ADOLFHITLER:BIOGRAPHYANDCHARACTER

AdolfHitlerlivedfromApril20,1889toApril30,1945almostexactlyfiftysix years.Thedifferencebetweenhisfirstthirtyyearsandthefollowingtwentysixyears seemstobeinexplicable.Forthirtyyearshewasanobscurefailurethenalmostovernight alocalcelebrityandeventuallythemanaroundwhomthewholeofworldpolicy revolved. (Haffner,p.1)ThebiographyofAdolfHitlerisuniqueamongthegreat politicalleadersofhistory.Butasahumanbeing,hewasalwaysafailureoratleast strangelyincomplete.AsSebastianHaffnerputit: "Hislifelackedeverythingthat normallylendsweight,warmthanddignitytoahumanlife:education,occupation,love andfriendship,marriage,parenthood.Apartfrompoliticshiswasanemptylifeand henceone[that]wasstrangelylightweight,andlightlydiscarded. (Haffner,p.4)What sortofpersonwasAdolfHitler?Hereisoneclue. In1939HitlerorderedthecompletedestructionoftheAustrianvillageof Dllersheim.Thetinyvillage,birthplaceofhisancestors,wasconvertedintoanartillery rangeforthearmyandblastedbeyondrecognitionbygunsandmortars.Whydidthe leaderoftheGreaterGermanReichordertheobliterationofhisfather'sbirthplaceand destroythesiteofhisgrandmother'sgrave?PerhapsHitlerwasobsessedwiththe possibilitythathewasonequarterJewishorjustaslikely,Hitlerdidnotwanttoreveal toomuchaboutthetangledwebofinbreedinginhisfamily history.In1930,hebrought hisnineteenyearoldnephewPatrick,whomhehadnevermetbeforetoMunichwherehe toldhimnevertograntinterviewstothepress: Youidiots.Heshouted,youregoing todomein.PeoplemustnotknowwhoIam.TheymustnotknowwhereIcomefrom andwhomyfamilyis.NoteveninmybookdidIallowonewordtocomeoutaboutthese things.Iamanentirelynonfamilialbeing.Ionlybelongtomyfolkishcommunity. (Haman,p.51) AdolfHitlerwasasecretiveman.Hardlyanyprominentfigurein historyhasevertriedsohardtocoverhistracks.

INTHEHOUSEOFMYPARENTS
Inthefirstchapterofhisautobiography MeinKampf,writteninprisonin1924at theageof35,HitlerdescribedhisparentsasmodelsoftraditionalGermanvalues: "My father[was]adutifulcivilservant,mymothergivingallherbeingtothehousehold,and devotedabovealltouschildrenineternal,lovingcare." Likesomuchof MeinKampf, theportraitofhisparentsisapartialfabrication.Helovedhismotherdeeplybuthe fearedhisfather.Thereisabundantevidenceofhisfeelingstowardshisfather. Hetoldhis secretaryChristiSchroeder,Ididntlovemyfather,butIwasallthemoreafraidofhim. Hehadtantrumsandimmediatelybecamephysicallyviolent.Mypoormotherwould alwaysbeveryscaredforme. (Haman,p.18)HetoldhislawyerHansFrankabouthis fathersheavydrinking: Evenasatentotwelveyearold,Ihadtotakemyfatherhome fromthebar.ThatwasthemosthorribleshameIhaveeverfelt.OhFrank,whatadevil alcoholis!Itreallywasviamyfatherthemosthorribleenemyofmyyouth. (Haman,p.12)

2 TheirmothermorethancompensatedwhateveraffectiontheHitlerchildrenmissed intheirfather.AccordingtothedescriptiongivenbyherJewishdoctor,EduardBloch, afterheleftNaziGermany,KlaraHitlerwasasimple,modest,kindlywoman.Shewas tall,hadbrownishhairwhichshekeptneatlyplaited,andalong,ovalfacewith beautifullyexpressivegreyblueeyes. Shewasalsosubmissive,retiring,andapious Catholic.Herfirstthreechildrenalldiedininfancywithinweeksofoneanotherin18878 andherfifthchildEdmunddiedatagesixin1900.Hersorrowscouldonly havebeen compoundedbylifewithherirascible,unfeeling,andalcoholichusband.YoungAdolf adoredher.Dr.Blochlaterwrote: Outwardly,hisloveforhismotherwashismost strikingfeature.Whilehewasnotamothersboyintheusualsense,Ihavenever witnessedacloserattachment. Hismothermayhavebeentheonlypersonhegenuinely lovedinhisentirelife.IfwecanmanagetolookbeyondthemanthatHitlerwasto become,inthewordsofIanKershaw,hisfamilycircumstancesinvokeforthemostpart sympathyforthechildexposedtothem.(Kershaw,p.12) Thetroubledadolescent,asyoungmenhavesincetimeimmemorial,tendedtofind refugeinaworldoffantasy.Attimeshedreamedofwritingmusicatothertimes,hesaw himselfasagreatpainter.Oneneighborofthefamilyrecalled: Whenthepostmaster askedhimonedaywhathewantedtodoforalivingandwhetherhewouldntliketojoin thepostoffice,herepliedthatitwasintentiontobecomeagreatartist. (Kershaw,p. xxxi)Heclungtothisdreamwithamazingpersistence.Evenasdictator,hetoldhis intimatesthathadhispoliticalmissionnotintervened,Iwouldhavebeenoneof Germanysgreatestarchitects.

