That said. Yes Hitler can be cited as a 'good' leader of his party and it can be argued that it was his party ("It;s My Party and I'll Goose Step if I Want To." Lesslie Gore, 1964).
In 1919 Adolf Hitler was floundering. He had found a sense of 'calling' by serving in the German Army in The Great War, but with the war ending in defeat, Hitler was uncertain what to do only knowing he did not want to return to work as a self employed artist (the pay sucked and the benefits were not all that great). The Army, in tatters after its defeat, yet wanting to have a say in post war Germany, decided to send Hitler to investigate a small political party then named the 'German Worker's Party.' Then as Now, in Germany as in America, the word 'workers' conjured up images of commies intent on communizing the country.
INSTEAD, Hitler found a group of well meaning but doddering 'old' men who were vaguely socialist, virulently Nationalist (think Sarah Palin), and anti-Semetic. Hitler not only joined the party, he transformed it. Hitler got rid of the word 'Workers,' coming up with the nifty National Socialist Party, which implied Nationalism, Socialism (which was not all that bad in Germany at the time) and as History has proved, the abbreviation, NAZI was catchy memorable and formidable. Hitler conjored up all sorts of tricks: example, let up say you joined u, the fifty third person to do so, well guess what, your membership card showed than you were the ONE THOUSANTH and Fifty Third Member, wow this is one big party. HITLER came up with the FLAG, and all sorts of details (he was an artist, after all), and Hitler retained those members who were effective in their jobs, while adding former Army contacts who helped to make the NAZI party into an effective organization.
In short, Hitler was good behind the scenes, effectively transforming it; after time, Hitler did grow lazy, once he had the right henchmen in place he let them manage the party, though his was the final word, especially when others (the Strassers in particular) thought that the NAZI Party was a Political Party and not Hitler's Personal Party (again think Palin). So though Hitler became the face and especially the voice of the NAZI Party, he did pull the strings and push the buttons.
One of the best sites out there:
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GER鈥?/a>
""In 1919 Anton Drexler, Gottfried Feder and Dietrich Eckart formed the German Worker's Party (GPW) in Munich. The German Army was worried that it was a left-wing revolutionary group and sent Adolf Hitler, one of its education officers, to spy on the organization. Hitler discovered that the party's political ideas were similar to his own. He approved of Drexler's German nationalism and anti-Semitism but was unimpressed with the way the party was organized. Although there as a spy, Hitler could not restrain himself when a member made a point he disagreed with, and he stood up and made a passionate speech on the subject.
Anton Drexler was impressed with Hitler's abilities as an orator and invited him to join the party. At first Hitler was reluctant, but urged on by his commanding officer, Captain Karl Mayr, he eventually agreed. He was only the fifty-fourth person to join the German Worker's Party. Hitler was immediately asked to join the executive committee and was later appointed the party's propaganda manager.
In the next few weeks Hitler brought several members of his army into the party, including one of his commanding officers, Captain Ernst Roehm. The arrival of Roehm was an important development as he had access to the army political fund and was able to transfer some of the money into the GWP.
The German Worker's Party used some of this money to advertise their meetings. Adolf Hitler was often the main speaker and it was during this period that he developed the techniques that made him into such a persuasive orator.
Hitler's reputation as an orator grew and it soon became clear that he was the main reason why people were joining the party. This gave Hitler tremendous power within the organization as they knew they could not afford to lose him.
In April, 1920, Hitler advocated that the party should change its name to the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP). Hitler had always been hostile to socialist ideas, especially those that involved racial or sexual equality. However, socialism was a popular political philosophy in Germany after the First World War. This was reflected in the growth in the German Social Democrat Party (SDP), the largest political party in Germany.
Hitler, therefore redefined socialism by placing the word 'National' before it. He claimed he was only in favour of equality for those who had "German blood". Jews and other "aliens" would lose their rights of citizenship, and immigration of non-Germans should be brought to an end.
In February 1920, the NSD|||Mahalo!
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|||***I do not think Hitler was a cool guy, but dismissing him wholesale as an evil maniac does an enormous disservice to the memories of those who fought against him. We must learn as much as we can about him***
Leader, perhaps. Opportunist, definitely.
I cannot speak definitively on his leadership skills, but a glance through his accomplishments during the early years of the party I believe demonstrate an ability to bring the right people into his fold.
In bringing the stamp of fascism to the idea of German nationalism that had been raped at Versailles, Hitler did not act alone. He brought faithful aides to his side, like G枚ring and Himmler, who shared his fanatical views on nationalism to manage the frightful functional aspects of party operations. The upstart Austrian used the revered figures of the Prussian military class, to include none other than President Paul von Hindenburg to ensure the trust of the German people and wrest control of the partisan alliances that would make him Reichskanzler in 1933 and F眉hrer upon Hindenburg's death in 1934.
Once so invested with power, he rode the wave of Weimar innovations such as fixing of the currency to a commodity standard to create his own achievements. Unopposed and victorious military ventures only buttressed the support of those who had placed him in power. I think it is clear from the decapitation efforts against him by his own Army officers during the war show that he was definitely in charge.
You can't argue with Hitler's ability to marshal people and resources to his own benefit while keeping himself firmly on top of the heap.|||Like any leader he had experts help him and heaps of support from Industry which is basically all he worried about once elected as Chancellor. He may have scored a couple of good points to help the people but at the same time he could not be swayed to listen to better advise where it counts.
He was obsessed with power beyond his means and threatened anybody who stood in his way.
His means of gaining manipulative power borders on the fringes of illegalities never seen before in politics as he threatened civil war if he did not get the support he demanded.
With these sorts of practices that distort civil and democratic rights of the people combined with him having literally dissolved (with threats) the oppositional parties it should not have been difficult to be the leader, on top of this Hitler was not really fit to be a leader, his bohemian life style from his early days was carried with him into governing the country. He sat up all hours of the night watching movies and rarely did he ever surpass 2 hours of paperwork in any one day no matter how pressing the situation was.|||Hitler was not exactly someone who would allow somebody else to control him. Whether upfront or behind the scenes. Those that tried didn't retire, if you get my drift.
Hitler was not a good leader, though he did nice things for some of the people.|||Hitler was bad all around!
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