Some observers underscored the threat by comparing the killings to the murder of French Huguenots by Catholics during the St. The analogies used to explain Hitler’s violent purge of the SA on the “Night of the Long Knives,” in June of 1934, also conveyed a mix of caution and confidence. It is a physical and mental illness that has serious aspects but is not necessarily fatal.” of feverish French progress from the First Empire to the Third Republic. Hitler is merely a symptom, as Napoleon III. The Brooklyn Eagle declared that, because few people had originally taken Louis Napoleon Bonaparte seriously before he seized dictatorial power, it was important for people not to underestimate Hitler and remember that while he “took the oath to defend the constitution, did Napoleon III.” By contrast, the Middletown Times told its readers that “the German nation is suffering from a temporary aberration. As often as not, the analogies did more to conceal than reveal Hitler’s radicalism.įollowing Hitler’s appointment as chancellor on January 30, 1933, journalists expressed a mix of caution and confidence by invoking the figure of Emperor Napoleon III. The commentators sought to make Hitler comprehensible by comparing him to familiar examples they aimed to reassure people psychologically that the events they were experiencing were merely new versions of older ones and they showed how past precedents could provide guidelines for present-day action. Regardless of which historical figures were invoked, the analogies served several didactic goals. In the decade and a half between the Nazis’ rise to power in the early 1930s and the collapse of the Third Reich in 1945, Anglo-American journalists singled out a murderer’s row of notorious revolutionaries, religious fanatics, dictators, conquerors, and warlords who they believed could illuminate the Nazi threat.įurther reading: How American journalists reported the rise of Hitler While commentators today debate whether Hitler analogies explain modern politics, observers back then tried out various analogies to explain Hitler. In the meantime, we can better understand the argument by examining an earlier but strikingly similar craze for historical analogies from the Nazi era. Yet, since the political climate is in flux, it may be some time before we can determine whether the comparisons are appropriate or alarmist. Others dismiss such comparisons as exaggerated hyperbole. Some scholars and journalists claim that Hitler analogies have great contemporary relevance for making sense of the global surge of right-wing nationalism, authoritarian populism, and neofascism. Simply glance at today’s news headlines: Major political figures from around the world, including Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are routinely compared to the Nazi leader. Some commentators believe the president is now playing into this meme.Adolf Hitler has been dead for more than 70 years, but he has gained immortality as a historical analogy. The meme gained traction earlier this year and has proven popular among conservatives, frequently depicting a malevolent-looking Biden, occasionally with lasers for eyes. Some social media users speculated that Biden’s appearance during the speech contributed to the “Dark Brandon” meme. He’s flanked by Marines with mid-1930’s German red lighting behind him. President declares half the country a threat to democracy. Marjorie Taylor Greene□□ September 2, 2022Ĭonservative radio host Erick Erickson tweeted, “President declares half of the country a threat to democracy.” “He’s flanked by Marines, with German red lighting from the mid-1930s behind him. I guess when President Butterbeans is frail, weak, and dementia ridden, the Hitler imagery was their attempt to make him look “tough” while he declares war on half of America as enemies of the state. “What we all saw from Biden tonight,” Greene said as she shared the video. Biden’s face had also been altered to resemble Hitler’s iconic mustache.Ī few seconds of the Nazi dictator’s speech were also played over Biden’s words. Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene shared a doctored viral video of Biden with swastikas. Trump supporters used social media to make Hitler and Biden comparisons. But there’s no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven, and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans. “I know because I’ve been able to work with these mainstream Republicans. Not every Republican embraces their extreme ideology. Not every Republican, not even a majority of Republicans, are MAGA Republicans. “I want to be very clear, very clear upfront.
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