“Look at you, you’re hungry!”
I turned on the television this week, as I often do, and found a plethora of documentaries and poorly made TV movies about…you guessed it …Hitler. Turns out that it is Third Reich week or something of that nature on the History channel. Third Reich week! Does anyone else remember the last time when it was Third Reich week back in, say, 1930’s Berlin? Well, I guess that was really more of a twelve year marathon. Better than a thousand years, I guess. So this Third Reich marathon got me thinking, “Why does everybody love Hitler?” I suppose when I say the word “love” I am using it loosely here. But alas, why does this man seemingly fascinate so many people? Is it his intuitive sense for a one of a kind mustache? Somehow, I don’t think so. Is it that twinkle he gets in his eye as he discusses the final solution? No, I don’t think that’s it either. Hitler fascinates people, even while also reviling them, because he’s that guy in the room that just says that offensive slur and doesn’t care. “I can’t believe he said that,” they respond. Well, I can’t believe he said it and then acted on it. How does a single man take an idea (albeit an awful one) and implement that idea within twenty years. And then on top of that get millions to go along with it. Like it or not, that is fascinating. And though one might say that it was the political and economic climate of that time that truly contributed to Hitler’s rise, his ability to take advantage of such a scenario is interesting (if frightening).
But in the end, I often wonder if Stalin feels left out? He simply does not get near as much screen time as Hitler. I don’t remember a Communist Russia week on the History channel. Stalin actually killed more people than Hitler! But nothing is made of this. Let’s face it, Stalin is the Robert to Hitler’s Raymond. And the public is Marie, who is aware of Stalin, but dotes on Hitler.
Anne
