How Did Hitler Do It?

As early as the mid-1920’s, Hitler was starting to make himself known around Germany’s political circles. His fiery speeches blaming Jews and Bolsheviks for Germany’s problems and touting German supremacy was starting to catch the attention of many of Germany’s most disenfranchised. But he was still largely dismissed as little more than a loudmouth by most of Germany’s political elite who felt that a hatemonger was the last thing the country needed.

But Hitler’s popularity began skyrocketing after the publishing of Mein Kempf (My Struggle) in which he partially outlined Germany’s future. His speeches became increasingly fiery. Augmenting the Nazis’ growing influence were their huge party rallies, which were usually staged in huge halls and made into humongous spectacles with much pageantry, often drawing as much as 200,000. Even those who rejected much of the Nazis’ beliefs were drawn to these huge mega-events to listen to this seemingly tireless, fiery speaker constantly reminding Germans that they are the master race. More and more badly demoralized Germans began listening to him and thought of the Nazis as a cure to their problems.

Even as he began to dismantle German democracy shortly after taking power not many Germans objected. He was their Fuhrer. With the country’s economy in bad shape, Hitler soon stopped wartime payments and soon thereafter, began reneging on other agreements of the League of Nations’ mandate, as well, including rebuilding the German military. Since most other countries were too preoccupied with their economic problems, none had the time or stomach for even a diplomatic standoff with Germany.

And following Austria’s merger with the Third Reich and the disastrous 1938 Munich Agreement that eventually led to the unopposed full conquest of Czechoslovakia, more Germans were increasingly led to believe that they were the masters.

Early victories during World War II also did a lot for Hitler’s image. The seemingly deliberate ease with which German armies swept through Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg convinced Germans even more that were invincible under Hitler and Nazis. And the fall of France led them to believe even more that they were really were destined to rule the world. It wasn’t until major military setbacks began to occur, most notably the failure to bomb Great Britain into submission and the huge reversal of fortunes on the Soviet front did many Germans began to rethink their opinions of Hitler.

So, there were numerous factors that Hitler used in convincing Germany to follow him. While no one who has seen recordings of his powerful speeches before huge masses can dispute his sharp oratory skills it is also hard not to blame the virtually non-existent international criticism of his hate-filled policies, even as he began to openly persecute Germany’s Jewish population and pave the way for the Holocaust. Wrestling with their own depression-caused domestic problems, most countries either failed or flat out refused to acknowledge the impending threat Hitler was posing to peace in Europe even as he committed violation after violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the 1919 League of Nations mandate. Hoping to avoid war, they gullibly made deals with Hitler. In fact, strong diplomatic resistance to his demand of Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia could’ve put an end to his dreams of expanding the Third Reich. Instead, Great Britain and France quickly bowed to his demands believing that he would make no further demands. And as Germans witnessed Hitler’s intimidation of the continent’s biggest powers, they belief in him grew even stronger.

ActionSammy,

(Feel free to comment, question or criticize me at actionsammy@yahoo.com. And be sure to look for my upcoming first book, First Degree Lust, an action/romantic/mystery/thriller, in Spring 2010.)