We all know Adolf Hitler wasn’t really a kind of guy we would like to hang out with, have a cup of coffee or gossip about the latest events at work. An aggressive, screaming evil dictator with a silly moustache and bad hairstyle is probably what comes first to your mind when you hear his name. But how did this evil dictator manage to fool an entire nation to stick by his side? Much would argue it was his charisma that got him to the very top. But before we start discussing this idea let’s first see what charisma is really all about.
What is Charisma ?
Everyone loves a charismatic individual and we often hear this word in the modern world. “Damn did you get the chance to talk to that new professor John? He is charismatic as hell!” But what that does that really mean?
If we were to take a look at the Oxford dictionarys definition of charisma it says it is “compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others.” This charm that can inspire devotion is followed by other crucial elements of charisma, such as self-confidence, open body language and impressive people skills. Charismatic people are also always very optimistic about their future missions and plans and have no problem defending their ideas. They have a positive outlook on life and to what they can bring to the table in the future.
Individuals very often use their charismatic skills to persuade people to like them, and stand by their sides, supporting their ideas no matter if it is a fight with a friend from school, or a political debate. Charisma is a trait very often linked to leadership, as almost every successful leader comes with a significant dose of charisma. These people are highly skilled communicators, verbally very eloquent they persuade people that they have the same dreams and goals as them and ask for their trust and support. They therefore also connect with people on a very deep intimate and emotional level.
So let’s put all these elements one by one: Self-confidence, Body language, Social and Communication skills, Power of persuasion, Ability to connect with people emotionally.
People with great leadership skills that have a compelling vision for the future.
How does Hitler fit in?
Sure, it is true that Adolf Hitler wasn’t really the “Good at parties” kind of guy. He was a weird kid, never really had any friends his age or luck with the opposite sex. He left school and went to Vienna as a teenager only to fail in his intention to become a painter.A person full of envy, prejudice and hate. But this same person becomes the chancellor of Germany in 1933.
This is where the first piece of his charisma stepped in. Instead of being frustrated by his loss on the elections of 1928 (gaining only 2.8 percent of the votes) he never thought even for a minute that it’s over. He showed how well and collected he could deal with failure and continued his mission without question. But then luck took part as well. The Great Depression hits Germany in 1929 and the political situation in the country changes drastically. Hitler, known for his self-confidence and ability to get over failure and get through dark times, manages to win the elections of 1933 and therefore proves the people who doubted him wrong.
As we established earlier charisma is the ability to connect with people, and this is exactly where Hitler’s biggest strength lies. Hitler learned exactly how to make a presence and leave an impression on people he would interact with. He had most of the German elite supporting him in his policies, and they weren’t the only ones. His words reached out to millions of people. Albert Speer, who first attended a Hitler meeting in the early 1930s said: “I was carried away on the wave of the enthusiasm which, one could almost feel this physically, bore the speaker along from sentence to sentence… Finally, Hitler no longer seemed to be speaking to convince; rather, he seemed to feel that he was expressing what the audience, by now transformed into a single mass, expected of him.”
But of course there were those who weren’t as captivated by Hitler and his promises, for example Herbert Richter, a veteran of the First World War, came across Hitler in a café in Munich and “immediately disliked him” because of his “scratchy voice” and his tendency to “shout” out “really, really simple” political ideas.
But nonetheless, Hitler inevitably did make a strong bond with most of his audiences, and it was probably due to the fact that Hitler himself truly believed in what he was saying and the promises he was making. He believed that German people were not like others. They were superior in ways both mentally and physically from other races, therefore identifying them as the Aryan race.
The ideology of Nazism was based upon the conception of the ancient Aryan race being a superior race, holding the highest position in the racial hierarchy and that the Germanic peoples were the most racially pure existing peoples of Aryan stock
He never showed any signs of doubt that the future will be exactly how he makes it. He was also far from any other “normal” politican, he never really spent time promising lower taxes or improved healthcare. He offered much more than that, and that is salvation for his people.
Sooner than you know it, comparisons of Hitler and Jesus started to be made and fanatics were addicted to him.
Chances are, Hitler wasn’t always a charismatic speaker. He learned how to do it.
A little known fact is that he actually took time to write his speeches himself as he didn’t trust anyone to do it for him. He would write his speeches over a few days and correct them multiple times to perfection.
The thing Hitler arguably used most to his advantage was his voice. No one knew how to promote violence in such a way like Hitler did. His voice was often described as captivating, magical and even mesmerizing. Ron Rosenbaum, when writing his book “Explaining Hitler” talked to the French-American novelist George Steiner who shared with him his opinion on the Nazi leader. "It's a hard thing to describe, but the voice itself was mesmeric ... The amazing thing is that the body comes through on the radio. I can't put it any other way. You feel you're following the gestures," Steiner said.
Hitler's Body Language
For me, this is another great topic to discuss when talking about Hitlers charisma.
Body language is our nonverbal communication with others, it is something we use when communicating with people whether we notice it or not. Well, Hitler damn sure did. And he used it as a strength. But the thing is, he actually practiced it, and a lot. The Nazi leader even hired a photograph to capture the poses he makes, so he could see how he actually looks when giving a speech.
The photographer that took these photos, Heinrich Hoffman, was ordered by Hitler to destroy them as soon as they finished their collaboration, but Hoffman secretly hid the negatives, and published the photos in his memoir “Hitler Was My Friend” in 1955.
Aggresiveness, domination, and tyranny were all projected through the dictator’s body language. The clenched wrists and pointed finger during speeches were a must, and not to mention the downward facing palm, which was used as a salute for the Nazi party. Many scientists argue that Hitler chose that particular gesture on purpose, as if it had been an upward facing palm, he wouldn’t have been taken as seriously.
One interesting theory I would like to mention is concerned about a possible insecurity the Nazi leader had. Many medical examiners and researchers are trying to prove that Hitler only really had one testicle. Body language experts then step in saying that that could be the reason Hitler could be seen often on pictures with his cap or hand protecting his groin, even when his other hand is showing aggression.
Even though he was a charismatic leader and one of the most influential orators in history, Adolf Hitler will always be remembered for his sick and evil deeds and the pain he had brought to humanity. Definitely a part of history that should stay history. I hope you found my article somewhat interesting, share what are some of your opinions on this man, and if you have any suggestions for me to do a similar post for some other historic figure, please let me know. Share your thoughts on the matter of charisma in comments and maybe tell me an interesting story about a charismatic individual that you stumbled upon that turned out not to be so great! Thanks for reading my post and hope you enjoyed it.