Do you think Hitler was a great leader?

Question

And should we respect him?

Answer 1

This is not a dumb question. As much as we despise the horrible things that HItler did, he did however end a severe economic depression in Germany and turn them into one of the most industrially, economically, and militarily powerful countries in the world.

He was a good leader in the sense that he was very charismatic and he did convince a great number of Germans that he could save them and bring back the glory days of the First and Second Reichs.

Once in power he did use terror, mass propaganda and fear to control the masses but he did strike a chord with the normal everyday German citizen. Read the book called "Hitler's Willing Executioners" It describes how normal Germans followed HItler DESPITE his racist and discriminatory policies and despite the violence they still would have followed his lead.

However, this in no way vindicates him for the savage and brutal acts. Sometimes the majority is not always right.

have a nice day.

Answer 2

Hitler was an "effective" leader.

I think that differs from "great" in a number of ways. We, in my opinion, had an "effective" President. Lyndon Johnson and Adolf Hitler were not alike in other ways but they were both effective. They got what they wanted. Hitler through intimidation and secret agents that caused people to disappear in the night. Johnson because he had been in Washington since before dirt was patented and knew where every body was buried, both figuratively and literally.

So no, I don't consider Hitler a great leader. History has branded him a tyrant and I don't see any inaccuracies in their characterization. On the other hand, I can't see any way to argue that he was not effective. Men and women he lead captured most of Europe, drove deep into Russia and had a dominate presence in Africa.

Russia fought smart, drawing Nazi troops deep into their nation, stretching German supply lines to the limits while shortening their own and waiting for winter to do much of the fighting for them. And, the British, fought with such tenacity that it may never be forgotten as long man maintains history books. But, if the United States had not been the manufacturing giant they were, German might well have been the official language of the entire planet when Hitler was done.

As far as the respect aspect goes. That is a bit harder. I spent 22 years in the US Military. During that time I learned to "Respect" and obey people that I neither liked nor agreed with. From that perspective, yes he may be worthy of respect. He is certainly worthy of loathing, hatred and defeat.

Answer 3

I'm going to say that he was a powerful leader. He pursuaded people through his speeches. He was a powerful and convincing speaker and knew how to use words. Now was he a great leader? Well depends on what YOU believe. No I don't think he was good. He was a dictator and what good can that possibly do for you? Nothing. Have you ever seen Schinler's List? If not it's a really really really good movie. (If you're interested)

Answer 4

Hitler was a fanatic. Not a leader by any standards. A true leader would listen to his Generals, which Hitler wouldn't do.

Answer 5

I'm not picking fights, but, yeah, he was a great leader. No, we should not respect him.

Think about it. He led thousands, if not millions, of people for his cause. He started small, and took over a sizable chunk of Europe. But that is NOT something to respect.

Hitler was also a murderer. His ethnic background points to Hebrew origins (and just look at his hair color...he certainly wasn't up to his own standards!). And it wasn't just the Hebrew nation that he murdered. He slaughtered everyone from Gypsies to Russians, to Germans to Polls. If you did not agree with him, you did not live.

He was a sad man with a hatred so deep for himself that he had to kill everyone else. His memory doesn't deserve respect...

It deserves pity.

Answer 6

hitler was a psychotic, neurotic, self-flagellating nutburger...but he was a charismatic leader. was he a a great leader? maybe. he is remembered...but he was not a good leader. people followed him in droves, but he led his followers to destruction, so it's a little hard to call him a great leader, isn't it? he did great, but terrible things, so one can never really be great if one leaves nothing great behind. our respect or disrespect is irrelevent in any case - he is dead. i feel sorry for people who venerate him, though. racism is the last refuge of the insecure.

Answer 7

No he was not.....The Nazis had the capability to defeat the allies but failed because of Hitlers flawed leadership...if Hitler was not so egotistacal he could have sucessfully subjusgated Russia..then they would have had more than enough resources to stop the allies on the western front

Answer 8

We should respect him as a historical figure.

Through his evil deeds he made certain evils, like killing Jews, recognized by the whole world (since it was ignored for generations).

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying anything positive about the man. I'm only saying that he set up a standard for what we want to avoid.

Answer 9

If you separate his motives from his form one has to give him credit for getting the German people who were down and out at the time, up and functioning again. Then his motives and obsessions got in his way and he became a raving maniac making stupid decisions and in the end left Germany even worse than he found it. Overall the battle of his personality (Mein Kampf)(My Struggle) was his destruction and that of the country. So he ends up with a poor rating in my book.

Answer 10

No. Hitler was responsible for the death of over 6 million people. He was an oppressor- If you look up to him than you are just as bad as he is.

The only "great" thing that Hitler did was lead the nazis into defeat and shoot himself in the head.