I mean he had those kind of never say die attitude isn't it?
2006-12-22 01:31:28 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
There were two diverging opinions on this matter:
Many of his officers thought that it is the right thing to do. There is an unwritten code in the German military, for a soldier to fight to the last man, and to leave one bullet in his pistol for himself when the need arises. For example, Hitler expected Field Marshall von Paulus (commander of the Sixth Army) to shoot himself when the Sixth army was surrounded at Stalingrad. Hitler in fact promoted von Paulus from Colonel to Field Marshall, confident that Paulus knows that there had never been any Field Marshall in history captured alive in battle. Von Paulus, instead of taking his life, surrendered with his men to the Russians. This action dismayed and irritated Hitler, who called von Paulus a coward and unworthy commander of soldiers who died in Stalingrad.
Many officers on the other hand, view Hitler's suicide as a sign of cowardice. They thought that Hitler committed suicide to evade his responsibility in plunging Germany into war. These officers rightly knew that after their defeat in the war, all of them will be held accountable for all the crimes committed by the German army under their commands. For this, they were bitter that Hitler, instead of facing his share of responsibility, chose to evade them by committing suicide and leave all consequences upon the shoulders of his officers.
About Hitler's personal bravery, no doubt that he is a brave soldier. During the First World War, while serving as a Corporal in the German army, he was awarded an Iron Cross medal for bravery. While wounded, he continued to fight. His colleagues had to literally hold him and pull him back toward the rear lines, because he refused to retreat.
2006-12-24 18:08:50 · answer #1 · answered by roadwarrior 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
During Hitler's last lunch of spaghetti with a "light sauce," according to the secretaries who ate with him, conversation revolved around dog breeding and how lipstick was made from sewer grease. Both were topics Hitler had brought up on numerous past mealtime occasions.
Does that sound like someone who was in the least sane? He couldn't accept defeat, and knew that he could not win. He wasn't going to sit and wait to be captured. Remember, a convict is forgotten, a martyr is immortal.
2006-12-22 19:49:03 · answer #2 · answered by aidan402 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because he knew that the Allies would execute him anyway. He wanted to die on his own terms. Too bad that Stalin did not do the same. Both Hitler and Stalin were scumbags.
2006-12-22 18:30:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hitler was afraid that the Russians would capture him and put him on trial for war crimes. Which they wanted to do Stalin wanted him to be tried in Moscow.
He was also having to face the truth that he had ordered Berlin to be a fortress without a army to defend it.
Was he Sane ? NO!!!!!
2006-12-22 21:49:04 · answer #4 · answered by redgriffin728 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not really. His enormous ego made him realize that if he was made prisoner his fate would be worse than Mussolini's, something he could not tolerate.
He had no escape. There was nowhere for him to hide.
Besides, everything he had worked for had fallen, totally and completely
2006-12-24 20:29:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
he was a no acount coward who took the easy way out when he ran out of options
2006-12-24 22:48:05 · answer #6 · answered by al b 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