Last edited Tue Jan 6, 2015, 04:23 AM - Edit history (2)
Insider a few months back. I‘ve gone back to look for it but can‘t find it. It said basically that cult followers have their aspirations and grievances met by the cult leader.
Here is my take: for sure Germans were all upset they lost WWI and then faced inflation. So they were vulnerable to these grievances. And then Hitler comes along and fulfills all their dreams of power. So people who were losers became instant winners and very powerful when they joined the Nazis. They suddenly felt self actualized. Theirs lives had meaning so long as they bought into Hitler. And if they ever were to think that Hitler was bad, then they would have to admit they were chumps. People who signed onto the nazi way were told they were exceptionally smart or exceptionally powerful or exceptionally virtuous. These were secret adolescent daydreams of the people fulfilled. And given the lifestyle of a star and constant feedback. And their egos grew and they scapegoated all those who didn't sign on. And those that didn't join the cult were considered exceptionally wak and stupid and evil. And the cult followers were given jobs based on loyalty not qualifications, while jobs were taken away from those who did not adequately revere Hitler. And who, who has a very important dream role in their country, wants to go back to being a loser/chump and unemployed if they acknowledge to themselves that the jews were being scapegoated and their power and prestige was all a sham? The choice ends up being a black or white one. The shades of grey in Germany were all gone pretty soon.
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