The "Hitler Myth"

The article by Kershaw was the most interesting thing to me this week. Especially interesting was Hitler's ability to create a broad base of support in Germany. The tenants of the Nazi Party appeared to have something for everyone, which was a far cry from the government during the Weimar Republic end even before. However, it should not be too surprising that Hitler was able to achieve this, although on a much larger scale than ever before, given the long history in Germany of the population to rally around or to deify one man, especially those acheived some kind of national honor usually surrounding some success. How quick the population can change once the successes stop coming though. Hitler was no different.

As Kershaw identifies, Hitler was able to provide a "positive pole in the Third Reich," while at the same time being able to separate from the less popluar aspects of Nazism that had more effect on the daily lives of the population. As we learned in class, it seems Hitler was able to do this through the Gleichshaltung. It appeared as if the asscociations below him were squabbling for the scraps and creating all the discontent and Hitler appeared as a man above it all. However, this is exactly how he wanted these groups to function. Very creative! However, while he was able to create the image of himself as the man of strength and stability perhaps....the most important thing was that Hitler continue to be successful particularly within the realm of foreign politics first. This he was able to accomplish and without blood shed as he gained back territories and ensured that if and when war came that Germany would not have to fight a two-front war. The manner in which he accomplished these successes led to a political disarmament of sorts within Germany. He was able to quiet political opponents given him and Goebbels time to amp up the propaganda machine and really penetrate deep into the heart of the population.

However, once a ways into the war and the losses began to mount he started to lose some popularity. The German population ceratinly is a fickled one. It is almost as if they will support any string leader who brings success and ignore other things they see going on. When the strength of the leader seems to wane even a bit, they jump off the bandwagon.

Hitler's propaganda certainly was interesting in its success to create a broad base of support, but ultimately longterm support from the German people seems to really some from success, success, and continued success.