Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
Very nice color pictures of WWII Germany.
I saw Valkyrie last night and it's amazing how Germany was with this guy in power. So many were against his barbaric ways but he was still able to fool most of the country and surround himself with enough twisted warlords to see his plan to fruition. He came close, and if he wasn't so arrogant maybe we'd all be talking German in the US right now. Crazy times.
If you haven't, you should read
Hitler's 30 Days to Power. The book gives you an idea how fortunate Hitler was and how millions of little things had to work out perfectly for him to assume power.
Basically, Hitler was fortunate that the Junkers in Germany were unhappy with the weak and ineffective Weimar Republic. His rise to power was a combination of his own skills as a leader and the belief by Junkers that he could be controlled and manipulated. It's truly amazing.
There is no doubt that Hitler was a smart man. His ability to play off past injustices, to command a crowd, and his own powerful image all created a solid foundation for his rule. Once in power, he co-opted the Wehrmacht and made it the crucible of Nazi power by forcing out non-compliant officers and soldiers. Other career army men often took up the Nazi moniker simply because they either wanted to retain their positions or they owed their jobs to Hitler personally (Erwin Rommel is a fine example). Originally, the Wehrmacht had been the hotbed of opposition to Hitler. If you look at documents from the 1930s, it is clear that if the French had mobilized any troops in response to the reoccupation of the Rhineland, the Wehrmacht would have at least attempted to remove Hitler from power.
Anyway, it's difficult to blame the French because of the British unwillingness to get involved in a war... blah blah blah.
But, yes, Hitler was a horrifyingly amazing figure.
