For a bunch of amoral foul-ups, the Nazis at Nuremberg were an above average group. Four of them, Schacht, Seyss-Inquart, Göring and Dönitz were in the genius range. In fact, Schacht and Seyss-Inquart possessed IQ's equaled by a mere 1 percent of humanity. Unfortunately, Hitler himself was never tested (though some have attempted to estimate his IQ), leading to much speculation about his relative intelligence.
During the course of the defendants' testimony during the trial of the major war criminals, many of them offered their reflections on Hitler; truly informed opinions which provide a number of clues to the Führer's intellectual capacity. (Note: One must, of course, bear in mind that the defendants continually emphasized Hitlers unassailable authority as an element in their defense, saying in effect that the Führer was the whole show and they had little or no influence, thereby mitigating their own guilt.) The following are some pertinent excerpts from this fascinating material:
Funk - IQ 124: I immediately received the impression of an exceptional personality...He grasped all problems with lightning speed and knew how to present them very impressively, with great fluency and highly expressive gestures.
Jodl - IQ 127: Hitler was a leader to an exceptional degree. His knowledge and his intellect, his rhetoric and his will power triumphed in the end in every spiritual conflict over everyone. He combined to an unusual extent logic and clarity of thought, skepticism and excess of imagination, which very frequently foresaw what would happen but also very often went astray. I really marveled at him when, in the winter of 1941-2, by his faith and his energy he established the wavering Eastern Front...The modesty in his mode of life was impressive... ...I became convinced--at least during the years 1933 to 1938--that he was not a charlatan but a man of gigantic personality who, however, in the end assumed infernal power. But at that time he definitely was an outstanding personality...My influence on the Führer was unfortunately not in the least as great as it might, or perhaps even ought to have been in view of the position I held. The reason lay in the powerful personality of the despot who never suffered advisors gladly.
Ribbentrop - IQ 129: His thoughts and statements always had something final and definite about them, and they appeared to come from his innermost self. I had the impression that I was facing a man who knew what he wanted and who had an unshakable will and who was a very strong personality.
Keital - IQ 129: To a degree which is almost incomprehensible...Hitler had studied general staff publications, military literature, essays on tactics, operations and strategy and...he had a knowledge in the military fields which can only be called amazing...Hitler was so well informed concerning, armament, leadership and equipment of all armies and...all navies of the globe that it was impossible to prove any error on his part...Hitler studied at night all the big general staff books by Moltke, Schieffen and Clausewitz...Therefore we had the impression: Only a genius can do that...even in the simple everyday questions concerning organization and equipment of the Wehrmacht ... I was the pupil and not the master... ...Concerning...decisions he did not brook any influence.
Dönitz - IQ 138: A powerful personality...with extraordinary intelligence and energy, with a truly universal education, a nature radiating force and an enormous power of suggestion. I deliberately went to his headquarters only rarely because after a few days stay at his headquarters I felt that I must remove myself from his power of suggestion...In principle there was no question of a general consultation with the Führer.
Göring - IQ 138: After a certain time, when I had acquired more insight into the Führer's personality, I gave him my hand and said: 'I unite my fate with yours for better or for worse...in good times and in bad, even unto death.' ...With the dynamic personality of the Führer, unsolicited advice was not in order and one had to be on very good terms with him. That is to say one had to have great influence, as I had...as I had beyond for many years...Suggestions and advice were curtly brushed aside whenever he had once made his decisions or if...the would-be advisor had not that influence or that influential position...Foreign policy above all was the Führer's very own realm...Foreign policy on the one hand and the leadership of the Armed Forces on the other hand enlisted the Führer's greatest interest and were his main activity...He busied himself exceptionally with these details...In certain cases he would ask for data to be submitted to him without the experts knowing the exact reason. In other cases he would explain to his advisors what he intended to do and get from them the data or their opinion. Final decisions he took himself...In my opinion the Fuehrer did not know about details in the concentration camps, about atrocities...As far as I know him I do not believe he was informed.
