Fest, Joachim. Hitler. New York: Harcourt Brace Adolf Hitler was one of the most celebrated yet feared man of his time. Hailed for his accomplishments, Hitler ultimately uplifted Germany to its highest realm. Hitler, however, in the eyes of others was the anti-Christ. Fest describes Hitler as a ?builder and a wrecker; a creator and a destroyer.? Fest discovers Hitler?s extraordinary complex personality and portrays him as ?a man of the most complex contradictions? in his literary work, Hitler. Fest obtained most of his biographical information from colleges, friends, and family close to Hitler from his early years to his suicide. Hitler is shown as an underachiever in his youth, but magnificently climbed into a position to dominate and control Germany. Fest wants to show the government leader, consummator, and statesman Hitler was to Germany. He also wants the terror and destruction of Hitler?s past known. Hitler built Germany to ultimate power and lead it, head on, into destruction. Fest depicts the horror of Hitler?s actions and hopes his audience can picture the images that brought tragedy to Hitler was a poor academic achiever throughout his early life and in his adolescence. He failed to graduate form highschool(20).
He then tried to enroll in the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. He failed in his attempt, but later tried again. This attempt was also in vein(28).
The Essay on Totalitarianism In Hitler’s Germany
Totalitarianism is the absolute control of a ruler who is a complete dictator, unrestricted by constitution, laws or opposition. This essay will evaluate the extent to which Hitler had absolute control over Germany in terms of political control, control over the Nazi party, control over the youth and education. Hitler established single party state and achieved political control to a large extent. ...
Hitler became bitter and depressed, Hitler then joined the German army. This is where he gained his savage hatred for the Jews. Hitler believed, as many other did, that the Jewish people betrayed them. Fest states Hitler felt they were ?stabbing the Fatherland in the back.? In Hitler?s eyes the blame for WWI rested solely on the shoulders of the Jews, and him and many others wanted revenge for Hitler formed the Nazi Party after WWI. Its program was socialism, nationalism, and anti-Semitism. Fest shows Hitler struggled for power as he and his party became a political force. Germans accepted Hitler?s views and the party grew rapidly. Since his ideals were so widely accepted, he ran for President of Germany. Even though Hitler was an under achiever, as a youth, his social skills and public speaking ability uplifted him to extreme power due to the public?s Hitler didn?t receive enough votes for President but he did manage to worm his way into the position of Chancellor. He gained enormous amounts of public opinion after every speech he gave as Chancellor. Hitler invokes, the Law of Alleviating the Distress of People, which gave him temporary authority in the land(398-406).
Fest tells how Hitler starts taking revenge on the Jews. He removes them from all civil service posts and Jews in higher institutions are reduced. Fest also states how Hitler gained even more power. He sized union offices throughout Germany, which ended organized labor. He also outlawed the Social Democratic Party, his biggest opposition. Hitler said the party was ?hostile to the nation and state?(414).
Other parties dismissed after the Social Democrats. This make Hitler and his party in total Hitler wanted to strengthen his country, and to invoke Nationalism. Fest tells Hitler?s achievements that ultimately strengthened Germany. Hitler built a network of Autobahns, as well as a compact and inexpensive car for the average German. He expanded production and curbed unemployment. He built parks and tried to stop pollution. Hitler introduced programs to increase social functions like: dances, films, and performances. Germans were blinded by his achievements and his plans of power and destruction went unnoticed. Hitler started WWII with his ideal to dominate countries and add territories to Germany, which they had lost after WWI. He didn?t stop with lost territories. He wanted vast amounts of land and numerous countries. This was the reason for Germany?s downfall. Hitler spread his army over an enormous population and tried to wage war with too many countries at once. His actions to dominate the world lead to Germanies? utter destruction. Before Hitler?s suicide, when his empire was falling around him, he had managed to exact his revenge on the Jewish nationality. Fest explains the horror caused by Hitler toward the Jews. Hitler called the Jews ?parasitic germs?. It was his duty to exterminate all Jews and wipe them off the Earth. He had Jews arrested and sent to concentration camps. Here thousands of Jews were gassed with deadly toxins, others were used in wicked experiments that usually resulted in death, and the rest were left to starve.
The Essay on Adolf Hitler- Long Live Germany
The ruler, commander, leader, “God like” image to all of German in between his rising years, 1928-1935, had great power over all living being in Germany at the time. German flags would be raised wherever you may travel in German; Nazi’s over-ruled the people in many streets... Here is a poster of Adolf Hitler, during 1935, showing us how mighty and powerful he is. Showing us how he can change ...
Like Fest, I feel Hitler greatly benefitted Germany, but ultimately destroyed what he had built. Fest?s work was an unbiased biography about the life and times of Hitler. Fest portrayed Hitler?s accomplishments and the devastation he caused. More emphasis was put on the negative aspect of Hitler?s life and the tragedy he caused, but he did cause more devastation on human life than benefits. Fest feels that most individuals dismiss Hitler?s anti-Semitism and struggle for world domination as his youthful fantasies. This is why Hitler is so controversial, some think he is great and others a demon reincarnate.
