Hitler’s Utopian Barbarism, Research Paper Example

The figure of Adolf Hitler is most often associated with some of the most horrific incidents of the twentieth century, such as the Second World War and the Holocaust. In the popular imagination, Hitler has thus become a symbol for an incarnation of evil. In the academic discipline of history, however, what is required is a more scientific approach to the analysis of historical personages. In the case of Hitler, this requires an objective analysis of some of the pros and cons that could be associated to his rule in Germany. In the following essay, we shall evaluate some of these pros and cons that may be attributed to Hitler.

After the First World War, Germany’s defeat signaled the beginning of an era of uncertainty. This included an economic catastrophe within Germany, with the rapid inflation of the German currency and high levels of employment. Moreover, there was a sudden uncertainty concerning Germany’s future and its role within Europe. Amidst such turmoil, Adolf Hitler became German Chancellor in 1933. Hitler’s National Socialism provided a concise world-view of how to extract Germany from its troubles. Hitler’s claiming of power and his incorporation of Nazi ideology was immediately successful in turning around a country on the brink of disaster. As North and Musser note, “In Germany, Hitler applied his National Socialist theories to mobilize the nation to his grand design….[These theories] had an almost immediate, positive effect on the German economy.” (188) Thus, a positive effect of Hitler’s rule in Germany was the solution his regime provided to economic problems. Hitler essentially re-created Germany from a nation that had been thoroughly decimated on both political and economic levels. Hitler provided a clear economic and political vision for Germany, which provided immediate results after years of uncertainty.

However, the benefits for Germany that Hitler caused were accompanied by the inhumane aspects of the Nazi ideology. The marginalization of various ethnic groups in Germany, such as the Roma and the Jews, were results of the Nazi political programme. Other segments of the population were also excluded, such as the handicapped and the mentally ill. As Henry Friedlander notes, Hitler’s world-view based on excluding various groups “institutionalized human inequality.” (17) That is to say, a crucial part of Hitler’s regime was the creation of an unequal social body through political actions and law. For the excluded groups, Hitler’s time as chancellor essentially marked the end of their existence as human beings in Germany.

This negative inhumanity at the heart of Hitler’s policy is reflected in his role in beginning the Second World War. The millions of people lost in this war and the planned genocide of groups such as the Roma and the Jews are clear indications of the disastrous consequences of Hitler’s regime. As Gonen observes, Germany’s actions in the war can be directly traced to Hitler: “The availability of a lethal ideology that was embraced by the masses, and its clever manipulation by a vicious but charismatic leader, was a key element in the unleashing of destructive actions.” (192) The Hitlerian ideology was essentially an ideology of violence and murder. The greater geopolitical outlook of the Nazi regime emphasized a Europe that would be controlled by Germany and would thus be subject to the Hitlerian world-view. The negative results of Hitler’s policy were the death of millions.

While Hitler remains a controversial historical figure, a close examination of his regime helps clarify his status in history. Certainly, Hitler can be tied to the economic and political reforms that occurred in Germany after he acquired power. Nevertheless, such positives were also accompanied by an exclusionary society and the violence of the Second World War. In the case of Hitler, his positive impact on Germany society is certainly overshadowed by the greater murderous vision that constituted his ideology.

Works Cited

Gonen, Jay Y. The Roots of Nazi Psychology: Hitler’s Utopian Barbarism. Lexington, KY: University of Kentucky Press, 2003.

Friedlander, Henry. The Origins of Nazi Genocide: From Euthanasia to the Final Solution. Chapel Hill, NC: UNC Press, 1997.

North, Oliver and Joe Musser. War Stories III: The Heroes who Defeated Hitler. Washington, DC: Regnery Publishing, 2005.