What sort of leader was Hitler?

Answer 1

While it can be argued (quite successfully) that Hitler was a very bad leader, and that he ordered the deaths of millions of people and left his country in ruins, it can also be argued (just as successfully) that he dragged his country, Germany, out of a severe depression and established them as one of the world's premier economic and military powers in a few short years.

It is easy to look back at history and focus on the evil doings of people. It is not so easy to ferret out the positive things those same people may have done. This is by no means a defense for the monstrous activities of the Nazi Party, but it is a reflection on the mutability of the perception of historical events.

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Hitler was, in fact, an extremely successful leader. He was, despite appearances, a very charismatic man and excellent orator. He chose however to use these gifts to lead Germany and its allies on a path that destroyed millions of innocent lives and plunged the World into a war, the scale of which had never been seen before.

Hitler was also an extremely ruthless leader, who abandoned old allies if they challenged his power or were of no more use to him. From 1919 on there is absolutely nothing redeemable about Hitler. He was a psychopathic megalomaniac and towards the end suffered from extreme paranoia. He was a master manipulator and played his party friends off against each other. Within the party and the state he gave them conflicting powers and competencies, which led to in-fighting. This was a deliberate ploy of the dictator, who (quite rightly) believed that while they were squabbling amongst themselves and fighting each other to prove their loyalty to him, they would never be in a position to challenge his authority or power base.

Hitler and the Nazis were able to establish Germany as "one of the world's premier economic and military powers in a few short years" by removing "non-desirable" (homo-sexuals, the disabled, political opponents, etc.) and "non-Arian" elements (Jews, Slavs, etc.) from German Society, using them as slave labour, confiscating their wealth, and giving their jobs and properties to "Arians". The stolen wealth was used to fund a massive re-armament program and the victims were then forced to work as slaves building the very weapons and equipment that was to be used in their genocide.

Answer 2

Most people who have studied Hitler believe he was a diabolical and evil person, but, sad to say, he was a very effective leader. Hitler was a dictator, who knew how to manipulate those around him, and how to inspire fear. He was able to persuade the German Christian population that all of the economic and social problems were caused by the Jews (who made up a very small percentage of the population and did not cause Germany's problems; but in a time of turmoil, people looked for scapegoats, and Hitler knew how to create some).

Hitler took more and more power for himself, gaining control of the press and of the schools and churches. He especially used movies and radio to spread his message and to inspire loyalty among the masses. His Nazi party dominated to such a degree that no dissent was permitted. Hitler's plan was to take over Europe, and were it not for the intervention of the United States, he might have succeeded. Hitler's success during the 1930s shows that when the churches and the media and opposing politicians fail to stand up for ethics and fail to speak out against a tyrant, terrible things happen. But at that time, Hitler was able to convince his people that if they followed him, he would restore Germany to glory. In the end, it was not glory that resulted for Germany; rather, Hitler's strategies led to shame and defeat and the murder of millions of innocent people.