Hitler & Triumph of Will

The aftermath of World War 1 left the German people desperate for strength, power, and unity. Their military power was demolished after the war. Adolf Hitler arrived at a time of despair and gave the German people exactly what they needed, a leader. As stated in Thursday’s lecture, “Hitler is the right leader for Germany at the time.” The documentary Triumph of Will also makes this claim, using key themes of religion, unity, and power for support.

The opening scene begins by a camera view from above the clouds. In addition to the music, Hitler appears to be god-like as he descends from the clouds upon the people of Germany. The people await his arrival, as the Jews awaited the arrival of the Messiah. Many viewed Hitler as a way to save the country from the destruction that they had endured earlier in the century. There are many scenes in which he addresses thousands of people and they all comply in unison. During one scene, Hitler compares the Nazi Party to a holy order and there is the “consecration” of the new party flags by Hitler touching them to the “blood banner”. These are obvious religious overtones that are powerful. Many Germans, as well as people across the world, practice in an organized religion. In many ways, Hitler compares his new Nazi Party to an organized religion, in which he is the center god-head.

Unification of a country is important to obtain peace and stability within a nation. The blending of the old tradition and new tradition are referenced many times throughout the documentary. The Nazi Swastika is shown next to the flag of the old German Empire (Imperial Germany). There is one scene in which Germans greet Hitler in old peasant costumes. Furthermore, there is a scene in which the men call off which city they are from. All of these images show how Hitler would hold sacred the old traditions of the country and build them in a new direction and how all of Germany would be united.

As previously stated, the German people had lacked military power and strength since the end of World War 1. Hitler’s regime of thousands of men marching together stirred up the passions of the German people. They believed, as Hitler hoped they would, that he was the key to restoring Germany to a world power once more. He gave them a new found hope, a hope that was lost to despair for so many years. He showed them how he was the light in a dark world, a light that could bring them from the darkness into the light. He told them that they would shine brighter than all the other nations.

Though we look back on his reign as a horrible and disastrous ruling, he appealed to his people. He promised them everything that they wanted from a leader, and everything they wanted for their country. It is this claim that Triumph of Will makes and supports throughout the documentary.