Adolf Hitler: Good Leader, Bad Intentions

Good Leader, Bad Intentions

A Playlist Profile of Adolf Hitler

By: Marissa Olson

September 5, 2012

When most people think of Adolf Hitler, they think about Nazis, World War Two, the Holocaust, and other “horrible” things. He did do a lot of bad things, but if you cut out the negative parts, you have his leadership skills. These leadership skills are often overlooked. He had great sense of nationalism for his country. He also had good ways to lead people. He was able to get many people to like him and to go along with what he was saying. He was born in Austria and moved to Germany when he was young. He was into art and his father hated that. He didn’t grow up to do fine arts, though; he became a leader quickly. He used his excellent memory, persuasive ways, strong will, and more to lead people. He was a very dedicated leader.

Track #1: You’re Only Human

Joel, Billy. “You’re Only Human.” Greatest Hits 1978-1985. Columbia, 2007. CD.

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After dropping out of school, Adolf Hitler applied to the Academy of Fine Arts. He was rejected twice and was heart broken. He didn’t have any money so he found a place in the homeless shelter. He lived there for a few years, before getting his second wind. “His years of misery in Vienna would also be a time when he formulated many of his ideas on politics and race which would have immense consequences in the future”(Gavin). He thought a lot about anti-Semitism. “You're not the only one who's made mistakes but they're the only thing that you can truly call your own.” These lyrics tell us how your past is always with you. When looking at how someone feels, it is important to learn about their past and how they developed that thought. His father and him didn’t get along and that made him rebel against him. A good leader has to know how to persevere through tough times. Where you come from is who you are, and these lyrics represent that: “It's not always easy to be living in this world of pain, you're gonna be crashing into stone walls again and again.”

Track #2: I Won’t Back Down

Petty, Tom. “I Won’t Back Down.” Full Moon Fever. MCA Records, 1989. CD.

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Hitler joined the German army after his few years of homelessness, even though he was still an Austrian citizen. He had nothing to lose at that point, since he was already homeless. While in the army, Adolf Hitler received two honors, and one was the highest possible at the time. Hitler had “a number of characteristics essential to military leadership such as a strong will, nerves of steel, and undeniable intelligence” (Muller). These lyrics represent Adolf Hitler well: “You could stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won't back down.” He didn’t give up until he was declared the only political party in Germany in 1933. He was dedicated and loyal to his work.

 Track #3: My Country ‘Tis of Thee

Marie, Rene. “My country ‘Tis of Thee.” Voice of my Beautiful Country. Motema Music, 2011. CD.

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Even Though Germany was not Adolf Hitler’s native country, these lyrics describe him well: “my native country, thee, land of the noble free, thy name I love.” He had a great love for the country of Germany and spent his life in the German Army protecting it. “This nationalism would become the motivating force of Hitler’s life” (“Adolf Hitler”). He felt that Germany was where he belonged. “Although born an Austrian, he became a German patriot, and was deeply disturbed at the eventual defeat of Germany in WWI. In his mind, he was convinced that disharmony within Germany caused the disgraceful defeat.” (Chen). He also blamed the Jews for this defeat as well, which only strengthened his nationalism to fix Germany.

Track #4: Let Me Please You

Davis, Tyrone. “Let Me Please You.” Pleasing You. Malaco Records, 2005. CD.

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Adolf Hitler was a people pleaser, which made a lot of people like him. “He could discuss highly technical matters with industrialists, engage in political conversations with diplomats, or simplify complex problems to a level easily understood by the common working class” (Muller). He used this method to help persuade people to see his point of view. He didn’t feel intimidated around others and had self-confidence. He had to work to build his confidence, though. He was not well liked as a child, and had to work his way up to get people to listen to him. “Anything you want, anything you need, you can count on me.” These lyrics represent how Hitler would try to please people and get them to like his views. He would adapt himself to fit what they wanted to hear. Of course, as the title of this song says, he wanted them to let him please them. 

 Track #5: Perfect Memory

Zero, Remy. “Perfect Memory.” Smallville. Elektra Records, 2001. CD.

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Hitler enjoyed reading about everything. He had a great knowledge of guns, machines, technology, warfare, ships, tanks and more. A good leader of a country, like Hitler, has to have military knowledge and dedication to learn. It is better for a leader to know about military incase there is a war, or in Hitler’s case, taking over land. His mind was able to remember just about everything he learned or saw, and these lyrics tell that: “And I'll remember you, and the things that we used to do, and the things that we used to say, I'll remember you that way.” Adolf Hitler seemed to be a perfectionist. “Hitler had an incredible memory for detail and would become annoyed at any discrepancies” (Megargee).

