I’ve always been told that Hitler was a masterful public speaker; that his support can largely be explained by his compelling, if not mesmerizing hold on crowds. This narrative is not common, it’s universal.

Sometimes I think this is emphasized over how much the crowds approved of the content of his speech.

How do native German speakers feel when they view footage of Hitler? Do you think the reputation is earned?

  • SomeGuy69@lemmy.world
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    5 hours ago

    Politician hardly talk to the crowd with direct words, because it requires a level of nationalism and populism to still be convincing. A lot of solutions aren’t nice to the common folks. Take taxes for instance, most don’t like paying them. And if there are hard times and there’s just one person who promises you a better life, it’s compelling to follow. Hitler had a certain way of talking that made you feel emotions, in a time of desperation. And he promised solutions by declaring enemies.

    Not to start with US politics here, but you can certainly look at how Trump talks and you see the same playbook. The same similarities. The same way of seeking for an enemy and also the false promises. Others talk like him too, but this is so recent.