General Knowledge
Hitler was the archetypal "charismatic leader". He was not a "normal" politician - someone who promises policies like lower taxes and better health care - but a quasi-religious leader who offered almost spiritual goals of redemption and salvation. He was driven forward by a sense of personal destiny he called "providence". Before WWI he was a nobody, an oddball who could not form intimate relationships, was unable to debate intellectually and was filled with hatred and prejudice. But when Hitler spoke in the Munich beer halls in the aftermath of Germany's defeat in WWI, suddenly his weaknesses were perceived as strengths. Based on the BBC news, "The man gave off such a charisma that people believed whatever he said," says Emil Klein, who heard Hitler speak in the 1920s.But Hitler did not "hypnotise" his audience. However, not everyone felt this charismatic connection, you had to be predisposed to believe what Hitler was saying to experience it. Many people who heard Hitler speak at this time thought he was an idiot. "I immediately disliked him because of his scratchy voice," says Herbert Richter, a German veteran of WWI who encountered Hitler in Munich in the early 1920s. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-20237437
I can infer that Hitler has good charismatics skills. Evidence from source the shows that the Nazi people were very keen in listening to him as they respected him. Therefore, this shows Hitler can be powerful just with his talking skills. Based on my contextual knowledge, Hitler rise to a powerful leader because of his charisma. With his confidence and emotions, the Germans would always want to hear advice from him,
I can infer that everybody in Germany respected Hitler. Evidence from Source B is everybody did the same hand gestures as Hitler as they were part of his rule .Based on my contextual knowledge, Hitler had good charismatic skills therefore in any meetings he attended to, people were always impressed with his talking skills. Hitler’s charismatic skills had brought Germany under his control. Therefore, Hitler’s charisma definitSource A: An eye-witness describes the situation during Hitler's speech
Source C: An eye-witness describes the situation during Hitler’s speech.
At one of the early congress, I was sitting surrounded by thousands of SA men. As Hitler spoke I was most interested at the shouts and more often the muttered exclamations of the men around me, who were mainly workmen or lower middle-class types. 'He speaks for me ... he knows how I feel' ... One man particularly struck me as he bent forward with his head in his hands and with a sort of convulsive sob said: 'He understands'.
I can learn from Source C that Hitler was popular amongst the people. This can be shown in the source as there were 'shouts and ... exclamations' as Hitler spoke. This shows that the German supported Hitler. I can also learn that Hitler was able to capture the hearts of the Germans by touching on topics and needs that were close to them, thus gaining more support. This shows that Hitler was smart by targeting at the workmen and lower middle-class people who were affected by the Great Depression and the Terms of the Treaty. Hence, these are the people who would be easily manipulated by Hitler's 'promises'. Based on my contextual knowledge, in the 1930 elections, the Nazis got 107 seats and in 1932, they got nearly 200 seats, which correlated with the unemployment level helped him to rise and gain power.
Source D: Excerpt from a historian William Shirer on the Nazi rally, 1930
I'm beginning to comprehend, I think, some of the reasons for Hitler's astounding success ... he is restoring pageantry and colour and mysticism to drab lives of 20th Century Germans ... The hall was a sea of brightly-coloured flags. Even Hitler's arrival was made dramatic. The band stopped playing. There was hush over 30,000 people packed in the hall. A very catchy tune was used when Hitler made his big entry, followed by his aides. He strode slowly down the long centre aisle while 30,000 hands were raised in salute. Every word dropped by Hitler seemed like an inspired word from on high ... every lie pronounced is accepted as high truth itself.
I can infer that the historian was rather critical of the speech made by the Hitler. This is seen in Source B which states that ' every lie pronounced is accepted as high truth itself' This shows that the Historian pays very close attention to every details. I can also infer that the historian had done an extensive research and had access to a lot of information for him to come to a conclusion. This can be seen in Source B which states 'he is restoring pageantry and colour and mysticism to drab lives of 20th century Germans'' This shows that the historian is resourceful as he has a lot of resources to ascertain Hitler’s eloquence and charisma
The Bolshevist monster, to which they want to deliver the European nations, will someday tear them and their people to pieces. The Jew will not however exterminate the European peoples, rather he will be the victim of his own plot.
I can infer from source C that Hitler had led the Germans to believe that Communism and any other races are a cruel and immoral race. This can be seen in Source C which states ‘The Bolshevist monster, to which they want to deliver the European nations, will someday tear them and their people to pieces’. This shows that Hitler was determined to unify Germany under a single race and beliefs.
