The Charismatic Hitler

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The Charismatic Hitler

Adolf Hitler, with promises of a new nation - a Germanic world power, economically strong and racially pure - led millions of Germans in their hope for a new national Germany and also led millions to their death. Hitler defined and put a Jewish face on Germany's enemy and promised that an elite national Germany would once more be a leading power on the European Continent (Grolier's). Hitler had an overpowering charismatic personality and by promising relief from unemployment, strength against Communism and Jewry, expansion of German territory, Hitler was able to convince Germans that following him would provide a life of comfort and security.

Hitler had a charismatic personality with a decisiveness and power not found in his political opponents. In an essentially political void, Hitler provided "...the appeal of a strong nationalistic figure" (Soldwedel). Hitler was promising a new elite national Germany that would be a leading world power; a world power that was denied Germany in World War I. The German population felt that in Hitler they had a potential leader that understood his people and his country -- a leader who could repair the ailing Germany. "It is as if [Hitler] spoke to each individual..." (Perry 380). In addition to his influential personality, Adolf Hitler was a master in the use of propaganda and pageantry. With electoral propaganda slogans such as "Freedom & Bread" and a promising that "In the Third Reich every German girl will find a husband!" (The Hisory Place:The Rise of Hitler). Hitler used positive messages and promised economic, social and political benefits for the people of Germany. He understood the power of pageantry, cognizant that unifor...

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