Track #6: Damaged

Kane, Danity. “Damaged.” Welcome to the Dollhouse. Bad Boy Records, 2008. CD.

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“Do, do you know how to patch up a wound? Tell me.” These lyrics refer to Hitler’s ability to switch Germany from one political party to another. He accomplished this without bloodshed. To achieve that, he had to devote all his work and time. “No other person in history influenced as many people willingly into supporting one common cause without bloodshed” (Muller). He was also able to pull Germany out of a great depression. “So how you gonna fix it, fix it, fix it?” These lyrics represent how the German people were feeling when their country was in a depression and didn’t have clear politics. They were looking for someone to help, and found Hitler.

Track #7: Battle Hymn of the Republic

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The Sound of Glory. Telarc, 2001. CD.

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"He has sounded form the trumpet that shall never call retreat. He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment-seat.” These lyrics are about someone playing God and being in charge of people. Adolf Hitler acted like a superior power by choosing groups to live and groups to die. He used his leadership skills to gain all the power he wanted, but then abused it. Hitler once said: “Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it” (“Adolf Hitler Quotes”). What Hitler said shows how he used his skills of communication and persuasion to gain power. He was committed to getting people to believe him and gain control and power.

Track #8: Not Enough

Lavigne, Avril. “Not Enough.” Goodbye Lullaby. RCA Records, 2011. CD. 

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Hitler tried to be perfect with everything. He would check to make sure every detail was correct. “If Hitler detected any deviation from what he was previously briefed, he immediately assumed his officers were intentionally trying to deceive him” (Muller). These Lyrics tell how Hitler was never satisfied with his or anyone else’s work: “It's not enough, it's not enough to get me everything I need.” An example of his perfectionism would be one most people know. He wanted a pure, Aryan race and a perfect world. Hitler was willing to do anything to accomplish his perfectionism goals. He dedicated his whole life to that. 

Works Cited

“Adolf Hitler.” Bio True Story. Biography.com, 2012. Web 2 Sept. 2012.

In the article “Adolf Hitler” the author goes over Hitler’s entire life. It starts with Hitler’s early life and moving to Germany from Austria. It then goes to talk about joining the military, rising through the ranks and gaining power. Hitler was a leader during World War Two and worked to take over Europe. He started with Germany and used his Nazi army to attack Europe. In the end, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his bunker. He left behind a disaster in Europe and the rest of the world.

Adolf Hitler Begins a Speech. 5 Sept. 2012. <http://history1900s.about.com/library/holocaust/blhitler55.htm>

“Adolf Hitler Quotes.” Brainyquote.com, 2001. Web. 5 Sept. 2012.

Chen, Peter. “Adolf Hitler.” Worldwartwodatabase.com, 2004. Web. 12 Sept. 2012.

Gavin, Phillip. “The Rise of Adolf Hitler.” Historyplace.com, 1996. Web. 4 Sept. 2012.

Phillip Gavin’s article on Hitler is very detailed. It goes over Hitler’s childhood and his parent’s way of raising children. It goes over his life with great detail and talks about the book Hitler wrote called Mein Kampf. The article goes on to tell about the three years Hitler spent in solitude living in a home in the mountains. Just like the title, “The Rise of Adolf Hitler,” states, it goes through all the events in Hitler’s life leading up to becoming the leader of Germany.

Megargee, Geoffrey. “Hitler’s Leadership Style.” BBC History. BBC.co.uk, 30 Mar. 2011. Web. 2 Sept. 2012.

In Geoffrey Megargee’s article, “Hitler’s Leadership Style”, he talks about how Hitler was very determined and dedicated to his work. He advanced quickly in the army, gaining more and more direct power. Adolf Hitler had distrust for his generals even though they had great respect and honor for his political opinions. The generals and Hitler would clash on the military aspect, though. He took his control too far by needing to know what all his men were doing. He followed their movements and made them ask permission before moving. Hitler had the strategy and idea for the war. He was the leader for it.

Muller, Richard. “A Military Leadership Analysis of Adolf Hitler.” www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/acsc/97-0609h.pdf, 1997. Web. 4 Sept. 2012.