Explaining Hitler's Popularity

Explaining Hitler's Popularity

Adolf Hitler was a popular leader, adored and worshipped by the

Germans. After the defeat of the World War II Germany was in a

difficult political and economical position. Under the Versailles

Treaty, Germany had to disarm, give up land and pay heavy reparations.

The devastated country suffered from widespread unemployment, runaway

inflation, and low national morale. In 1919 the Weimar Republic was

established. The Germans were used to a strong autocratic regime and

here they had to deal with a fractionalized democratic Reichstag with

many parties: Communists, Socialist and Rightist and live under a

constant threat of a communist revolution.

In this unstable chaotic situation Hitler used his strong

nationalistic convictions and oratory skills to the fullest. His

message was simple: Germany did not loose the war but was stabbed from

the back by the Jewish and socialist traitors. The Versailles Treaty

is the root of all evil and had to be denounced. The Jewish

capitalists and the Jewish communists are the mortal enemies of the

German people. The Germans are a superior race destined to rule the

World; the Fuhrer is infallible in all matters of life and death and

the destiny of Germany is in his hands. The message was well received,

Hitler was telling the Germans what they wanted to hear.

Immediately after becoming Germany's Chancellor, Hitler started an

extensive process of consolidating his power, using the stick and

carrot method. On the home front Hitler started an intensive process

of rearmament coupled with high expenditures on public projects

connected with military potential like building an ...

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...rd not to lose contact

with the broad masses. The art of propaganda lies in understanding the

emotional ideas of the great masses and finding, through a

psychologically correct form, the way to the attention and hence to

the heart of the broad masses.

Hitler had a very close relationship with the German masses, he needed

their adulation, admiration and acceptance. Hitler's repressed

sexuality provided the tremendous energy drive when in front of the

masses, the response and adulation gave him an emotional high; he

lived for the glory. Hitler did not have a normal family life, he

could not experience any joy or sorrow, he had no empathy for people,

driven by his megalomania, paranoia and delusions, he needed the

approval and adulation of the masses to dissolve his inner tensions,

to confirm his bloated self-image.