Do you think Hitler was a good leader or a maniac?

Question

How was he able to have millions of followers? was he such positive role model or do you think people were afraid of him?

Answer 1

I think he was a charismatic madman. First he told an obvious truth--"The German people don't have any money." Then he told a partial truth--"The Jews have money." Many of them were bankers and jewelers, but it really didn't help them, because they had to pay the same inflated prices as everyone else. Finally, he told a lie--"It's the Jews' fault that the German people don't have any money." But by then, many German people were willing to believe anything that might help them out of poverty. As long as the economy improved, even a little, they were willing to follow him, no matter what he did. Even if it meant seizing the property of Jews and creating a large military, it was helping the economy get stronger, so it was OK.

Another problem was that most people were afraid. If you protested, the SS might come knocking on your door next. Anyone who spoke out was likely to end up in a concentration camp.

Answer 2

People were inspired by him. He had such poise while in the public eye. He captured people's imaginations by preaching what many wanted to hear (a revitalized Germany, revenge for the Versailles Treaty - to be fair by which Germany was pretty much hosed - but that's another story). And he delivered. By building a war machine he kick started an economy in shambles.

As far as leadership principles go - he was one of the greatest leaders ever.

But that doesn't make his ultimate goals any less maniacal.

Answer 3

History is written by the victors. He took a Country that had been completely crippled by the First World War and motivated pretty much an entire population to follow his dream.

In truth, he was only fought against, rather than joined by other Nations because of long standing agreements with their neighbours.

Hitler delivered, he made German people feel proud in Germany (for a while), they came from bad government and mis-management into the arms of someone with a vision (no matter how corrupt with hind-sight) whom DID what he said he would!

At the time, the Black shirts here in UK 'nearly' had the same following; But for 'timing', the World could have been VERY different!

I wouldn't say that he was a 'positive' role model, but he was definitely a role model the German people looked up to. I think there was an element of fear (for normal Germans as well as Jews, Homosexuals, Communists and Pacifists), but there is today......

.......How will George W. Bush be remembered, How is he viewed by the Islamic World?......It's all about perspective and view-point.

History is written by the Victor.....How is your understanding of Islam?

Answer 4

Ever hear the phrase "cult of personality"?
Hitler was charismatic.

His ability to tap into the zeitgeist was amazing...a troubled economy, ineffective government leadership and depressed people.

It was a powder-keg and Hitler was the torch to set it off, using the national pride and fatherland motif as a way to instill a bond with the common citizen.

Of course, you have to have a scapegoat to blame problems.

Like in America today, where the illegal immigrants are allegedly taking away American jobs, Hitler chose to blame the Jews for the economic woes.

The government?
Well, blame the socialists...and those leaning towards communism.

Society problems?
Those homosexuals and Gypsy's had to go.

And of course, no one dared to question Hitler or his laws.
So, for a variety of reasons, the people fell in lock-step.
Millions died.
Nations were torn apart during the war.

Positive role model?
Hardly.

Answer 5

Hitler was a horrible leader and a maniac. Good leaders don't allow their country's citizenry to be decimated for their own costly mistakes. At the end, he was sending 8 and 9 year old boys to their deaths to avoid surrender. A good leader always puts the good of those he or she leads ahead of their own. Hitler felt that since the war was lost, every last German should die with him. He was a manic depressive, amphetamine-addicted, hyper-paranoid lunatic.

What he ALSO was, unfortunately, was an extremely gifted orator, who did much to build up the German people's sense of pride after the humiliation and economic struggles caused by the Versailles Treaty (which ended WWI) had left them feeling humbled and despondent.

Many Germans at the time also shared his view that the nation's Jewish population was to blame for much her woes. Those who didn't share his anti-semitism were often willing to look the other way if they believed Hitler could restore their beloved Fatherland to its rightful place of prominence on the international stage.

Once the good people of Germany realized just HOW bad he really was, it was too late. With the kind of power the Gestapo and SS had, to speak out against Hitler was suicide.

A disturbing and tragic episode in human history, to be sure...and one I hope we will never forget. For those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it.

Answer 6

Hi there,

Hitler was a maniac. As for being a good leader- NO!

Operation Sealion- The great offensive on England was a total disaster, because he thought he knew the English. Insterad of bombing the airfields in England to destruction and gaining air superiority and then invading (which would have been a success). He thought bombing London was too important and changed a startegically brilliant plan into just carpet bombing an area of no strategic significance.

Operation Barbarossa _ The invasion of Russia. Here again Hitler takes an ideological path over a stregically effective path. Heinz Guderian who led the invasion of Russia was incredibly successful with his two pronged attack of the country. In fact, he nearlty won it, but for Hitler changing his mind and splitting a very effective force in tow and sending them in opposite directions to get annihilated.

Stalingrad- Hitler became obssessed with Ideology. Stalingrad is of no military significance, but Hitler decided that because it carried Stalin's name, he must have it. He sent endless troops to get it and they became trapped when the Russians regained their strength.

Equipment- Hitler lost the war, because he was obssessed with bettering what he had. This meant he had about 6 types of tank (all with different conmstruction designs and specifications). This was a nightmare as tanks etc need to be repaired etc, but with too many different types of nuts and bolts for the differrent tanks, supplying the right repair equipment to the right tank on a moving battlefield was impossible, especially in Russia with its severe winter.

The Allies- kept thingsd simple. The Russianms, Americans and British used very few guns and couldf thus supply spare parts quickly- They also used only one type of tank, so they couild be mass produced and spare parts could be mass produced ands easily sent to the battlefield. Indeed, any surviving parts of a knocked out tank could be robbed for spare parts. In Hitler's case, you never knew if the part you robbed would fit your tank.

Maniac- the final solution to the jewish question (whether let them die or to keep them alive to work for Greater Germany) was evil and despicable.

There was no doubt though that Hitler for some reason filled an empty vacuum for power and did it successfully, managing to brainwash a whole country to follow him into death and destruction. I have no idea how one man can achieve so much evil.

Regards

Michael Cavanagh

Answer 7

I cannot for the life of me understand why people followed this man. There is nothing about him that I think is charismatic. I think he and his followers were thugs and people became afraid to speak out and the rest is history. I can only liken it to a collie dog with a herd of sheep!

Answer 8

My understanding is that there were serious problems happening in Germany. Hitler may have taken advantage of that to get people together. He led them down a destructive path that didn't do anything to solve their problems. He was a smart man (the impression I get) but really stupid too, full of hate, not love.

Answer 9

Both. Like you say, you cant lead millions without having some positive qualitys. Good leaders can still be bad people.

Answer 10

I think you have to be paranoid or a psychopath to become a leader most of the time, and there are no good leaders.