What you call “redeeming” traits, can not be called redeeming in the way that Hitler used them. He lacked character and goodness, so all his actions led to destruction and death—his speeches, his visions, his devoted followers, his political machinations. Things done for evil purposes can ultimately never be redeeming.
> What you call “redeeming” traits, can not be called redeeming in the way that Hitler used them.
Agreed. He used his talents to the furtherance of Evil.
So can anyone.
It is a mistake for us to paint Hitler as absolutely evil, as if we should be able to identify him as Evil on first sight. To do so is a gross over-simplification. Evil people do not come ready-equipped with horns and a pointy tail. And good people can be tricked into supporting Evil people as a result.
Hitler was charismatic. He had natural charm, and he is reported to have had a soft spot for children and animals. He could be very convincing.
He was definitely a complex character.
None of what I have just said subtracts from the fact that Hitler was an evil man — thoroughly evil. And none of it should be taken as an endorsement or as support of Hitler as a person.
He’s just considerably more complicated than simply “Evil”.
The same sorts of people who voted for Hitler would have been just as likely to vote for...?
(I’m not going to say it, you can fill in the blanks for yourself.)
*That* is the real danger of over-simplifying Evil: we cannot spot the real thing when it presents itself if we expect it to be obviously Evil.