The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler: Leading Millions Into the Abyss

Laurence Rees looks at how Adolf Hitler formed a connection with millions of German people and in the process, this seemingly unlikely figure generated a level of charismatic attraction almost without parallel. Dispelling the myth that Hitler somehow hypnotised a nation, this first episode looks at how his alleged ‘charisma’ played a key role in his success as a leader.

In this episode, Laurence Rees looks at the peak of Hitler’s popularity in Germany throughout the 1930s and his decision to invade France in 1940. In Nuremburg, huge numbers of people gathered to pay homage to Hitler. Hitler’s aim was to take Germany into war to gain a new empire. But since many of his followers did not want war, Hitler had to persuade his people to embrace conflict.

The concluding episode in this series reveals how Hitler tried to maintain his appeal in his final years. In the 1930s, Adolf Hitler made boasts about what lay ahead for the nation, and in the beginning, the war went well. As the war progressed, the success stopped coming. Faith in Hitler’s appeal fractured, yet Hitler still managed to cling to power until the Red Army was just yards away.