Why did Hitler get by with what he did for so long?

Answer 1

I can think of several reasons why Germany was able to last as long as they did in WW2. Most of the reasons for German success in the beginning of WW2 is due to their being better prepared than the allies. Here's what happened:

1) Secret military build up

Despite the Versailles Treaty of 1918 prohibiting German military buildup, a secret pact made with the Soviets in the 1930s allowed the Russians to send raw materials to Germany which were crucial for manufacturing weapons. The secret pact also let the Germans send officers to receive training in new warfare tactics from the Soviets, such as tank and paratrooper attacks. They later used these tactics and training against the Soviets, who they always hated but needed in the 1930s.

The Western countries to some degree also helped the Germans in rebuilding their country. USA, Great Britain and France all aided in different degrees in putting Germany back on its feet. They were not aware that the Germans were using some of their rebuilding money and material for weapons. They might have known something was up, given Hitler's military showmanship in the early 1930s, but the Western powers accepted it. They in fact wanted to see Germany as a strong country (but under Western political control) in order to deal with communist Russia, whom no one trusted. The democratic countries' greed and fear of losing their capital profits from a Red revolution like the one that happened in Russia in 1917 made them see Hitler as a watchdog against communism. Hitler was the monster that the West had created in their fear of communist revolution in Europe.

2) Fear of war by the allies

Despite an alliance of mutual assistance with Poland, the French and British declarations of war against Hitler's invasion of Poland in 1939 were useless. During the invasion of Poland, they did next to nothing in support of their ally. The agreement stated that within 15 days of shooting, the allies had to come help Poland. The Polish Army, despite being smaller and more outdated, was actually able to hold off the Germans for the required 15 days. But instead of a counterattack from the rear by France that could have quickly ended the war, the allies allowed Poland to get conquered and did nothing about it. For one year, the allies fought a "Phoney War" as it's called, not knowing where nor how to even begin fighting Hitler. It gave the Germans plenty of time to widen their powers.

So what made the allies so weak?

France was badly traumatized by WW1. Despite being the victors of the previous war, the horrors of trench warfare and the millions of casualties lead to French fear of a new war. France had large amounts of socialst groups, tired of war, who wanted to limit military spending and crippled french weapons factories and military morale.

In addition to the same pessimism regarding war, the British also had a weak Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain. He was not a military man, and couldn't sense Hitler's threat. He also, as noted above, was hoping Hitler would prevent any Soviet thoughts of importing communism into the rest of Europe, so he turned a blind eye to his aggression, just as the French and Americans did. He allowed the Germans to take Austria and Czechoslovakia between 1936-38 without any protest. It made Hitler gain valuable land, war weapons, and manpower from those two countries which he later used in Poland and other parts of Europe.

USA was isolationist. They didn't want to get involved in another European war. Despite President Roosevelt's secret aid to the new British PM Winston Churchill, the USA didn't join the war until Japan attacked them in December 1941. This means only the British and the Commonwealth countries (like Australia and Canada) were holding out against the Germans. Had the Americans been less isolationist, and less fearful of communism, they could have declared war sooner and the war could have been shorter. As it happened, Hitler was able to strengthen his position in Europe for a longer time.

Russia had a non-aggression pact with Germany. They were allies until Germany attacked them in June 1941. Those two years, from 1939-1941 allowed Hitler to build up his army and learn from the Polish campaign which tactics were most suited for modern warfare. Even when Hitler attacked Russia in 1941, Stalin was totally taken by surprise. He was in denial, and in mortal fear, of an attack by Germany.

3) outdated military tactics of the allies

The static warfare mentality of the allies at the beginning of the war left them unprepared for blitzkrieg tactics utilized by the Germans.

Tanks, the modern weapon of fast attack, was badly used as an infantry support weapon by the allies, not as a massed iron fist as the Germans used it. Also, British tanks were for the most part outdated compared to German ones. Only the French had better tanks, although they used them poorly.

France, with the largest and most advanced military weapons in the world in 1940, collapsed against German invasion largely due to low morale and poor defensive tactics. The Maginot Line, an expensive fortress complex stretching the entitre length of the French-German border, lead to a "static warfare mentality", tactics which were useless when faced with the blitzkrieg warfare of the Germans.

