Who agrees that, before 1939, Hitler was probably the greates politican in history.?

Question

I am not talking about the holocaust, WW2 or any other atrocities. While I accept that Kristellnacht, and other opression DID exist in Germany at this time, I am focusing on more of the political side of Hitler. He peacefully rebuilt Germany's old empire in Europe, averted war, signed a pact with Russia, Anschluss with Austria, peace in our time and increased the quality of life for the majority of people in Germany. Therefore, if Hitler had DIED before WW2, who else believes his political work would still be awed today, without the downer of his actions in WW2?

Hitler was not a nutcase, he was a political leader of Germany. I am English, and my country aided in his defeat, something which I am glad of. However, he certainly had NO Demons possessing him, thats the american stereotype that he was "possessed by the devil" and had to be stopped for God. There is no god, nor devils, don't be so ridiculous. Hitler was a man who loved his country, not a madman, nor a devil. He was a man. While the acts he committed seem unbelievable, he was sane, right until 1945, he merely did what he thought was right, like the extremists seen today. They are not mad, merely far too devout to be stopped. I am thankful the Allies defeated him, but I HAVE MY FACTS STRAIGHT. He was, to begin with, the greatest politician seen in many years, gaining and consolidating power over Germany, and aiding many people in their lives. Without Hitler, we wouldn't have National Service, or motorways.

There appears to be some confusion. The pacts Hitler signed were not "hipocrosy". We allowed him to sign them, as the T of V was far too harsh on Germany, reparations would only just have been paid if we hadn't ammended it. Seems to me that you need to go back to school... Also, I am only pro Hitler in so far as his contribtion to how he helped Germany, and his people. I am CERTAINLY NOT condoning ANY of the events during WW2. He killed thousands of my countrymen, and Americas, FAR MORE Russians, which no one seems to honour. I hate him for that. However, I am merely showing that, while atrocities were committed, he may've been the cleverest leader seen around the world in a long time. I am not right wing, nor left wing. I live in Britian and vote Conservative. Down with fascism and communism.

While my "ignorance" may be appalling. Your arrogance is disgusting. I'm imagining youre an American who believes they liberated the world from the devil himself. Youre wrong. You should thank the Russians once in a while. Without them, wed all have lost.

Answer 1

I have to say that despite all of the evil and horrific things that can be added to his huge list of sins...Hitler was an amazing politician.

I mean he pulled Germany out of it's post WW1 slump and made it a world super power for a time. He change the views of hundreds of thousands of people and achieved a unity in his country that hadn't been scene since people like Napoleon and Alexander the great...
He was also poorly educated...I mean WOW...he drew his people together and lead them with charisma and strength...


Strange that a man with such a strong political mind would take it to such extremes...I guess it's true that absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I'm never sure if it was the war that drew his political greatness into view, and if this particular strength of his would have slipped under the radar as so many other political greats have if not for his involvement in the War.
I most certainly do NOT agree with his methods but objectively speaking...

he was a great political mind...

good question...lots to think about...

Answer 2

Yes quite possibly, certainly in modern history.I would say he was quite mad and certainly evil by the early to mid 30's though. Hitler may have been evil and twisted as the previous respondents claim and I agree with all of them but do not underestimate what a magnificent politician ,propagandist and charismatic a figure he was. Remember this is this is the man who brainwashed millions of normal people just like you and me into believing that they were the master race and then proceeded to start the largest and bloodiest war man has ever fought.
It is a little known fact that around 20 different nationalities formed the army which invaded Russia including several Spanish regiments,Scandinavians,most of the Slavic countries and even some British and a few Americans also. With millions of civilian as well as military deaths many of them his own political opponents in death camps as well as the Jews,gypsies and anyone with a physical or mental disability
He was a master of propaganda perhaps the worlds finest in the 30's,thankfully in Winston Churchill Britain had the worlds best orator and speech writer when the world needed him the most and he was equally belligerent as far as any ideas of surrender went.Had it not been for Churchill's bolstering of British morale and fighting spirit we may well have lost the war.If Britain had surrendered then the Nazis could have committed far more troops and resources at Russia thus probably defeating them and then brokering a truce with the USA which may not have even entered the war against Germany if the UK was no more.
A decent film about this is called fatherland and is worth a watch if this interests you. Another couple of films to look out for are 'Downfall' (excellent movie) which is about the final few days of the war in Berlin, also the excellent drama 'The Rise of Evil' starring Robert Carlyle about how Hitler rose to power and an absolutely fantastic novel called Winter by Len Deighton which although a bit slow starting is a very good explanatory book about how the Nazis came to power and also shows how easily it could happen again somewhere else if the conditions were bad enough.

