Essay, Research Paper: The Meaning Of Hitler

Haffner, Sebastian. The Meaning of Hitler, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1979.
The Meaning of Hitler, by Sebastian
]Haffner, is a book which is hard to define. Only 165 pages long, Haffner has crammed more relevant information into this book than many twice its length. He observes Hitler’s roller coaster ride through life and the country that he eventually took along. From Hitler’s private life to the complete betrayal of Germany, Haffner evaluates the conditions and impetus for Hitler’s accomplishments and failures. These include not only Hitler’s psyche, but also the political arena of post World War I Europe.
Haffner has confronted many issues that have, according to him, been overlooked by other historians, and it is for this reason that the book is suitable for any person interested in the phenomenon that is Hitler. Haffner had a greater reason than surprise theories and new evidence for writing the book though. This is apparent throughout the book and, most notably, at the end. He is appealing to the younger generations of readers, those that did not experience Hitler themselves. It is to this group that Haffner intends to send a message. This will be discussed later.
One notable assertion about Hitler’s life made by Haffner is the fact that his success as a leader in rallying the populous is buttressed on either side by his failures as a young man on one end and his physical and political destruction of Germany on the other. Haffner argues that Hitler’s life always lacked what most lives included. The absence of things like love, friendship, parenthood, an education and occupation lent to his one dimensionality. The resulting ignorance and immaturity was always present in Hitler, even at the peak of his political power. Haffner accounts the absence of any real love interest in Hitler’s life along with the fact that he had no real friends in which to confide. In place of this void Hitler substituted politics and became a “nothing-but-politician.”
Up to 1938 Hitler achieved many things previously thought unachievable that soon after the war. He was regarded by many at that time as one of the great men of Germany. This opinion is later abandoned by most following World War II. Haffner poses the question of Hitler’s hypothetical death in 1938. How would Hitler be remembered? It would definitely not have been as the 1938 hero of Germany. Haffner argues that Germany’s political life would die along with Hitler. It would soon be apparent that Hitler left no functioning government behind. There was no constitution and no pre-appointed successor to Hitler. This is exactly what Hitler wanted. He set his political timetable to his own life expectation. Germany would have fallen into disarray and all the fingers would be pointing at the late Fuhrer. This is where Hitler really failed. He left nothing behind but horror and regret.
Hitler’s successes, resulting in the failures of other, were made to appear difficult and miraculous. This is not the case. Hitler’s successes were always against already failing opponents. The Weimar Republic had practically given up when Hitler stepped in. The European structure of 1919, which he dismantled, had already proven to be untenable. His victory against France in 1939 was against a power that was a mere shadow of its former World War I self. He wanted a war that no one else did and this helped reduce resistance.
Haffner’s message to the younger generations of readers becomes apparent in the chapter labeled “Misconceptions.” Here he addresses “Hitlerism” and its many logical and humane flaws. These include the issue of race and what it is, along with his emphasis on nations instead of states. Here again Haffner shows Hitler’s inability as a statesman. Haffner’s message is made clear, just because Hitler believed it does not make it false. Logic shows that many of Hitler’s ideas were abstract and, in fact, insane but he did have an understanding of politics and not all of his ideas fell into those categories. Haffner argues that two plus two still equals four even though Hitler would have agreed.
He does not want younger generations of Germans to be scared away from a sense of nationalism because of Hitler’s ideas.


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