Schacht - IQ 143: He read an enormous amount and acquired a wide knowledge. He juggled with that knowledge in a masterly manner in all debates, discussions and speeches. He was undoubtedly a man of genius in certain respects. He had sudden ideas of which nobody else had thought and which were at times useful in solving great difficulties, sometimes with astounding simplicity, sometimes, however, with equally astounding brutality. He was a mass psychologist of really diabolical genius...I believe that originally he was not filled only with evil desires; originally, no doubt, he believed he was aiming at good, but gradually he himself fell victim to the same spell which he exercised over the masses...He was a man of unbending energy and of a will-power which overcame all obstacles...Only those two characteristics--mass psychology and his energy and will-power--explain that Hitler was able to rally up to 40 per cent, and later almost 50 per cent, of the German people behind him.
Some maintain that Hitler was not an 'original thinker,' thus denying that his IQ was much more than 140 or so. I am of the opinion that Hitler WAS an original thinker. This is based on the obvious innovations Hitler created in the fields of armored warfare and propaganda, as well as his compelling-to-Germans-of his-time synthesis of the major ideas of his day (Social Darwinism, nationalism, socialism, capitalism, etc.) into a workable ideology. My best guess was that Hitler's IQ was around 150.
Keep in mind, however, that high IQ hardly equals infallibility. Even Albert Einstein, regarded as the brightest of the bright, made some class-A boners. Hitler may have (arguably) been a genius regarding IQ, but the ultimate result of his policies hid the fact well.
Personality trumps IQ. One can list many brilliant minds that were burdened by personality deficits (Bobby Fisher, Jimmy Carter, etc.) which ultimately denied them from reaching their full potential. Character flaws such as overconfidence, pride, greed, gambling, and vindictiveness certainly visited the German Fuehrer. Every one of Hitler's many blunders have their roots in one or more of these traits that have little to do with IQ.
Of them all, it was probably hubris that did more to bring down Hitler than anything else. Succumbing to the greatest intrinsic weakness of the self-made man, Hitler began to worship his creator while falling for his own propaganda. He was only human. When millions proclaim one a savior provided by Providence--one has just produced a string of stunning successes forecast by no one--human nature does the rest.
Forrest Gump, admittedly a fictional character, had no IQ to speak of, but he had very few character flaws. If stupid is as stupid does, genius is as genius does.
Sources: The IMT Transcripts, and Nuremberg: A Nation on Trial by Werner Maser, translated by Richard Barry.
Copyright © 2008 Wally O'Lepp All rights reserved.
Hitler's Accomplishments
In a speech on April 28, 1939, Adolf Hitler presented the following list of what he felt were his accomplishments.
I overcame chaos in Germany, restored order, enormously raised production in all fields of our national economy...I succeeded in completely resettling in useful production those 7 million unemployed who so touched our hearts...I have not only politically united the German nation but also rearmed it militarily, and I have further tried to liquidate that Treaty sheet by sheet whose 448 Articles contain the vilest rape that nations and human beings have ever been expected to submit to. I have restored to the Reich the provinces grabbed from us in 1919; I have led millions of deeply unhappy Germans, who have been snatched away from us, back into the Fatherland; I have restored the thousand year old historical unity of German living space; and I have attempted to accomplish all that without shedding blood and without inflicting the sufferings of war on my people or any other. I have accomplished all this, as one who 21 years ago still an unknown worker and soldier of my people, by my own efforts.
How accurate is the German Fuehrer's assessment:
1) "I overcame chaos in Germany, restored order..."
On the surface, a defensible statement. But the fact of the matter is that much of the chaos he takes credit for overcoming was the political and terrorist activities of his own party and other political groups, as well as the debilitating labor strikes epidemic at the time. How was this accomplished? By filling concentration camps with those who still mistakenly believed that they retained basic human rights; the right to strike and the right to set prices for ones goods and services in particular. He could quickly solve even the most intractable labor dispute by the simple expedient of jailing anyone who refused the dictates of the German Labor Front. As for political terror, all the leftists were imprisoned while the terror of the right was given state sanction, thus 'order'.
2) "...enormously raised production in all fields of our national economy...I succeeded in completely resettling in useful production those 7 million unemployed who so touched our hearts..."
