Adolf Hitler: Anatomy of an Autocrat
Adolf Hitler: Anatomy of an
Autocrat
Keywords: Jesus- figure, Christ figure, authoritarianism, Leni Riefenstahl
Keywords: Jesus- figure, Christ figure, authoritarianism, Leni Riefenstahl
Abstract
This paper will
draw some comparisons between Jesus- figures and Christ – figures as
interpreted by Peter Malone "Screen
Jesus: Portrayals of Christ in Television and Film" Lanham:
Scarecrow Press. 2012. Now, I will talk a bit about different scenarios that
encompass Jesus and Christ figures in ways that people may not have considered,
either from a spiritual perspective, or an entertainment element when watching
film. Secondly, having seen the excellent Leni Riefenstahl propaganda film, “Triumph of
the Will,” I found a poignant comparison between The Nazi Party and Adolf Hitler
through the prism of a Jesus and Christ – figures. Ultimately, this notion seems blasphemous,
though, prophetic when considering political leaders such as Pol Pot (Cambodia)
and Mao Zedong (China.) Mao, Pol Pot, and Josef Stalin commanded respect like the Roman’s during Jesus
period, through brutal force. Spiritual leaders lead through doctrine that may inscribe followers towards an aggressive tack to accomplish individual goals despite the core teachings. We could see this recently with Islamic State, Al Qaeda, and their affiliates.
The examples provided
by Malone do help to guide us in our choices of divine entities in film. When we consider
religion it seems as though we revere religion as a higher power no
matter the form that the
religion takes. With the current and now complete cycle (we hope) of
Islamic
State, there is the
reminder that certain elements within any religion present challenges to officials within a
particular religion and public agencies. Note, the Roman Catholic Church
and the ongoing sexual
abuse allegations concerning priests and within Buddhism among llamas, and teachers etc. to speak of two
examples.
Madrassas are schools that teach Islam to youths not unlike Christian Sunday
schools; both provide inspiration and hope with a clear picture of the
deity that governs each
Christ- figure while the local priest/Imam/ llama offering rituals,
portraying the
Jesus- figure.
Along the way, the
arguments shift towards the notion of land and control over borders. Religion
is a convenient pillar to use one Christ-figure against the other. In a
Canadian event that pitted the Aboriginal community against land owners, the
situation regarding the community of OKA Quebec, which in a sense pitted a
Jesus – figure, Ronald “Lasagna” Cross, who represented the Mohawk community
against the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) who can be considered a
Christ-figure in their support for the government. This tells a story of how
roles play a significant part in reality surrounding issues pitting one savior
against another. Hence, this theme plays out on the big – screen with
super-heroes, professional athletes; particular in the vernacular of
professional wrestling where good versus evil can emanate from bout to bout and
provide “gold, incense, and myrrh” to the victors.
Triumph
of the Will
History has
taught us to revile the Nazi Party and its Christ – figure: Adolf Hitler. If we
take a look at Leni
Riefenstahl’s classic propaganda film, “Triumph of the Will” which begins
with Adolf Hitler being flown
into Nuremberg above the clouds for that messianic effect before descending below the heavens, and ultimately, greeting many well wishers in his open motorcade along the way to the
Nazi congress in a Jesus – figure role shift from heaven to Earth. The Germans and Jewish community would see Hitler as a heathen -child, instead, in the years ahead.
Purely, Jesus – like
is how the German people saw Hitler. He promised to restore Germany's military in violation of the
Versailles Treaty. The German army was tripled in size, warships were constructed beyond the size limitation of Versailles, along with the manufacture of submarines, that was prohibited as part of the Treaty. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zsrwjxs/revision/4
Hitler provides a
dualistic, if not, multi- layered personality that supports a superior Aryan
race similar to Jesus, his disciples and apostles that support his cause
similar to Joseph Goebbels (Propaganda Minister) and Heinrich Himmler (Head of
the S.S.) Indeed, Hitler has to appeal to German interests that include the
German people and his Cabinet, and his personal goals that include his family,
creative endeavors, along with his general cynicism for the Jewish population.
In this comparison we see Hitler as a Christ – figure within his holy
trinity.
Joseph MacCurdy, a
Cambridge researcher, found that Hitler increasingly manifested a “messiah
complex” and became a slave to religious delusions about the Jews as he was
losing his grip on the war. MacCurdy explains: “The Jews are the incarnation of
evil, while he is the incarnation of the spirit of good.”[1]It would seem that
Hitler’s delusions grew as he lost the Jesus – figure element of his persona,
and was left only with the metaphysical Christ- figure component to sustain him
psychologically, notwithstanding the physical battles Germany was losing to the
Allies.
Moreover, Strehle
quotes Hitler to support his own claim that it is God’s will in his purpose as
German Chancellor where Hitler “…constantly refers to fate, providence, the
innermost will of nature, and the supreme or creative force.” [2] Indeed, Hitler,
continues with his belief that humans are most important in pro-creating to
strengthen the race where the youth continually support the organs of the Third
Reich, which is the fountain for German society. Kozlovic’s points for film
embody Hitler in the human elements though he claims that “feature films should
be employed as part of postmodern religious education” seem inappropriate for
this excellent historical and political narrative of Hitler and The Nazi
Party.
Conclusion
Triumph of the Will
was compiled using many feet of film that would have been enough for three
films; however, Riefenstahl painstakingly condensed the finished product to
show a leader who was in total control and respected by his people. Nietzsche
said that religion is dead and with that, the end of good and evil, true and
false” that frees humankind to pursue more altruistic or individual goals.”[3]However, Nietzsche’s
proclamation is accepted, the reality is that human-beings have freedom of
choice, which ultimately rests on personal interests first that may or may not
be in the best interest of a larger group or association. Riefenstahl
illustrates the Nazi Party and their followers along these lines; soldiers walking
rigidly, expressionless, in unity and total subservience to Hitler and his
messianic powers that he is transcending, brilliantly, through propaganda.