4) collapse of France

France, the only country with an army in Europe at the time that could match the German army, collapsed in a few weeks. It lead to German domination of Europe. The large amount of weapons, territory, and slave labourers that were captured allowed Germany to survive for a few years before the allies could reorganize and counterattack. Once they did, in North Africa and in Normandy, the Germans had no chance. Allies had more resources and better territorial positions. USA and Canada had high industrial capabilities, while the British had military experience and numerous colonies on its side. The Russians had huge manpower reserves and a tough fighting spirit. The Germans were finally hemmed in by the Russians, the Western powers, and hostile populations in each country they conquered.

In fact, Hitler's empire didn't last very long at all. By 1942, only two years after conquering Europe, the Germans were already collapsing. From 1936-1942, they had used cheap "schoolyard bully" tactics, attacking unprepared, weaker countries. It made them seem invincible, but in fact they never really managed to defeat even a single allied power, aside from a fearful and traumatized France. The list of countries they did conquer were all much weaker than Germany: Poland, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Greece, Yugoslavia, Luxembourg. Once faced with a stubborn foe, like the British, the Americans or the Russians, with modern weaponry and military experience, the Germans had no chance and quickly collapsed.

Answer 2

When things go bad, and a leader stands up and starts fixing things people turn a blind eye. Hitler gave Germany so much. He started the V.W. bug a car that every German could own. Business was making money everywhere. For years before he started rounding up the Jews, he had all types of propaganda printed and tapped for the country to hear. With a strong leader and no Parliament or congress to give over sight the leader can go from bad to worse and no-one will notice. Finally the wake up call comes when men are dying to the point children are in the armed forces. Then all the bombs you have dropped come back to haunt you to the point you know you can't win. A bullet to the brain is easier than being held accountable and repenting.

Answer 3

By all accounts, he was a mesmerizing public speaker.
After the defeat of Germany in "The Great War," or what became known as World War I, the German economy was shattered and their army and navy essentially dispersed. There was a brief economic respite during the last half of the 1920's. This was a period of great artistic freedom and some of the changes offended the cultural mores of the general population.
Then the same economic forces that caused the Great Depression in America caused widespread joblessness in Europe as well. After a while, people in Germany were dissatisfied with the government who didn't seem able to provide jobs or security.
Hitler and his Brown Shirts had an answer for their problems. He said the country's problems were the fault of the Jews, the Gypsies, degenerates and all the other non-Aryan peoples. He said they were taking German jobs and polluting the "master race."
His message was that Germany was a great country and if they would only rise up, "cleanse" the population, and take control of their country again, everything would be okay. Then it was a matter to beating back their encroaching neighbors and taking back land that had once been part of the German empire to act as a buffer for the "Motherland."
Culturally, the German people were an orderly people not accustomed to questioning authority, so Hitler's promises were very appealing. He gave them hope, scapegoats, and a path to follow. He rewarded followers and got zealots to shut down newspapers and muzzle intellectuals. His movement gained momentum and he collected power along the way. With power came more power and in time, his control of the military and police effectively shut down dissent.
He broke treaties and built back up the army and navy. Then he set about confiscating the wealth of the people he blamed for German problems, primarily the Jews, and used those resources to fund his plans.
In time however, his own paranoia and meglomania coupled with the stress of starting to lose the war, caused him to become mentally ill and he committed suicide.
He was completely insane. But he was a speaker who somehow managed to twist the country's desires to his agenda.

Answer 4

It was due to the failure on League of Nations, and the policy of appeasement of Britain and France. The LON did nothing much to stop the Italian invasion of Abyssinia. This showed Hitler the weakness of the League thus he was never afraid of the peace organisation..ironically LON revolved around collective security... He just gnored the League and went ahead with his expansionist expedition. The aapeasement policy allowed Hitler no hinderence while he was busy taking over Europe! Chamberlain believed in taking the initiative - he would find out what Hitler wanted and show him that reasonable claims could be agrred upon by negotiations rather than by force.
Nevertheless, by Britain and France merely watching Hitler reverse the terms of the Treaty Of Versailles, Hitler was allowed an undistrubed militarisation and 'perestroika' of Germany.

Answer 5

First off, Hitler started by killing all political canidates in his path, this insured his running the office. Next, he made so many promises, the people thought he was already a hero. The entire country of Germany was in ruin, after defeat in ww1. This meant that he was basically coming in at "The perfect time" he easily got people on his side, by saying that he would inprove Germany, and make them the strongest country on Earth. Then, he built up the military, and put in the Gestapo(police that replaced the "good police" these were his police, that basically followed him). Eventually, once he got enuff ppl on his side, he ruled w/ force. He went into peoples houses, and killed many people. He had to have someone to blame Germanys problems on, and the Jewish were the "perfect target" most people do believe to, that Hitler had a MASSIVE talent in persuading people. The last way was, He took his time. Hitler did not gain millions of supporters overnite-it took him about 4 years. And, this is how he did such a "good" job of taking over other countries, with what looked like "no effort".