Almost accurate, though it was closer to 6 million. How was this accomplished? One, by realizing more than most that expansion of the economy was initially more important than monetary stability. Secondly, by placing the brilliant Hjalmar Schacht in a position of authority over the economy. Thirdly, by reaping the benefits of increased employment in rearmament production and vastly increased conscription levels for the military. And lastly, by instituting beneficial public works programs, such as the autobahn, that not only provided work for millions but also improved the infrastructure necessary for modern for economic expansion. As viewed in the spring of 1939, these were real achievements. Hindsight, however, reveals the downside. While the Autobahn was indeed a model for progressive public works, it was sold to Germany’s conservative elite with emphasis on the military advantages; improved volume and flexibility during mobilization and alternate runways for aircraft; options built into the system from its conception. Indeed, on Hitler’s insistence the German economy was, to all intents and purposes, a war economy financed in the short term by financial wizardry (mefo bills). Schacht had fallen out with Hitler in 1937 on this very issue, retaining his Presidency of the Reichsbank but losing any influence on policy. By 1939, the short-term paper was coming due and only continuing assimilation and conquest could fuel long-term growth.
3) "I have not only politically united the German nation..."
He had an incredibly high approval rating with the German people in 1939, some 90 some percent. Even considering the advantages a police state can have in boosting poll numbers the fact is that Hitler was charismatic and popular, even during times when his Party was out of favor with the Volk.
4) "...but also rearmed it militarily..."
True again, though the work had been started under his predecessors. Hitler’s greatest personal accomplishment in this area was the creation of armored divisions and tank armies: A brilliant piece of innovation that, combined with rearmament and increased conscription, temporarily made Germany the strongest nation in Europe, if not the world. The situation Germany found itself in due to Versailles (more below) became something of an advantage due to the fact that Germany was forced to create an armored ground army, a navy and an airforce from scratch. There is nothing like fielding a state of the art war machine.
5) "I have further tried to liquidate that Treaty sheet by sheet whose 448 Articles contain the vilest rape that nations and human beings have ever been expected to submit to."
This is almost modest. Hitler had made it one of his major political goals to eradicate the ‘Dictate,’ and all its effects. By the time of this speech, the hated Treaty could have been toilet paper for all it was worth, and Hitler could take full credit. For a nationalist-minded German, Hitler had granted their hearts desire: A Greater Germany incorporating the majority of Central Europe’s ethnic Germans. As for Hitler’s characterization of Versailles as 'the vilest rape that nations and human beings have ever been expected to submit to,’ it was actually less severe than the Treaty foisted on Russia in World War One by the Germans. Obviously, Hitler would ultimately far surpass in cruelty the provisions of any treaty that one can recall in his treatment of the nations he conquered, as well as Nazi behavior toward the humanity within Germanys own borders.
6) "I have restored to the Reich the provinces grabbed from us in 1919; I have led millions of deeply unhappy Germans, who have been snatched away from us, back into the Fatherland..."
The Rhineland, Saar, Austria, Sudetenland, etc. A reasonable case could be made for each of these bloodless requisitions, if it had only stopped there.
7) "...and I have attempted to accomplish all that without shedding blood and without inflicting the sufferings of war on my people or any other
In politics, timing is everything. If Adolf Hitler had died after the conclusion of the speech in question, he would most likely be remembered today as one of the greatest leaders Germany ever experienced. Had he caught his boot on the edge of a misplaced swastika while dismounting the podium and died of a broken skull on the Reichstag floor, that particular swastika would be the political equivalent of the True Cross to the average German.
8) "I have accomplished all this, as one who 21 years ago still an unknown worker and soldier of my people, by my own efforts..."
Soldier, yes, but Hitler never was a 'worker': He abhorred physical labor as beneath him. The 'by my own efforts' is certainly the line of a man who is quite full of himself, but who could deny that he had made some real achievements and had, indeed, risen from obscurity to become one of the most powerful men in the world? Unfortunately, after this pre-war high point, the use he will make of the concrete fruits of these achievements will bring about the total and abject defeat of Germany, reducing that once proud nation to slave status.
And all by his own efforts.
Hitler's qualities as a War Leader will subsequently prove insufficient to gain for him a positive historical judgment. While he may have been a brilliant warlord in many respects, he was often a victim of his own hubris and fatalistic impatience. Here is a partial list of Hitler's major wartime boners.
1) Hitler's misconceptions concerning the causes of Germanys collapse in WW1 greatly influenced his decisions as warlord. His belief that Germany would not have been defeated had the war continued had no basis in reality. The German cause was lost. The 'lessons' he learned from WW1 were all the wrong ones. What he always refereed to as the 'stab in the back' was no such thing. When Germany surrendered it was for the purely pragmatic reason of survival. Why allow your enemies to occupy and ravage your country? That would make little sense unless your desire is for your country to pay the price for failure, as Hitler's was in the end. His little dictatorial feelings were hurt because Germany let him down so he allowed them to fall into the hands of their enemies while committing suicide to escape sharing the fate he forced upon them.
