“Adolf Hitler and the Nazis”. Saying this short phrase to most people in our modern world conjures up visions of a demonic leader who seized power, then led a group of homicidal fanatics to keep his countrymen in a slave-like grip.
While some of that may be certainly true, the more frightening aspect concerning this stain on Germany’s history is that Hitler was not a supernatural force, but rather a mere mortal, one who was an especially driven and astute politician who took advantage of the circumstances in his time. He conquered his nation using legitimate, but often unethical means, rising to the country’s head through the then legal processes. At the same time that he became publicly viewed as the unshakable and idolized “Fuhrer” of Germany, his inner circle saw a man with two “very human” traits: an “over-the-top” personal narcissism in his decision making and a paranoid insecurity concerning his leadership position. His political followers, though some unquestionably fanatical to a fault, consisted mainly of commonplace disgruntled soldiers, professionals, businessmen and
