Adolf Hitler's Machiavellian Strategy
Machiavelli’s The Prince outlines tactics for a leader to seize and maintain lands under his power. His tactics have been demonstrated repeatedly throughout history, and though his approach is hardly ethical or idealistic, one cannot deny the fact that it has proved to be effective. Hitler is an example that exemplifies the accuracy of what Machiavelli said would bring success in the acquisition of new provinces. One topic Machiavelli focuses on, especially in Part II, are different types of troops. Had he seen Hitler’s army, he would have classified the troops as "native," and would have applauded Hitler’s choice in troops over "mercenary" (men who fight for money,) "auxiliary" (foreign
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Furthermore it contained people from various religions, including Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and atheists, such as communists. Hitler had built the support of an entire nativist Nazi army over the years with the Beer Hall Putsch, his book Mein Kampf, a book that narrates his struggle in Germany, and his tremendous oratory skills. Using this army he was able to bully his way into a dictatorial position and dissolve the Reichstag, eliminating the last bit of democratic government left in Germany. Once in power, he was able to successfully stay in power by using the guidelines given in The Prince. The work acknowledges that mixed principalities are of the more difficult to control. To hold such a land in your power, you must first "extinguish the line of princes" (15). In Hitler’s case, the "princes" meant anyone who had any sort of political power in Germany, and he was swift and efficient in killing them, and outlawing their political parties. Machiavelli also said it is better not to share power, and Hitler followed this by killing all those in his own Nazi party that had any sort of power, including his whole elite "blackshirt" army. The final, and most important issue of maintaining a mixed principality is the use of force and strict policies, which Hitler used without fail.
Acquiring and maintaining rule over new principalities
We learn about the Holocaust to learn what is right and wrong and to remember the people who died. The main reason we learn about the Holocaust is so it does not happen again.
The dominant political figure of German history in the twentieth century, Adolf Hitler, was born in a lower middle class family in the provincial Austrian town of Braunau am Inn on 20 April 1889. In 1907 Hitler applied to enter the Vienna Academy of Art but his application was rejected. After the death of his mother Klara, Hitler decided to move to Vienna. He drifted from job to job, often selling sketches or painting scenes of Old Vienna and it was a period that he himself later called the most miserable period of his life. Many of Hitler’s views of the world were shaped by his experiences on the streets of Vienna and it is probable that his violent anti-Semitism dates from this time.
Death, blood, violence, hatred, segregation, these are only but a few words that could describe the horrors one man caused to too many people across Europe, and across the world. It seems strange that this same man once had the ambition to be a priest in his Catholic Church, or the fact that he was even catholic. Even more strange, is the fact that Hitler had dreams of becoming a professional painter instead of a war leader. It could have taken just a simple push to cause Hitler to avoid causing the malice events he caused to too many people. If we look closely, Hitler’s life could be separated into a series of segments that will automatically go in chronological order to tell a tale of severe suffering of innocent lives. The main points
The Prince was Machiavelli’s way to write a series of teachings to explain how he thought a successful leader, specifically a Prince should run his kingdom. One of the many topics which he covered in this short collection of essays was the art of warfare. This was focused on in the short but important chapter XVI, titled “What a Prince Should do regarding the Military”. (Page 58-60). Through this chapter, Machiavelli showcases three distinct discipline that a prince or leader should follow to ensure their maintained power and success.
Machiavellian politics is infamous for its cutthroat attitude towards rulership and coming to power. Among its main points are deception, lying, and skullduggery. In Machiavelli's mind, however, one thing reigns supreme, might. Through sheer power and wise use of it, anything can be overcome and anyone defeated. When dealing with the "prince" of a nation, this sort of conflict usually takes the world stage as war. To Machiavelli, the ultimate tool, and perhaps the only one needed, that a prince needs is the art of war.
“Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, which was on Easter Sunday. Adolf was one of four children but none of the other children lived past two years of age. After Adolf was born, his mom, Klara, had two more kids who did live to be older than two. Adolf’s mom, Klara, had been traumatized by the death of her first three children, causing her to go crazy”. Klara always worried about Adolf dying. Adolf also had two half brothers and sisters from his dad Alois Hitler. Alois Hitler was never a big part of Adolf’s life and he struggled with that. Adolf had a dream of being an artist, but that did not match the government job his dad wanted him to have. People say that Hitler was a mean man because of his dad and his early life. His dad would get drunk and go crazy on his family, this is not a way to grow up, and it certainly impacted Hitler and history. “When his father died Hitler roamed the streets dreaming of his future as an artist. When Hitler was 18, he tried to enter the Academy of Fine Arts, but was rejected twice this caused him a lot of frustration.” When Hitler was 25 he was part of the military and served in World War I, this allowed him to release some of the anger and frustration. “While in the army Hitler was wounded twice, once by gas. This is said to be the reason he went a little crazy. While in the war this is when he started to hate the Jews. Hitler said, while in the war that the Jews were everywhere and he began to hate them more and more as he saw
In the aftermath of World War I, Europe faced financial, economic, and physical devastation. Although figures are still exactly unknown, according to Encyclopedia Britannica (2011), it is believed that nearly 8.5 million soldiers died, while approximately 21 million were wounded. Vast areas of north-eastern Europe had been reduced to rubble and ruined. Furthermore, the infrastructure of the region was so severely damaged that such loss greatly hindered the area's ability to function normally. Consequently, someone needed to make amends for the fiscal instability in the region, and according to the United States, Great Britain, and France; Germany was the lone scapegoat. This angered the German citizens and through the use
It is no surprise to very few that Adolph Hitler is one of the most infamous humans ever to have been born. To this day, the mention of his name can conjure up emotions deep within us. He is responsible for the deaths of millions of people either directly or indirectly. The fascinating aspect of his life is what was the true motivation behind his prejudice, cruelty, and heartlessness. The next logical speculation for most would be his upbringing or that he was physiologically unstable, more logically it was a combination of the two. However, before that conclusion can be made the history of his environment as well as how heredity could have influenced him.
He views both mercenaries and auxiliaries as useless, reasoning that, “if they lose you are defeated, and if they conquer you remain their prisoner”(49). Instead, Machiavelli sets up an army of citizens, a move with implications on both the military itself as well as the people of the state. The military repercussions for this action are a stronger and more dedicated force. While mercenaries and auxiliaries have little to no stake in the battles they fight for another nation, a standing army fights for their family, their prince, and their land. They are therefore far more invested in its victory and will ensure it all the
In the predawn darkness of September 1 1939, the most destructive war in history started. Hitler’s mad obsession for power and control fueled him and his third Reich to stop at nothing. World War 1 being a “national humiliation” and their military might being stripped away with treaties, Germany demanded vengeance. Having great success at first, power and control soon consumes Hitler and his short lived empire. All along the border with Poland, German artillery roared to life. Two thousand German tanks, 1.5 million soldiers, and 1,000 planes poured across the border. For Poland, resistance to the Germans’ sudden, overwhelming attack-called blitzkrieg or “lighting war”- proved futile. Hitler’s accusations about Poland were lies. His attack was
In The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli explores the character that a prince must hold to be successful. The study of war should be a prince's main goal, “…for war is the sole art looked for in one who rules” (Machiavelli 37). Knowledge of war is necessary because it not only keeps princes in power, but can also make princes out of private citizens. If a prince neglects the art of war, he can easily lose a state. Military organization lays the foundation for the stability of the state and is a critical skill for both established and new rulers. There can be no security without military might. Machiavelli develops his idea through example and logic.
Niccolò Machiavelli’s political philosophy, as documented in chapter XV of The Prince, is misunderstood as one which rejects noble virtues in favor of self-interest. Unfairly accused of political scheming, Machiavelli simply provided a guideline for the survival and flourishing of the state, rather than the perseverance of a prince’s own power and wealth.
The Rise of Hitler During the 1920's and early 1930's Germany was trying to recover from World War. It had to pay reparations and try to rebuild the economy from bankruptcy. It was because of the weaknesses of the economy and the Weimar Government, together with the growing popularity of the Nazis that Hitler was able to become Chancellor.
This semester in Mr. Sellers’ History class, we were asked to read a history novel and write a book review on it. I chose to read The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli, and it sure did not disappoint. For a book on history, it was not so bad. The two parts to this review include a summary and a critical analysis. This paper will discuss the major points Machiavelli made in his book and analyze his tone and writing style, with an overall critique.
In essence, Machiavelli’s ideal principality sustains a genuine sense of morality behind the violence that “must be subjected in order to maintain stability.” Looking at his plans subjectively,