Fun fact: Hitler was never elected but selected by Hindenburg

[genxlib]

1. It begs the question

Is the word Hindenburg synonymous with disaster because of Hitler or because of the infamous zeppelin crash.

Oh the Humanity indeed.

I started reading (OK listening to) "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" after the election. It is quite a daunting undertaking at over 57 hours of audio of dense history. I've made it through about half way before I had to give a break.

So I guess I can say I read "The Rise ____of the Third Reich"

It was an illuminating read. I would never say someone is like Hitler. However, there are some similarities with 1930's Germany that I found striking.

I would say the biggest is that ultra-nationalism does not grow in a vacuum. It festers from an unhealed national wound.

For Germany, it was the loss of World War 1 and the shame that the Treaty of Versailles imposed upon it. A fact that Hitler exploited to rise to power and justify claiming adjacent countries.

For the US, I think 9-11 left scars that have not healed either. The two are not similar (ie starting and losing a war versus being attacked)

Nevertheless, I think the national feeling of vulnerability and desire to strike back has left the US susceptible to bombastic leaders. It is the typical ultra-nationalist refrain of God and Country, might is right, divine intervention, defeat of evil, purity of citizens, restoration of former glory, etc.