What struck me most about this reading is the hypocrisy of Hitler’s statements. Many of the claims Hitler makes actually well describe his own actions or the consequences of his actions for the German nation. This mainly results from his accusations against the Jews. Hitler repeatedly states how the Jews are the parasite to Germany that must be exterminated. Most would actually conclude that Hitler was the parasite of Germany. Below, I list each quote which highlights this realization.
259 “Everywhere we encounter seeds which represent the beginnings of parasitic growths which must sooner or later be the ruin of our culture. In them, too, we can recognize the symptoms of decay of a slowly rotting world. Woe to the peoples who can no longer master the disease!”
Many Germans today would state the same about Hitler’s movement. His rule was a huge step back for the nation culturally. Hitler’s reign became the most tragic era for Germany. One that Germany will forever have to separate themselves from. Hitler was the parasitic growth that has left a stain on German culture.
242 “It must particularly exercise strict control over the press; for its influence on these people is by far the strongest and most penetrating…”
315 “Thus, Freemasonry is joined by a second weapon in the service of the Jews: the press.”
276 Hitler talks about how the Jews could exploit the use of propaganda. “The fact that by clever and preserving use of propaganda even heaven can be represented as hell to the people…”
I was surprised that Hitler would call for the regulation of the press since he so blatantly uses propaganda to expand his own movement. For example, the numerous articles he writes in the VB. Nevertheless, Hitler bashes the Jews for using the press to spread their poisonous ideals of international capitalism and Marxism. He believed that the Jews were able to essentially hypnotize the people into supporting Marxism and therefore called for the government to increase their regulation of such publications. Many today would argue that Hitler did just this. He exploited the emotions of the public by means of the propaganda in order to gain followers to the Nazi movement.
301 “Since the jew…was never in possession of a culture of his own, the foundations of his intellectual work were always provided by others. His intellect at all times developed through the cultural world surrounding him.”
Why would Hitler make such a claim against the Jews when he did the same? He moved, just like parasite, from Austria to Germany. By doing so he claimed he was a part of the German culture, and more importantly their citizenry, when in reality the majority of his life was spent as an Austrian citizen. Today in calls Prof. Ertman spoke about how Hitler had an Austrian accent, yet he was able to pass it off as a Bavarian accent. Hitler primarily developed his culture through the culture ‘surrounding” him, especially through the thoughts of Schonerer and Lueger. I understand that Hitler did identify more with the Germans, yet it can’t be ignored that he was raised Austrian and had to adapt like he claims the Jews immorally do to the culture of the land.
While Kershaw discusses Hitler’s time in the army, he stresses that following the WWI Hitler’s time in the army was actually due to a practical decision to have food and shelter. On page 301-302, Hitler links the Jews to a herd which only comes together when confronted with danger. “The Jew is only untied when…a common booty entices him…” (p. 302) I am not arguing that Hitler joined the army for food and shelter because I think he truly believed in the cause. But I believe the latter half of his service was solely in order to reap the benefits of the “booty” that the army provided.
319 “the great master of lies understands as always how to make himself appear to be the pure one and to load the blame on others. Since he has the gall to lead the masses, it never even enters their heads that this might be the most infamous betrayal of all times.”
Hitler’s sole goal is to make himself out to be the only pure one. He seeks to be the one with the simple messages and desire to bring Germany back on top as a powerful nation. To help in shaping this image, he spends the bulk of his efforts in blaming others. Most obviously he blames the Jews for their poisonous ideals. Yet, he also spends time in casting his competitors as unfit to lead. This is seen by his attacks on any right wing speaker who enters the political scene. We have seen this most recently with Kahr. Kershaw states that once Kahr was appointed General, Hitler devoted his propaganda against him. Hitler also did this when he made sure Otto Ballerstedt could not make a speech by having the SA cause a commotion in the hall. Hitler is the one with the gall to lead the masses and when he does this he betrays them. The most evident betrayal to me is during the time of “passive resistance” when there is a new surge of national unity. Hitler at this time responds by going on another propaganda offensive to break this unity by stating the enemy is not external, but internal.
320 “For under his cloak of purely social ideas truly diabolic purposes are hidden…”
So far, from what we have learned about Hitler, this describes him pretty accurately. Last week, Peter and I, discussed whether Hitler actually believed what he was preaching. I don’t think he did and that he was actually just power hungry. At the time Hitler wrote Mein Kampf I think he had diabolic ideas to establish his own dictatorship. In order to do so I think he would have said anything whether he believed it or not to achieve this goal. Again, I use the example of “passive resistance” since his response to this was a direct contradiction to the anger he expressed at the lack of national unity at the end of WWI.
320 “Thus there arises a pure movement entirely of manual workers under Jewish leadership, apparently aiming to improve the situation of the worker, but in truth planning the enslavement and with it the destruction of all non-Jewish peoples.”
This quote can be twisted to explain the Nazi’s. They were a movement under German/Austrian leadership, aiming to improve the situation for the German, but in truth planning the enslavement and with it the destruction of all Jewish peoples.
322 “In keeping with all his inner rapacious brutality, he at once teaches the trade-union movement the most brutal use of violence.”
Hitler also uses brutality to further his movement. Kershaw explains that one of Hitler’s main tactics to help his party grow was simply to evoke chaos, through the use of fights, in order to have publicity for the party. However, the most glaring parallel of this quote is that Hitler brought in a massive machine gun into the beer hall during his putsch. This is an evident use of violence.
327 “After the death of his victim, the vampire sooner or later dies too.”
This quote just simply foreshadows Hitler’s fate. He was the vampire of Germany. He was able to kill a lot of Jews, yet eventually the world made sure that he went away too.
i agree with this. While I was reading Mein Kampf, I definitely saw Hitler's hypocrisy.
ReplyDeleteWhat bothered me the most was the fact that he blamed the Jews for using propaganda. He says, "At the same time, the government offices in charge knew next to nothing of the value and nature of propaganda. The fact that by clever and persevering use of propaganda even heaven can be represented as hell to the people, and conversely the most wretched life as paradise, was known only to the Jew, who acted accordingly; the German, or rather his government, hadn't the faintest idea of this" (276).
This is nonsense. German government knew the value of propaganda. It knew that an idea or reality could be portrayed in a way the politicians want to the public. In lecture, professor mentioned that German government did this at the end of WWI. It made it seem like the Germany was fighting well against the Allies, and manipulated the press to target the blame of losing to anywhere but the government.
Also, NSDAP used Hitler as a valuable propaganda. NSDAP called back Hitler when he decided to resign, and made him the chair of the party. This is because NSDAP knew his value and how important propaganda is in politics. And even Hitler himself admits, according to Kershaw, that he started to get involved in politics as a 'dummer' who stirs up people with ideas. In Kershaw, He said that the idea that he preaches is not important to him and that all he needed was people to listen to him and agree with him. He also wrote for the NSDAP newspapers to gain support from the public.
It is so hypocritical that Hitler blamed the Jews for using press and propaganda. It is also very hard for me to understand how the public believed in what he was saying when all the facts show that his action and his words are so contradicting.