Sunday, April 10, 2011
The Idea Beind the Hitler Myth
When reading the first section of The ‘Hitler Myth” by Kershaw, I was surprised to see how much the glorification of a hero leader was being established before Hitler came into the German political scene. Idol- worship of military and political leaders have gone back centuries in Germany. Kershaw points to deep adoration and devotion people had for Bismarck, how people would take trips from all over Germany to visit his home. It was very interesting to hear how the idea of a hero transformed with the revolution, the monarchy- people relationship changed to a relationship that was for a hero that comes from the people. Kershaw states, “Ideal leadership was now envisaged in a man from the people who ideal qualities would embody struggle, conflict, the values of the trenches” (pg. 19). I think this is very important in the Hitler myth. The monarch was so separate from the people; he was born into his position. Hitler seemed to rise from amongst the people, he was one of them and understood their problems and was going to be the savior of Germany. The beliefs and struggles that arose during the Weimar Republic would also establish a position for Hitler to assume the role as savior of Germany and a hero for the people. The German people were struggling during this time and were looking for someone to carry them out, “In stark contrast to the colorless and miserable political compromisers of Weimar, the future leader would be a person of outstanding skill and political strength, decisive and bold in resolution, to who his ‘following’ could look in admiration and devotion” (pg. 20). Hitler stepped into a role that was already being set up for him. He was molded and projected to the German people as the heroic leader by others who helped him achieve this status by propaganda and encouragement. As we saw in Triumph of the Will, the fan hysteria and obedience to Hitler was remarkably intense. He was treated as a deity who people were eager to please. One of the reasons Hitler was able to achieve such a crazy fanatical status that he did was that people were anticipating and hoping for a leader, and even though they got Hitler, they envisioned him as the savior that they were waiting for, a position that Hitler and other members of the Nazi party were eager for him to fill.
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I agree that Hitler stepped into a role that was being created for him. In "Hitler", Kershaw talks about "heroic leadership" that was prominent in the traditions of the political right in Germany. Germany's failure to become a world power and the challenges they were facing to their traditions and values as the roaring twenties ensued created the perfect hole for Hitler to fit into as a "heroic leader", saving Germany from the rest of the world's disrespect and bullying.
ReplyDeleteIt’s also interesting that by the time that Hitler had cultivated himself in the public eye as the one man who could fulfill this revamped idea of the “heroic leader” for Germany, as Kershaw puts it, the public’s faith in him (I think behind this faith was in actuality a desperate need for someone to fill those shoes) became unwavering, and Hitler’s ability to maintain that status quo of acceptance became easier and easier. An instance in which it became clear how easy it was for him to exploit the public’s willingness to overlook the tyrannical actions that he undertook once he had attained his position of power can be seen in the aftermath of the Night of the Long Knives. It is pretty apparent, in retrospect, that the execution of Röhm and the other fifty SA men was primarily a result of Hitler’s personal revenge against the misperceived “betrayal” of Röhm. But, through the quick and crafty bullshit contrivance of “Hitler’s protection of the ‘little man’ against the outrageous abuses of power of the overmighty SA leadership” (Kershaw Hubris 520), Hitler quite easily managed to convince the public that he acted out of national interest. It seems that once he had solidified himself as the “champion of German national interests,” the public would perceive any action he took as being for them.
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