What type of influence did Hegel have on Hitler?

Answer 1

Hegel was the head of the philosophy department at the University of Berlin. His ideas about dialectics influenced Hitler, along with Marx & Lenin. In the mind and works of Hegel, he put forward the idea that the "State" surpassed the individual. As we saw later, Marx saw that but was in no position to do anything but theorize about it.

With Lenin then Hitler, these men were in a position to bring Hegel's ideas into a harsh reality. For Hegel, the formation of the all powerful State was a vehicle by which the common man could reach, within the State's boundaries, his highest potential.

For those believing in this concept ( as opposed to say the pre- Constitutional ) American colonists, who feared the power of a strong central government ) the population was "elevated" to new heights of glory by allowing State power to supersede the any individuals personal rights and/or ideas that did not place the State on a pedestal.

What Hegel created was an idea that those not in agreement with State Power were committing treason.

This fit in perfectly with the dictatorships of Lenin & later Hitler.

Hegel also put forth the idea that in war, the weaknesses created in times of peace were supressed.

Hegel was a fanactical German nationalist who believed under the leadership & examples of a war like Germany, the world would be better off.

For Hitler, not only did Hegel give him the moral authority to place the State above individual freedoms, but supported Hitler's ideas about the "goodness" of war.