How did Historians explain the rise of Hitler?
German History
General European Interwar Problems
Contingency/Chance/Evil Genius
Schools of thought on Hitler
Determinist:
- Some historians stress the German nature of the Third Reich, and explain it largely as a product of Germany’s history
- Others see Nazism as one manifestation of a broad authoritarian trend in Europe in the 1920s and 1930s which saw a series of dictatorships established
- Yet others stress the ‘bad luck’ of Hitler gaining power: that it was fortuitous rather than the product of deeper forces and Hitler himself was an ‘evil genius’
German History
- Prussian militarism
- Germany created by force in 1871
- Aggressive Second Reich under Kaiser Wilhelm II
- Lack of a democratic tradition
- ‘German mind’ favoured strong leadership
- Advanced economy but backward political structure
- Desire for strong leadership and national greatness
General European Interwar Problems
- Dislocation of First World War
- Fear of communism
- Nationalist resentments
- Weaknesses of parliamentary government
- Desire for strong leadership
- Impact of Depression 1929
- Crisis of modernization
Contingency/Chance/Evil Genius
- Hitler’s charismatic leadership
- Manipulation of masses through propaganda
- Outmaneuvering of the elite in 1930-33
- Von Papen’s Intrigue
- Osthilfe (eastern Aid) Scandal 1932-33
Schools of thought on Hitler
Determinist:
- Hitler’s rise to power was inevitable in many ways
- He was a product of Germany’s authoritarian history which favoured a strong state led by a powerful individual
- AJP Taylor,
- William Shirer,
- Hans-Ulrich Wehler
- Hitler was not inevitable
- He was propelled to power by historical ‘crisis’ conditions in which Germans were looking for a savior
- Ian Kershaw,
- E Anderson
- Hitler knowingly manipulated the masses and the elite to establish a dictatorship
- He was an ‘evil genius’ who took advantage of good luck
- Hitler Mein Kampf, Alan Bullock Hitler: A study in Tyranny