Chilling reminder of Hitler's Charisma.

[Rilder]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnpTWKKWQ1o

Hitler Speeches with accurate English subtitles.

I don't have much to say on the matter, however I do have a quote about it from another site about the video.

I think in some ways it's important not to "over-demonize" Hitler and the German people of that time.

Not because Hitler's actions weren't monstrous, but because if you make him too inhuman- to much of a caricature- and the Germans too evil, or stupid, or uncaring- you lose the fundamental lesson that should be remembered "Be careful, and remember, for this could easily become us if we do not".

If you dismiss Hitler as merely a "monster", then you will be more easily fooled in the future by someone who does not look, or talk, or act like one in public. If you do not remember to question what you are told, and look for the facts as best you can- then again, this can be you. You start to think "Such a one as him is too evil to appear again- it was a one-off, a fluke, and we are too smart to be fooled like that anymore".

Hitler kissed babies and patted puppies like any other politician. His speeches were stirring, the pageantry grand and inspiring. The face the people saw, at least in the beginning, was not the one we see "behind the scenes", as it were, with all the light and wisdom of hindsight. Watching videos like these reminds us that the face of evil may not present itself as a cackling, crazed dictator, or a glaring, evil-eyed Grand-Vizier like figure- at least not at first.

Demons and devils become mere stories to frighten children. Remembering the man behind the image may last longer.

[Skybird]

"It's not what I am underneath but what I do that defines me."

http://www.smiliesuche.de/smileys/fledermaus/bat.gif (http://www.smiliesuche.de/fledermaus/)

[Feuer Frei!]

One of the main reasons why Hitler was so successfull early on in 'deceiving' the people was because Germany was in a bad state economically. Unemployment was at an all-time high and they were 'lost'. The nation was in need of reform, of something or someone to pick them up and give them a fresh purpose. Re-introduce that German spirit.
Hitler was there at the right time.
His speaking skills were nothing new. The way he could captivate the audience was nothing new.
He practiced speaking in front of mirrors for many hours, practicing hand movement with every word.
He gave the people work, he designed and built the Volks Wagen, he designed and built the infamous Auto Bahns.
He fixed unemployment and gave the nation the 'pick-me-up' that was needed.
The right time, the right place.
I have listened and watched many of his speeches. The way he could captivate the listener was remarkable.
His power to persuade people by words was only so powerful because of that right moment.
Very doubtful if he could have achieved his following if Germany were a nation of prospect and hope and industry at that time.

[Skybird]

Very doubtful if he could have achieved his following if Germany were a nation of prospect and hope and industry at that time.
He could, if he wanted. By adapting his promises to what lures people today into submission, and using the magical spell-words. "Social justice". "Solidarity". "Green conscience". "A future for our beloved children". Etc. etc. The sound of these terms mean nothing - what actually is being done in their name defines the intention behind. And that proves them to be anything but what they claim to be by name.

As a matter of fact millions and dozens of millions follow these slogans unreflected, not thinking through what is being done in reality in their name, and not realizing that it has lead us back to totalitarian states already, political ideology ruthless trying to root out deviating opinions, and again the growing tyranny of what we considered to have defeated 20 years ago: socialism and communism.

Or look at Euro-hit countries, how easy people fall for propagandists and slogans promising them again better futures. Had you thought it possible that the Italians would vote Berlusconi back into influential power again?

Sometimes people simply chose to deselect reality.

[Jimbuna]

One of the main reasons why Hitler was so successfull early on in 'deceiving' the people was because Germany was in a bad state economically. Unemployment was at an all-time high and they were 'lost'. The nation was in need of reform, of something or someone to pick them up and give them a fresh purpose. Re-introduce that German spirit.
Hitler was there at the right time.
His speaking skills were nothing new. The way he could captivate the audience was nothing new.
He practiced speaking in front of mirrors for many hours, practicing hand movement with every word.
He gave the people work, he designed and built the Volks Wagen, he designed and built the infamous Auto Bahns.
He fixed unemployment and gave the nation the 'pick-me-up' that was needed.
The right time, the right place.
I have listened and watched many of his speeches. The way he could captivate the listener was remarkable.
His power to persuade people by words was only so powerful because of that right moment.
Very doubtful if he could have achieved his following if Germany were a nation of prospect and hope and industry at that time.

Pretty much agree....but look at the eventual price the German people paid.

I doubt he'd have been anywhere near as successful if the future could have been foreseen....taking on Europe by military means.

[Platapus]

An interesting read is

When Democracy Failed: The warnings of history by Thom Hartmann

[August]

He could, if he wanted. By adapting his promises to what lures people today into submission, and using the magical spell-words. "Social justice". "Solidarity". "Green conscience". "A future for our beloved children". Etc. etc. The sound of these terms mean nothing - what actually is being done in their name defines the intention behind. And that proves them to be anything but what they claim to be by name.

Where has a group like the nazis ever taken over a prosperous country?

Or look at Euro-hit countries, how easy people fall for propagandists and slogans promising them again better futures. Had you thought it possible that the Italians would vote Berlusconi back into influential power again?

Sometimes people simply chose to deselect reality.

I could say the same thing about this post. Berlusconi is no hitler and there is nothing like the nazi party running Italy.

[Skybird]

I illustrated that people often, if not always, vote against realties they do not like, and that people often, if not always, fall for sweet words and luring catchphrases that promises them what they want to hear. Same about Berlusconi. I did not compare him to Hitler - I showed that people fall for words even if they are obvious lies.

Stalinism today is absolutely socially respectable in huge parts of the Russian society. People fall for the cult. Nobody holds a weapon at their sleeves to like a mass murders who is responsible for having killed millions of Russians himself.

