Adolf Hitler - Page 4 - Political Forum

LiveUninhibited · #31 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 02:32 AM

I found this excerpt from wikipedia amusing:

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Hitler's health has long been the subject of debate. He has variously been said to have suffered from irritable bowel syndrome, skin lesions, irregular heartbeat, Parkinson's disease,[54] syphillis,[54] and a strongly suggested addiction to methamphetamine. One film exists that shows his left hand trembling, which might suggest Parkinson's.[88] Another film, to which words have been added using lip-reading technology, shows him holding a magnifying glass to a map, saying "These new aerials...", then pausing and putting the map down, saying "Oh my arm...."[89] Beyond these accounts, however, the evidence is sparse.

After the early 1930s, Hitler generally followed a vegetarian diet, although he ate meat on occasion. There are reports of him disgusting his guests by giving them graphic accounts of the slaughter of animals in an effort to make them shun meat.[90] A fear of cancer (from which his mother died) is the most widely cited reason, though many authors also assert Hitler had a profound and deep love of animals. Martin Bormann had a greenhouse constructed for him near the Berghof (near Berchtesgaden) to ensure a steady supply of fresh fruit and vegetables for Hitler throughout the war. Photographs of Bormann's children tending the greenhouse survive and, by 2005, its foundations were among the only ruins visible in the area which were associated with Nazi leaders.

Hitler was a non-smoker and promoted aggressive anti-smoking campaigns throughout Germany. He reportedly promised a gold watch to any of his close associates who quit (and gave a few away). Several witness accounts relate that, immediately after his suicide was confirmed, many officers, aides, and secretaries in the Führerbunker lit cigarettes

Heh, Hitler the vegetarian, anti-smoking, meth addict...

Though it can destroy your health, meth was a great drug for battle. Soldiers who could keep up the assault for 72 hours, and commanders who can think of strategy all night without getting tired. In terms of trying to win a war, using meth made sense.

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If Hitler was smart, he would have just stopped expanding Germany after the Anschlus with Austria. That was the height of German power. Germany would probably be 75% larger today if he had stopped before attacking Poland. Sure it was brilliant the way he and his generals ran rings around the French and the British Expeditionary Force, but strategically speaking, who the hell thinks they can conquer Europe, England, and Russia? The US is also not going to get involved in that?

There are many kinds of intelligence, and just because somebody did not embody all forms doesn't mean they weren't brilliant in some way. In terms of manipulating people, Hitler was clearly brilliant. Whether he was brilliant in military terms is debateable. But when you couple this with his moral bankruptcy and his delusional hubris, you have one of the most destructive leaders in world history.

rsather139 · #32 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 04:46 AM

Hitler was a very good politician, but he made terrible strategic decisions. I'm not talking about Barbarossa, that actually wasn't such a bad idea. By '44 he was ordering large static defenses, which were totally ineffective against Soviet armor, and showed that he learned nothing from his earlier conquests. He refused to let his commanders form a fluid defense, and so he caused the greatest military defeat Germany ever suffered, Operation: Bagration.

Slartibartfas · #33 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsather139

Hitler was a very good politician, but he made terrible strategic decisions. I'm not talking about Barbarossa, that actually wasn't such a bad idea. By '44 he was ordering large static defenses, which were totally ineffective against Soviet armor, and showed that he learned nothing from his earlier conquests. He refused to let his commanders form a fluid defense, and so he caused the greatest military defeat Germany ever suffered, Operation: Bagration.

In 1944 it was already pretty meaningless what sort of defense he followed, it might have changed the death toll, but not the result of the war anymore