Interestingly, he likely would have been a long-forgotten painter if he had just passed his college art class (got an 'F', went on to destroy Europe).
Seriously, he convinced (how hard was it) a whole lot of people to do his bidding. The methodical coldhearted cruelty, and the sheer numbers boggles the minds of even the hard corps.
Was there that much evil to go around? were they brainwashed?
I think there inherantly is the capacity to do good and evil in the mind, and in some (weak minded? starved for power? ) the tipping point towards evil is close.
Hitler failed the entrance exam to Art School. Problems with figure studies. the Art School suggested he seek admission to a school for architecture [his buildings were quite good. Since Hitler dropped out of school, and had no diploma, he could not apply to architecture school.
You know, I have read that but the way you put it so bluntly, for some reason, caused me to snicker.