“ For a long time Hitler succeeded in identifying his own power with the recovery of Germany’s old position in the world, but as soon as the interests of Germany began to diverge from his own, his patriotism was seen at its true value-Germany, like everything else in the world, was only a means, a vehicle for his own power, which he would sacrifice with the same indifference as the lives of those he sent to the Eastern Front.” (214).
Although it is obvious that Hitler’s greed played an important role in his struggle for power, Bullock, like Taylor, recognizes the circumstances, which allowed and enabled him to become what he was.
After the First World War and the Treaty of Versailles, Germany, suffering from a major loss, was faced with extreme war reparation costs, loss of all of its colonies and embarrassing war guilt. In response to the war, the Allied powers, along with the United States, set up the Weimar Republic. This was an institution run by the League of Nations in order to protect the democratic beliefs in Germany and reassure that the army is limited to 100,000. These restrictions and post-war grievances put Germany into a depression. The people had little respect for the government and were in need of a leader who would be able to bring the country back on its feet. Hitler was this man.
AJP Taylor takes a different approach in analyzing the rise to power of Hitler. He says, in A Revisionist View, “The League of Nations was a shadow; Germany could rearm, free from all treaty restrictions; the guarantees of Locarno were no more.” (54). With this he is suggesting that the League of Nations was a bad influence on Germany and Hitler. It fathered Hitler and allowed him to seize power. Because the League of Nations did not provide adequate life conditions to the people of Germany it gave Hitler room to promote his ideas and persuade people that he should be trusted. Taylor says “Hitler was gambling on some twist of fortune which would present him with a success in foreign affairs, just as a miracle had made him Chancellor in 1933. There was here no concrete plan, no directive for German policy in 1939 and 1938.” Here Taylor challenges Bullock in his views that Hitler “did not make plans” (59). Bullock’s beliefs are that, even before Hitler gained power, his only goal was to glorify himself through his preconceived plan, and he was able to do this with luck. He describes Hitler as “An opportunist entirely without principle, he showed both consistency and an astonishing power of will in pursuing his aims.” (486). This quote represents Hitler’s determination to place himself in a desired position, where he would have complete control. He also argues that “Nazi propaganda later built up a legend which represented Hitler’s coming to power as the upsurge of a great national revival.” (136). The nation was forced to believe that this man would save them. He was able to convince them that his plan would save them, in order to acquire the recognition he sought. Because of this struggle for power, Hitler convinced the people that war was the only way to obtain what was needed for Germany to reestablish itself as one of the great, if not the greatest, European power.
Although Taylor does acknowledge that Hitler’s presence as the German leader did help Germany to enter the war, he takes an apologetic view and argues that war, even without Hitler, was expected. The disunity and disorganization of the other countries dragged Germany into the war. He argues that Hitler believed that “Germany would gain her aims without a great war,” (57). He goes on to say that “We must look elsewhere for the man who provided an opportunity which Hitler could take and who thus gave the first push towards war. Neville Chamberlain is an obvious candidate for this position.” (59). Taylor, not only defends Hitler, but he puts the blame for the war on Chamberlain. He also discusses the arms race as being inevitable, and an opportunity given to Hitler and Germany. Taylor believes that Hitler only accepted the opportunities, given to him, in order to improve the conditions in his country and ameliorate its stand in the world. Because Hitler was given these opportunities, he recognized the importance of becoming involved, and therefore set out for the war.
AJP Taylor and Allan Bullock both describe the events, which led to World War II. Bullock, a traditionalist, argues that Hitler became involved in political Germany in order to satisfy his need for power. He argues that Hitler’s greed caused him to enter the war and continue destroying lives until the end of his life. Taylor, on the other hand, argues that Hitler only took the opportunities, which were presented, to him because of the turmoil that was happening in Europe, and worked to create a powerful Germany for his people.
