Hitler 'political genius'

Answer 1

Hitler did not advance human understanding in the field of political science, except as a historical footnote. While cunning, highly organized, and very charismatic, these qualities do not qualify him as a genius.

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Hitler had above average intelligence, but few scholars would argue that Hilter was an original thinker, much less a bonafide genius (militarily, politically, or otherwise). If one studies the history of World War II, one will see that he made some arguably unwise decisions (aganist the judgment of his military council) in regard to his alliance to Italy and opposition to Russia. Some believe that if Hitler did not turn Germany against Russia, Germany would have won the war. However, that is actually very unlikely (or impossible) based on the information provided below.

Time Table:

• Hitler committed suicide in April of 1945.
• In July of 1945 the United States tested the first atomic weapon.
• Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed in August of 1945.

Based on the time table above it should be clear that if Hitler had not directed Germany to attack Russia, Germany would obviously still have lost World War II. The allies had perfected the atomic bomb and would have used it against Germany, annihilating the German military and laying waste to the entire country's infrastructure for centuries.

Fortunately, Hitler attacked the Soviet Union (against the advice of his own military council). The Soviets swiftly wiped-out the Nazis, saving Eastern Europe from significant radioactive fallout.

As far as his Hitler's measurable intellect, consider the following:

Adolf Hitler never took an IQ test in his life. There are no credible academic sources claiming that he did. During the Nuremberg Trails several Nazi officers took a crude IQ test and none of them scored as high as 145, therefor it is highly unlikely that Hitler (with a high school education and former rank of corporal in the German military) would have been any more intelligent than his officers.

His literary accomplishments amount to one finished book, an unfinished manuscript, and several documents that were dictated before he committed suicide. None of this work is recognized as being particularly creative or having advanced human understanding.

Answer 2

Hitler did not advance human understanding in the field of political science, except as a historical footnote. He advanced no theories in political science and produced no intellectual work in this area. 'Mein Kampf' (his only book published during his life) is not highly regarded as a serious political treatise. While cunning, highly organized, and very charismatic, these qualities do not qualify him as a genius.

The methods the Nazi party used to take power in Germany were not unique. They simply played on the resentment of the masses toward the wealthy and used a minority as a scapegoat for most of the problems of Germany. This sort of maneuver is known as a pogram. The Jewish people have been used as expedient scapegoats by governments for centuries. The policies and rules of the Nazy party for German citizens were only unique in terms of being unusually deranged.

Adolf Hitler never took an IQ test in his life. There are no credible academic sources claiming that he did. During the Nuremberg Trails several Nazi officers took a crude IQ test and none of them scored higher than 143, therefor it is highly unlikely that Hitler (with a high school education and former rank of corporal in the German military) would have been any more intelligent than his officers.

His literary accomplishments amount to one finished book, an unfinished manuscript, and several documents that were dictated before he committed suicide. None of this work is recognized as being particularly creative or having advanced human understanding.