Answer 6

Hitler consolidated power and eliminated the constitution by convincing the German people that the reasons for Germany's woes were attributed to the Versailles Treaty forced upon it by England and France. He then began a massive militarization of the country and established the 3rd Reich. He then convinced the people with his superior oratory skills that the Jews were manipulating the economy. by firing up the people with rage and hatred, he began his quest for world domination.
England wanted to believe that there was no threat and its PM, Neville Chamberlain, was easily duped by Hitler. France had the same illusion.
In America, there was an isolationist position favored by both FDR and a majority of Americans.

Footnote: There is NO relation between Hitler's rise to power and the Bush Administration. The yokel who came up with that idiotic response illustrates his ignorance of our electoral process.

Answer 7

The Germans had endured the defeat and shame of World War I and were having to pay war reparations. Morale was low and poverty was high. In came the charismatic Hitler who promised them everything. They followed him and again Germany sustained defeat.

But Hitler wasn't the only one who used his charisma in an adverse way. We've had several instances since then. Osama Bin Laden is doing the same thing. Additionally, we have had various religious leaders who have in a smaller way, created chaos and even death. To name a couple, Jim Jones (Guyanna poisoning) David Koresh (Waco).

One way to get people to follow you is to cater to their hate and fears. Thus we have had Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, and lately Ted Haggard. All three of these guys preached against one thing on the pulpit, then went out and did the very thing they preached against.

If only people would use common sense and question what they have been told by their leaders. Also it would help if we could lose our hate and prejudices. Above all, stop passing down your hate and prejudic to the next generation. Maybe if we did, then someday we would have a better world.

Answer 8

With the German people it was possible because of the Treaty of Versaille that ended WWI. It left Germany in debt up to its ears not to mention the reparations they were supposed to pay. it caused the Geramn people much hardship, inflation went sky high, and unemployment was astronomical. In the beginning, the National Socialist movement offered a glimpse of hope to many people that Germany could return to the land of philosophers, poets, and dreamers.
As for the rest of the world, France was tired of war, England was tired of war, and the United States had an isolationist point of view. Neville Chamberlain made it worse with that non-aggression pact with Germany just before they invaded Poland. It all happened because "good men" turned a blind eye to what was not in their back yard. At least until it was too late.

Answer 9

you may want to read up on the milgrim experiments from the 60's. you probably know about it already, but in the 60s this yale professor by the name of stanley milgrim came up with an experiment to gauge how far people would go if told to by an authority figure.

he rigged up a fake panel with switches that an actor dressed up like a fancy pants scientist would tell people to push. each switch corresponded to an increasingly more painful shock eventually ending with 3 switches that i think were just labeled X. surprisingly the majority of the people continued to listen to the actor dressed up as a scientist and continued to shock people despite their audible cries of agony. some even continued to shock after the cries of agony eerily stopped and they believed they may have killed the person.

i may have gotten some minor details wrong and if you want to read more, here's a wiki link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment

one of the implications of this experiment was that what happened in nazi germany could happen in the US.

also, there's a concept called cultural hegemony, i may be wrong here, but what it basically says, is that people tend not to question things simply because they believe "it's the way it's always been" or "that's how its done" even though the historical record may not back it up. this is perpetrated by the dominant class in a society

it's a kind of complex subject, so i'm just gonna include the wiki page here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_hegemony

these are perhaps 2 reasons, but in reality, there was probably many many more that, combined with the "right time" and "right place" proved to be unfortunate.

Answer 10

He had the power, after winning the position of the leader of the largest political party of Germany. That doesn't means most Germans supported him (there were more then 2 political parties), but this gave him the power to do as he pleased.

Answer 11

first and formost hitler was decieving in how he presented himself to the public. he was a master of political disguise. although he stated exactly his intentions in Mien Kemph he did so in subtle ways and most of the people ignored him and his writings and didnt take him seriously. Secondly, politicians and other people of power in germany were in bed with him for their own gains. another reason would be the power he had after becoming dictator, the gestapo and the SS were instruments of fear and terror that destroyed any opposition to his aims. this kind of power is difficult to dislodge after it has time to become established as did the SS and gestapo.