Birth Certificate, Registration for Military Service, or administer a website to ILLEGALLY AND UNCONSTITIONALLY nationalize all Americans healthcare - OBAMACARE(s?)

LATEST POLL:

60% - It’s a JOKE
30% - It’s VUNDERBAR

[Timber Rattler]

Yeah, based on accounts from people who knew and worked for Hitler (as employees), he could really turn on the charm when he wanted to and be a "nice guy." That's how he bamboozled Neville Chamberlain.

This side of Hitler is captured in the excellent movie (and widely parodied) Downfall, in which Bruno Ganz portrayed Hitler with eerie accuracy, right down to his Austrian accent.

Ganz talks about his research and the experience here:

Desperately seeking Adolf

And here is Hitler in his normal conversational voice:

Hitler Speaking Normally (Subtitles)

[nathanbedford]

This analysis of Hitler's character is contrary to the generally accepted version which emphasizes his alleged mental illness. It also runs counter to recently published stories to the effect that Hitler was profoundly ill from syphilis and/or Parkinson's disease and other reports which appeared earlier to the effect that Hitler had become a drug addict which thoroughly affected his judgment.

As one living in Germany, I can say that the era of World War II and the Holocaust is often referred to here as "the Hitler time" as though the responsibility lies entirely with Hitler because of his dominant personality. This author of course takes a contrary view except that he does not see the Germans in this counterfactual historical analysis going as far as the Holocaust.

I am interested as one who lives in Bavaria with the effect the author cites that the Soviet government which was imposed on much Bavaria at the conclusion of World War I and which was only suppressed by Northern troops. Even in the little villages that surround me, if one digs deep enough, one can learn of the Soviet government at that time. I cannot judge the degree of reaction to this situation but the author clearly believes that General anti-Semitism and Hitler's anti-Semitism in particular were informed during this period.

As an aside, I periodically attend lunches in one of Munich's best-known restaurants on Prinzregentenstrasse, now I will not be able to walk along toward the restaurant without wondering which building Hitler inhabited.

[savedbygrace]

for later

[Westbrook]

bfl

[Vanders9]

This is nothing very new. Hitler was a man of many outstanding talents. He was enormously charismatic, very dedicated, personally courageous, probably THE finest orator of the Twentieth Century, creative, morally upright, a political genius and artistically gifted too.

Of course, he also had personal defects. He was lazy, erratic, domineering, disliked consensus and the routine, had a terrible temper and indulged in favoritism. Oh and he was prepared to countenance exterminating large numbers of people to suit an academically very suspect notion of racial superiority.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

I think one of the common attributes of ruthless dictators and those who abuse power is that they gain power by splitting people along the lines of socioeconomic class, race, or other characteristics, and appealing to the worst characteristics of people - including peoples’ desire to be ‘special’ and to belong to something ‘special’. To some extent, Hitler was using socioeconomic class warfare in his disgusting anti-semitism. Substitute ‘Jew’ for ‘the 1%’ and the connection is clear, at least IMHO. He also made those susceptible in German society feel that they were ‘special’, ‘exceptional’, etc. Essentially, he appealed to their egos and self-interest. This is what many, many politicians do routinely.

[Makana]

From the 50’s, I recall listening to a record of famous speeches. One was Hitler in the 30’s, speaking of course entirely in German. Even without having any German, I was struck by the emotion that he broadcast.

Later in life, as a professional giving many Persuasive presentations, I never forgot that lesson from an improbable source.

[Makana]

Most psychopaths are superficially charming..

“That which is beautiful is Good” - One of Mankind’s oldest prejudices.

[Pietro]

Please.

Open a history book. Of course Hitler had "human" qualities, why he had the bluest of eyes, penetrating, compassionate eyes.

Were Satan to show up in his true guise he'd never be able to do a thing.

This looks like re-hashed pablum.

Save your money, buy "Inside the 3rd Reich" by Albert Speer. You'll get an insight on how Hitler used some very intellegent and sophisticated people to accomplish his ends.

[Oratam]

A terrible mistake was made by many post-war historians (but not Shirer) and commentators when they presented Hitler as an inhuman monster that ever trod the world stage.

He was a sociopath of considerable charm (particularly with the ladies) with formidable oratorical skills and casting him as unique in history blinded millions to the sociopaths who would follow.

We are paying for that blindness now.

[BrandtMichaels]

Again it sounds like someone we all know...