My criticism of democratic states base son what is being said in the parallel thread the past days. It also bases on the trend visible in the EU and the US for growing totalitarian control by centralised power bodies, and on the fact that with the change from monarchies to democracies there came the change from limited wars over property to to total wars over ideology and social orders, and that democracies by far do not score better than tyrannies before when it comes to the blood toll imposed by them on mankind. Democracies just do not fight that much amongst each other and tend to not engage in getting their hands bloody themselves, but run policies that lead to the bloodshedding being committed by others, in the name of democracies economic selfinterests. Some would even argue that democracies have in their indirect ways have caused more people getting killed, than explicit dictatorships. - Again, people let that happen, and do not look closer.

Ten years ago, in the US it was possible to betray constitutional checks and balances, to launch a war of aggression that was founded on lies, manipulated propaganda and pure material interest by a clique of hopeful industrial profiteers. Most people bought the lies with great enthusiasm. Some still do today.

Sweet words is what voters want to hear. Promises meeting their expectations, even if they are unsustainable. A gain in the present, is more attractive than an outlook for a possible bigger gain in the future for which first labour and investements have to be made and put at risk to go lost. Whether it is Hitler , Stalin, Berlusconi or Bush, does not matter for explaining the very simple mechanism behind their propaganda and their lies. - Economists talk of the individual's LINK time preference (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_preference) But not just businessmen think about this, but the ordinary man on the streets does, too - just on a more personalized basis.

[August]

I illustrated that people often, if not always, vote against realties they do not like, and that people often, if not always, fall for sweet words and luring catchphrases that promises them what they want to hear. Same about Berlusconi. I did not compare him to Hitler - I showed that people fall for words even if they are obvious lies.

Stalinism today is absolutely socially respectable in huge parts of the Russian society. People fall for the cult. Nobody holds a weapon at their sleeves to like a mass murders who is responsible for having killed millions of Russians himself.

My criticism of democratic states base son what is being said in the parallel thread the past days. It also bases on the trend visible in the EU and the US for growing totalitarian control by centralised power bodies, and on the fact that with the change from monarchies to democracies there came the change from limited wars over property to to total wars over ideology and social orders, and that democracies by far do not score better than tyrannies before when it comes to the blood toll imposed by them on mankind. Democracies just do not fight that much amongst each other and tend to not engage in getting their hands bloody themselves, but run policies that lead to the bloodshedding being committed by others, in the name of democracies economic selfinterests. Some would even argue that democracies have in their indirect ways have caused more people getting killed, than explicit dictatorships. - Again, people let that happen, and do not look closer.

Ten years ago, in the US it was possible to betray constitutional checks and balances, to launch a war of aggression that was founded on lies, manipulated propaganda and pure material interest by a clique of hopeful industrial profiteers. Most people bought the lies with great enthusiasm. Some still do today.

Sweet words is what voters want to hear. Promises meeting their expectations, even if they are unsustainable. A gain in the present, is more attractive than an outlook for a possible bigger gain in the future for which first labour and investements have to be made and put at risk to go lost. Whether it is Hitler , Stalin, Berlusconi or Bush, does not matter for explaining the very simple mechanism behind their propaganda and their lies. - Economists talk of the individual's LINK time preference (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_preference) But not just businessmen think about this, but the ordinary man on the streets does, too - just on a more personalized basis.


Yet for all that you still cannot point to a hitler like ruler garnering the same degree of power in a prosperous society which is what his statement was about. Moving an inch is not the same as moving a mile. You need to differentiate between the two.

[fireftr18]

Pretty much agree....but look at the eventual price the German people paid.

I doubt he'd have been anywhere near as successful if the future could have been foreseen....taking on Europe by military means.

Actually the future was foreseen. The US Congress never ratified the treaty of Versailles because they felt the sanctions put on Germany were over restrictive. Germany's only viable would be to break the treaty and gear for war just to be able to have a viable economy. Some historians even consider WW1 and WW2 the same war, but with a break. Or WW1 was a "prelude" to WW2. The B-17 bomber: In 1932 when the Army wanted to replace the Pacific bomber force, amongst the specs they wanted, was a requirement that the aircraft could take off from an airbase in England, fly to Berlin, and return.

I do understand that the German people may not have foreseen the future.

[Jimbuna]

yes that is what I meant and is why I made a direct reference to the German people but I admit I could and should have worded it better.
:yep:

[STEED]

The.Dark.Charisma.of.Adolf.Hitler.1of3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J0uP_itowE

2of3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcx783yN9Jg

3of3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oCovr69_1U

You can decide for yourself if this series is on the ball or what ever.

So many factors happen to Hitler and around him, a crazy crank to start with but then latter on well you know the rest.

[Skybird]

Hitler is not unique in using unscrupulousness and gifted rethoric to claim power when the opportunity arose, and to kick countries into wars. Nor is he unique regarding the police dictatorship he established. Genocides there have been before and afterward as well, which also counted hundreds of thousands and even millions of civilian victims.

What makes him unique and what the real unique horror of the crimes of the Third Reich represents, is the industrialization of genocide in the camps. KZs may have been a British invention, and abuse of POW may have been practiced by many war-waging countries before and afterwards (as we know by now, all factions in WWII did that, even all Allied armies), but the art of industrializing the killing of people like cattle in a slaughterhouse, the complete transformation of turning human victims into things, into animal like cattle on a ranch, was what got perfected by the Nazis. The massacre and mass raping in Nanking can be explained from a human level. The drop of the atomic bombs. The bombing of cities. The abuse of POVs by soldiers of all participating armies, axis and Allies alike. All that can be explained as being one reflection of this human nature that is made both of light and shadow. But industrialized killing farms - that breaks the limit of what was and is imaginable for a sane mind.

One could of course say: humans did it, so it is one reflection of the dark side of human nature as well. But I admit: irrational or not, at this point I hit a wall.