Hitler's such a Goofball

[zacharyrychlo]

When i was in History 20 my teacher mentioned that if Hitler died in 1936, he probably would be known as the greatest German ruler of all time. Considering that he was Time Magazines man of the year in 1938 i think this is the most ironic event that has ever taken place in history. Hitler has been called the most recent antichrist. I think its soo crazy how one man can go from being so far up an then falling so far down. What a goofball.

[Mr. Delainey]

A correction: I think Hitler was named Time's "Man of the Year" in 1936 (not '38).

Hmmm, greatest German ruler of all time? There is a tendency where people assume that what's going on right now (or in the recent past) is demonstrably more important than what went on in the past. With this in mind, I think a case could be made for other German rulers like Conrad (during the Crusades) or Frederick the Great or Frederick of Saxony as being the greatest German ruler.

I guess it also depends upon what criteria you use to determine "greatest". Is it the guy who won the most battles? Is it the guy who did most for his people in general? Who supported the arts and sciences? Who founded the country in the first place?

In many respects, you could argue Otto von Bismarck (though not supreme ruler ...though he was nicknamed the "Iron Chancellor" due to his superior political abilities and shrewdness) was the greatest German statesmen. I.e. He oversaw the uniting of a loose conglomeration of German states into a single country; he oversaw Germany's foreign policy througout the 1860s, 70s, 80s, 90s, where Germany's industrial, economic, and military strength became unparalleled in Europe.

I think Hitler is a bit easy and selective of a candidate to select. I'll tell you why. The one thing he did do well was help the German economy recover during the Great Depression; but he did it by using a gimmick.

I'll explain.

While the democracies suffered with the depression (mainly because of laissez-faire policies and a reluctance to intervene in the economic life of their respective countries), Hitler did the exact opposite. I.e. He spent government dollars on the creation of public works like bridges, hydro-electric dams, construction of vast roadways, creation of such businesses as the Volkswagon Company, etc. And in so doing, by spending government money, he "pump primed" the German economy. These government dollars stimulated the German economy and helped reduce the unemployed.

Now here's where the "gimmick" comes in: he was defecit spending; that is, he spent money that the German Government did not actually have. This was and continues to be an unwise practice of any serious politician or leader. Actually, Hitler had absolutely no understanding of economics. He delegated economics to Von Schacht.

The democracies refused to defecit spend because they were attempting to be fiscally responsible, in that, they didn't want to burden future generations with an inordinate amount of debt. Hitler's minister of economic policy, Dr. Schacht, actually told Hitler that there were limits to pump priming and that the debts would eventually have to be paid. Moreover, Schacht, actually indicated that all Germany was doing with the pump priming of the economy was delaying the return of the depression. In fact, Schacht was quoted as saying Germany would join the rest of the countries of the world in the Great Depression in 1939.

1939.

What year did World War II break out? 1939. This an accident? Noppers. Hitler pump primed the economy by putting a ton of money into Germany's military. The only way the German economy could be spared a protracted recession was if they went to war and took the treasure of other countries. The fact that he just delayed the Great Depression alongside his aggressive intentions to use his military sometime in 1940 or 41, to me mitigates any claim as to his being the greatest German ruler.

Germany lost WWII and as a result was wartorn and crumbling. Hitler did not leave the Reich in better shape than when he left it; and no policy of his survived the war (though some businesses like Fanta and Volkswagon, did). Bismarck, on the other hand, helped create a country that continues to exist. His parliament instituted the first old age pensions (it was the Germans that set 65 as the retirement age).

Hitler is over-rated.

[guest]

I'm pretty sure he was in 38, not 36

[Mr. Delainey]

I stand corrected. 1938 it is. I think I must've somehow connected this Time's Man of the Year honor with the Berlin Olympics (1936).