Should propaganda films become part of mainstream filmography? I think with
Riefenstahl’s attention to detail, they will serve all elements of society.
'The Cult of
Personality' pervades the political spectrum during each period from Julius
Caesar (wars translated the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire) to Napoleon
Bonaparte( approximately 3.7 million deaths during Napoleonic wars) to current
leaders Kim Jong - un (120,000 inmates in four major political prisons in 2014,
while the UN reports hundreds of thousands have died in these camps over the
past 50 years), the Assad family in Syria (400,000 Syrians killed between
2011-2016 - UN Envoy for Syria), Xi Jinping of China, and Pol Pot of Cambodia
who led the Khmer Rouge (1.7 million - 2.2 million lives lost.) Mao
Zedong of China ( Great Leap Forward: 1958-1962/ "at least 45 million were
worked, starved, or beaten to death [5] Suffice it to say, a
Christ- figure and/or Jesus - figure remain steadfast in democratically elected
nation -states, though the manipulation of the graft is the main threat to the
electorate which can hinder the delivery and content of necessary programs.
More critical are those nation - states that subscribe to authoritarianism to
pursue concentrated wealth at the expense of the many and in doing so
manipulate the mass media to create a sphere of influence around one particular
individual or small group. While, Riefenstahl had creative license, Hitler held sway over the project that would not deem Triumph of the Will, state sponsored propaganda. Riefenstahl's genius is found in her editing and camera angles.
In established democracies these nuances may be observed through the head of state (President/Prime Minister as a Jesus - figure) , governments cabinet or elected officials. In the case of Canada and other Crown observing nation- states, the Queen represents the Christ - figure. Moreover, while The Holocaust is a grim reminder of unchecked political power and international inaction regarding regime change or intervention, the presence of Holocaust memorials represents a paradox: humans can never heal from this period, while people are profiting from these museums. Yet, if the memorials do not exist, the memory will fade allowing for new authoritarian leaders to emerge. The solution lies with limiting the number of memorials, mandatory teaching of The Holocaust through early educators, closing Auschwitz to respect the victims, aiding Palestine in statehood, while taking an active role against current leaders: the Assad's, Kim's, Xi's (Xinjiang/Tibet/Taiwan,) Putin's (Crimea/Balkan's,) and Trump's (Pacific/Trade,) that embody a messianic, Christ-figure to maintain control and support.
In established democracies these nuances may be observed through the head of state (President/Prime Minister as a Jesus - figure) , governments cabinet or elected officials. In the case of Canada and other Crown observing nation- states, the Queen represents the Christ - figure. Moreover, while The Holocaust is a grim reminder of unchecked political power and international inaction regarding regime change or intervention, the presence of Holocaust memorials represents a paradox: humans can never heal from this period, while people are profiting from these museums. Yet, if the memorials do not exist, the memory will fade allowing for new authoritarian leaders to emerge. The solution lies with limiting the number of memorials, mandatory teaching of The Holocaust through early educators, closing Auschwitz to respect the victims, aiding Palestine in statehood, while taking an active role against current leaders: the Assad's, Kim's, Xi's (Xinjiang/Tibet/Taiwan,) Putin's (Crimea/Balkan's,) and Trump's (Pacific/Trade,) that embody a messianic, Christ-figure to maintain control and support.
Adolf Hitler
Number of Deaths
Group Number of Deaths
- Jews 6 million
- Soviet civilians around 7 million (including 1.3 Soviet Jewish civilians, who are included in the 6 million figure for Jews)
- Soviet prisoners of war around 3 million (including about 50,000 Jewish soldiers)
- Non-Jewish Polish civilians around 1.8 million (including between 50,000 and 100,000 members of the Polish elites)
- Serb civilians (on the territory of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina) 312,000
- People with disabilities living in institutions up to 250,000
- Roma (Gypsies) up to 250,000
- Jehovah's Witnesses around 1,900
- Repeat criminal offenders and so-called asocials at least 70,000
- German political opponents and resistance activists in Axis-occupied territory undetermined
- Homosexuals hundreds, possibly thousands (possibly also counted in part under the 70,000 repeat criminal offenders and so-called asocials noted above) [4]
Works Cited
[1]BBC
NEWS. “WWII Adolf Hitler profile suggests ‘messiah complex.” 4 May 2012. 11
October 2018. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17949037.>
[2]Strehle,
Stephen. “The Nazis And The German Metaphysical Tradition Of
Voluntarism.” The Review of Metaphysics, vol. 65, No.1 (September 2011),
125-126. <https://www.jstor.org/stable/23055685.>
[3]Strehle,
Stephen. “The Nazis And The German Metaphysical Tradition Of
Voluntarism.” The Review of Metaphysics, vol. 65, No.1 (September 2011), 120.
<https://www.jstor.org/stable/23055685.>
[4]United States
Holocaust Memorial Museum. "Documenting Numbers Of Victims of the
Holocaust and Nazi Persecution." 4 February 2019 (updated). 5 August 2019.
<https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/documenting-numbers-of-victims-of-the-holocaust-and-nazi-persecution>.
[5] Akbar, Arifa.
"Mao's Great Leap Forward Killed 45 Million in Four Years." 17
September 2010. 5 August 2019.
<https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/maos-great-leap-forward-killed-45-million-in-four-years-2081630.html>.