Answer 3

I am a bit surprised that you consider the Anschluss a good thing. Invading another country because they speak the same language is not a sign of a peaceful and friendly politician. The Nazis clamped down viciously on any sign of protest. When the cameras rolled they showed only happy Austrians welcoming their brethren. They didn't show the prisons full of political prisoners and the rounding up being done. And the referendum was a joke.
The only war Hitler averted was in 1934 with Italy when he decided not to invade Austria then. He made up for it later of course.
The pact he signed with Russia gave each other the right to invade whoever they wanted without their new friend intervening, which the Russians promptly put to the test by invading Finland.
So no, I am not awed by his politics before the war. Neither by the political system he created.

Answer 4

Hitler started his mass murders and genocide in 1929. Why did you pick 39, he was already deep into his atrocities. Greatest politician? So what? So is Bush and so was CLinton. Statesman? That would be different. A resounding no to your entire question. You really need to study more. Aunschluss was an act of hipocracy, so was the pact with USSR and Great Britain. I hope you got this disinformation from some hate group or right wing whackos. I hope it not being taught like this in school.

Answer 5

No person in history can be regarded in such a selective way, because humans are complex beings and only a comprehensive insight into their doings is valid. Especially so in history, and especially so if their abuse of authority led to such a massive loss of lives as was the case with Hitler. It's not so much a question of whether "he'd be awed had he died before WW2" as you put it; it's more like: he'd make the world a so much better place had he not been born into it at all.

Answer 6

Now this is an interesting question. I think that part of his rebuilding was of course part of the greater plan. Now you say though what if the greater plan was never carried out by him. Then what would we think of him. I guess then you have to consider do we ever grasp what he really wanted to do. If we never consider why he was doing it then yeah I think he is considered a great hero. If we understand the plan then NO. Also keep in mind the oppression of Germany by the League of Nations. See that is where I think his problem would come in. He was already working around sanctions in place. So by this time we may be thinking of what he had planned and may have lost his good name.

Answer 7

Oh yeah, sure...

He gained the people's trust as every dictator has done through history, making promises and propaganda, while in reality his ideas were others...he always showed his antisemitic and extreme-nationalist ideas, he did nothing admirable, he was just another power thirsty who seized the Treat of Versailles to rise Germany's fighting spirit, but in the bad sense, he did not want a pacific Germany, what are you saying?? He aroused war among nations, he wiped his asss with the pact with Russia, he aroused conflicts among Germans, turning them against anyone suspicious to be Jew or Jewish descendant in German territory....

How can anyone who has thoughts like those, about superiority of races and all that nonsense, how can that person be good at anything???greatest politician in history??? I dont know why I even answered this, it's a maybe a joke and I'm taking it seriously....

Answer 8

Let's ignore, for a moment, all morality and equality and the like. Only measuring skill, he was definitely on par with the Ceasars, Napoleon, Charlemagne, Jimmu, and Qin. Even after 1939, he was doing very well right up until he declared war on Russia. That was on par with suicidal insanity. My dog wouldn't have done that. How, I ask, could he be such an idiot in that regard after accomplishing so much? May wonders never cease.

Morally, we have to know that, unless he got conked in the head some time in 1939, he knew what evils were coming starting back when he was painting postcards in Vienna.

Answer 9

Hitler was neither a great politician, nor a nutcase. He was just another bloody fascist, just another cruel tyrant. But in contrast to Franco and Mussolini, he got his hands on the means to kill on an industrial scale. And it doesn't make any difference that he only killed his own people before 1939. Had he died then, he would have been remembered the same way Franco and Mussolini are remembered : bloodthirsty fascist.

Answer 10

Hitler was a very charismatic leader. He led the German out of the depression after WWI. He brought Germany back to power and respect. Unfortunately he began to believe in his power alone. He got caught up in making Germany the supreme country over all others. He convinced himself that to be German was perfection. He sought to eridicate all other races through domination or extermination. With these thoughts ruling his actions he became the dangerous tyrant and mass murderer that we learn about.