PCMech Forums - View Single Post

Paul Victorey · 04-11-2003, 05:52 PM

No, actually, the Nazis were truly overwhelmingly popular in Germany, long before any of the secret police or later tactics. Hitler and the Nazi party easily won elections in 1933, and they were well-loved nationwide. There was no election fraud, he did legitimately win. His party was small but had massive public support. The party was established in the 1930s, most of his more cruel tactics, which themselves were democratically done (the Reichstag passed them into law in the usual fashion) didn't occur until after they had secured power. And he was incredibly popular for most of his time ruling Germany; the Germans didn't know about concentration camps, and he made incredible progress on rebuilding Germany after WW1, so most of the people loved him.

Hitler did, though, exceed the powers granted to him as Chancellor, although he did become dictator democratically -- the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act in 1933 granting him essentially limitless power.

Hitler was not a military genius, but he was, in many ways, brilliant. He was a master at persuasion and at knowing how to lead. He was insane, as well, of course, but he was one of the most charismatic and influential leaders of all time.

I also think WW2 was inevitable. Hitler had a lot of power, but he had it because his policies (rearming Germany, recovering from the debt, and improving the lives of Germans) was exactly what everyone wanted. The people were ready for a strong leader to rise up and give them a war, and he was the leader that did.

Germany is not the only place a democratic republic has committed atrocities. Rwanda was much the same, likewise the most recent set of genocides in Yugoslavia.

04-11-2003, 05:52 PM	#26
Paul Victorey Member (12 bit) Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: MN or WI Posts: 3,017	No, actually, the Nazis were truly overwhelmingly popular in Germany, long before any of the secret police or later tactics. Hitler and the Nazi party easily won elections in 1933, and they were well-loved nationwide. There was no election fraud, he did legitimately win. His party was small but had massive public support. The party was established in the 1930s, most of his more cruel tactics, which themselves were democratically done (the Reichstag passed them into law in the usual fashion) didn't occur until after they had secured power. And he was incredibly popular for most of his time ruling Germany; the Germans didn't know about concentration camps, and he made incredible progress on rebuilding Germany after WW1, so most of the people loved him. Hitler did, though, exceed the powers granted to him as Chancellor, although he did become dictator democratically -- the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act in 1933 granting him essentially limitless power. Hitler was not a military genius, but he was, in many ways, brilliant. He was a master at persuasion and at knowing how to lead. He was insane, as well, of course, but he was one of the most charismatic and influential leaders of all time. I also think WW2 was inevitable. Hitler had a lot of power, but he had it because his policies (rearming Germany, recovering from the debt, and improving the lives of Germans) was exactly what everyone wanted. The people were ready for a strong leader to rise up and give them a war, and he was the leader that did. Germany is not the only place a democratic republic has committed atrocities. Rwanda was much the same, likewise the most recent set of genocides in Yugoslavia. Last edited by Paul Victorey; 04-11-2003 at 05:56 PM.