Insanity of Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler, a name that is synonymous with the systematic slaughter of millions. His name has been undeniably etched into our collective conscious because of his atrocities during the Holocaust. When we see Hitler in any given text, it is socially accepted as the norm that he is represented as a pure demon. No other individual in surrounded by such an aura of pure malice that it truly reaches mythical proportions. But is this representation steeped in bias because of a moral agenda?

Andrew Green reveals the issue of representing Hitler in texts, and how author’s moral obligations to Holocaust victims distorts the truth.

Adolf Hitler, its amazing how one name can trigger a thousand thoughts and emotions. How can one name so easily send shivers down our spines and send our minds into a frenzy of thought in the same breath? The main reason behind this is we are aware that Hitler was largely responsible for the Holocaust, by far the largest and most gruesome genocide in modern history. An estimated 50 million lives were lost during this era, the mourning for those lost will echo through the ages. However, as time elapses since the Holocaust we are beginning to see an emergence of a new Hitler in contemporary texts that begin to humanize him, rather than demonize. Until now, the mainstream representation of Hitler is that of a stereotypically ‘evil’ discourse. These texts paint a very dark picture.

The Füehrer, his dominating presence demands explicit attention. His eyes, both wild and lifeless, sweat and spittle literally exploding off him, he stabs the roof with his rigid salute. The crowd emulate his salute and scream “ZEICH HEIL!”.

This is the scene that would greet a viewer of Hitler: Rise of Evil, a BBC mini-series that showcases a dramatized biography of Adolf Hitler. The story follows his disturbed childhood, to his failed teenage years as an artist in Vienna, his national service for Germany in World War One and his sequenced rise to power in the Nazi Party. The story climaxes at the death of President Paul von Hindenburg which consolidates Hitler’s totalitarian rule over Germany. The rest is taken as said. Hitler: Rise of Evil conforms to the norms of demonizing Hitler.

The dominant representation of Hitler: Rise of Evil adhere to the stereotype of the author shamelessly dramatizing history to further demonize Hitler. The author deliberately represents Hitler as totally inhuman and uses certain creative imagery to emphasize this technique.