Hitler discusses his views on race and how he views as the Aryan race as the highest race. He believes that they will “become master people” and dominate the world (384). This is ironic because Hitler himself does not fall under the category of an Aryan. This is an example on how Hitler idealizes something that he is not. He tries to portray himself in a way that is someone many will follow. This makes sense because his “autobiography” was used to show the German people he is capable of being their leader.
In trying to portray himself as the future leader of German and sounding intelligent, Hitler comes across as ignorant. For example, when he was explaining the importance of the Aryan race in the society he mentions, “if he dies out or declines, the dark veils of an age without culture will again descend on this globe” (383). To one who is not very educated, it sounds like the Aryan race is superior and very important. Without the Aryan race, culture will go away. Upon further reflecting, Europe went through a Dark Age after the collapse of the Roman Empire. I believe that during that time period, there were people who had blonde hair and blue eyes. This shows that even when people who are considered Aryan went through a Dark Age. Hence, even if the Aryan race were to decline or die out, the likelihood of the rest of the world going through a Dark Age will be slim to none.
This is not the only case where Hitler tries to portray himself as something that he is not. It stood out to me the most because of his idolization of the Aryan race. Did he not realize that he would seem like a hypocrite idealizing a person who looked like the exact opposite of himself? I realize that he may be rejecting who he was and wanted to praise someone who did not remind him of who he truly was. However, does that not mean that he is in a way persecuting himself by rejecting people who look similar to him?
It seems pretty clear that Hitler does not meet his own rules of creating the perfect "Aryan Race." He is not native German, doesn't have blond hair, and doesn't have blue eyes but yet he pushes forth this notion that those are the features of the perfect race. The only way I can see Hitler reasoning with this expectation he puts forth, which he doesn't even fit, would be that he believes that if he was given this group of fit, loyal, and one ideology people, he would be able to lead them into becoming the superior race of this world. Otherwise, I do not know how Hitler could be so hypocritical in his statements in his own biography.
ReplyDeleteHitler himself was not an Aryan, but I think the reason he associated himself as one was because he thought so highly of himself and the Germanic race. I figured that his mind was thinking that since he was of a superior race, he could only be drawn to be considered an Aryan, since he claimed the Aryan themselves were a higher race.
ReplyDeleteI think Hitler was a very dramatic person. In Mein Kampf there were so many instances where he would exaggerate a lot, blowing things out of proportion. As always, a good example would be his explanation of why the Jewish people are an inferior race. That mixing of the bloods would only "dumb down" the so called "higher race". He claimed that Jewish people had no culture at all, and that everything that had was given to them and because they were so dependent on other people to provide, that without them, the Jewish people would cease to exist.
I think Hitler always wanted to be associated to the best things in life, and that he wanted to distance himself from all other "impurities" that would only taint people like him.
I disagree with many statements claiming that Hitler was being hypocritical in many of his statements in Meine Kampf. It is my belief that Hitler had limited specific hate or love towards any race, but rather used such racism as part of his hate and elitism policy to rouse supporters. Characterizing his statements as simply racist or ignorant work is oversimplifying his message and purpose. Germany did not follow the fuhrer because he was a racist, but rather because he promised a bright future, with very passionate and concrete doctrines on how he was to implement change.
ReplyDeleteWhat confuses me the most is how the man’s complex understanding of managing and propagating an extremist political movement stand in stark contrast with his crude opinions towards other policies, such as education. I believe that in his insanity he understands population psyche extremely well, enough so that he managed to get into power with very intense political views, however he seems to have limited scope in his policies and how the new nationalist government would implement his mandates. He wanted to return Germany to a feudal society of peasant farmers and to end mass education except for basic language (replacing it with exercise). So after his highly ambitious plan to refurbish Germany, this is what he had in mind for a happy, thriving country? Essentially putting the country back into the medieval ages in terms of education and economics?