2) On the eve of Hitler's attack on Poland, Europe lay at his feet. Germany was in a position to dominate the continent for decades to come. Hitler's maneuvering up until this point was brilliant; a work of genius. He had seceded in eliminating the unfair effects of the Versailles Treaty with the acquiescence (and even active support at times) of the other leading world powers. That would have been the ideal time to make peace, something that Hitler did not desire. Had their been a statesman ruling Germany at that point, we would now be discussing the 61st anniversary of the Pax Germana, for Germany was in a position of power the Kaiser would have dismembered himself to achieve.
3) If Hitler's real purpose had been to eliminate Bolshevism, what better way than to unite Europe under German hegemony forming a power block that could have been superior to Russia's? Instead of making peace with the conquered nations, Hitler (to varying degrees depending on specifics) exploited them for slave labor and murdered their Jewish population. This caused partisan bands to form forcing German units away from the front. Better treatment of the conquered nations could have created allies to strengthen the battle against communism instead of enemies behind the front lines.
4) Hitler's cynical non aggression treaty with Soviet Russia (besides the Jews his greatest enemies) was the epitome of greed driven stupidity. To join with them in defeating the only thing standing between Germany and the communists, Poland, was folly of the worst sort.
5) Hitler grossly miscalculated British and French resolve to draw the line on Poland. They'd clearly given him fair warning that aggression against Poland would mean war, but Hitler underestimated them, a fatal mistake.
6) Hitler's declaration of war on The United States was another fatal miscalculation. Hitler pooh pooh'd reports of the incredible productive capability of America as "impossible."
It seems to me that if Adolf Hitler were alive today he would be embarrassed by the continual posthumous whining of his so-called followers citing the fact that he 'missed it by that much' and blaming the superior strength of his enemies (as though the fact that he picked a fight with a stronger opponent is no proof of lack of enlightened leadership abilities). His followers miss the point and insult what he felt was the ultimate nobility of his own character by becoming apologists.
Hitler was a gambler with a penchant for letting it ride. It was a central philosophy of his to go for broke, cross every Rubicon, burn every bridge and admit no thought of defeat or surrender.
Hitler did indeed 'face the whole world', but he was the one who picked the fight and he was entirely prepared to face the consequences of his actions in a manner he felt was honorable and above reproach: Suicide. To Hitler's way of thinking, this was a noble and heroic act, the antithesis of which would be anything construed as surrender. He gambled and lost. Unfortunately, at some point he decided that if Germany proved to be less than able to fill the role of Master Nation Hitler had in mind for it, she too, as a nation, should take the honorable path and destruct rather than submit.
I believe it is safe to say that Hitler, who indeed was a greatly beloved leader for a period of years, by this act alienated forever the majority of common Germans who, though many may have appreciated the positive side of Hitler's rule, nonetheless were not prepared to commit suicide rather than pragmatically make the best possible peace so as to be able to gather strength and live to fight another day. This is what Hitler's predecessors, those he reviled as 'The November Criminals', did for him: Left enough of the nation intact after a disastrous war to enable recovery and even the off chance of another stab at hegemony in Europe. Unfortunately, Hitler was no pragmatist, nor even a realist. Hitler decided to force the issue to an ultimate conclusion: Death to Germanys enemies, or death to Germany. Fortunately, there were a few in the upper leadership who did what they could to salvage some of their nation from Hitler's scorched earth madness, allowing at least a remnant of that once proud nation to survive.
Ultimately, Hitler's 3 worst mistakes (in no particular order) were:
a) Formulating policy for a great state on the basis of a bizarre and fallacious worldview,
b) buying into his own press and gambling on his supposed Providence-supplied infallibility to play high-stakes power politics with an insufficient purse, and
c) ensuring the vilification of himself and his ideology by practicing industrial genocide on innocents.
Note: Some of the observations above were originally conceived by Sebastian Haffner in his outstanding and highly recommended book, The Meaning of Hitler.
Copyright © 2003-2007 Wally O'Lepp All rights reserved.