FantasyandFailure
ItisdifficulttodisputethejudgmentofSebastianHaffner:AdolfHitlersfather madeasuccessoflife.Hissonbeganbymakingamessofhislife. (Haffner,p.1)He wenttoanumberofschoolsandperformedpoorly.Atagefifteen,hismothersenthimto anewschool severalmilesaway.Hismidtermreportcardshowedfailinggradesin German,French,Math,andstenography.Hedislikedmostofhisteachersbecause"they hadnosympathywithyouth:theironeobjectivewasstuffourbrainsandturnusinto eruditeapeslikethemselves." HisFrenchteacher,Dr.Huemertestifiedathistrialin 1924: Hewasdecidedlygifted,ifonesided,buthaddifficultycontrollinghis temper.Hewasconsideredintractableandwillful,alwayshadtobe rightandeasilyflewoff thehandle,andheclearlyfounditdifficultto accommodatehimselftothelimitsofaschool.Hedemandedunconditional subordinationfromhisschoolmates. (Haman,p.11) Dr.HuemerseemstobeintheminorityinrememberingHitleratall.Otherteachersand classmatesclaimedthathehadnotstoodoutatschoolinanyparticularfashion,either negativelyorpositively. (Kershaw,p.17)Attheendofwhatwewouldcalltheninth grade,Hitlertalkedhisdyingmotherintoallowinghimtodropoutofschool. Hefantasizedaboutbecomingagreatpainterandarchitect.Hehadfewfriends asidefromayoungupholsterer'ssonnamedAugustKubizek. Hehadtospeak,

3 recalledKubizek,andneededsomeonetolistentohim. Thisfriendshipalsosetthe toneforHitlerslaterrelationships.AntonKubizekwasaquiet,dreamyyouth.Hefelt stronglyaboutlittleornothingAdolfhadstrongfeelingsabouteverything.Hefound Hitlersselfassuranceattractive.WhetherAdolfwasharanguinghimaboutthemental deficienciesofteachersorthegreatnessofRichardWagnersoperas,Kubizekwas grippedasneverbefore.AntonwashighlyimpressionableAdolfwasonthelookoutfor someonetoimpress.Itwasaperfectpartnership.Likethelatermassaudiencesthat Hitlerwouldentrance,Kubizekremainedasubmissiveandpassivepartnerintheir discussions.(Kershaw,p.21) AsthehistorianWernerMaserwrote,"Genuineinterest inotherswastotallyalientohimthemanwhocouldinflamethemassesandidentify himselfwiththeirlongingsasfewothers,neverbotheredtofindoutwhathisfriendslet alonestrangersthoughtandfelt."Allofhislife,whenforcedtolistentoothers,Hitler wouldimmediatelywithdrawintohisownworld. Thehistorian ErnstNoltearguesthatthedominantfeatureinHitler'spersonality wasinfantilismdefinedas "persistenceinremaininginthechild'sworldofbeing awareonnoonebuthimselfandhismentalimages." Henevergrewupintotheadult worldofcompromiseandmoderation.Hisfamousfitsofragewereeithercalculatedto intimidatehisopponentsontheotherhand,perhapstheywerethegrotesqueangerofa spoiledadultchild.InflexibilitywasthekeynoteofHitler'slife.Hecontinuedtomakethe samespellingandgrammaticalerrorsinadulthoodthathemadeasachild.Hisdaily routinewasmaintainedintactdowntothesmallestdetail.Anydeviationinroutinealways ledtoanoutburstoftemper. (Spielvogel,p.126)AsFhreroftheGreaterGerman Reich,Hitleraroselate,pursuedthelazyartist'slife,andenjoyedlatenightmonologues withhiscroniesinmuchthesamewayhedidinVienna.HisboyhoodfriendAugust KubizeksummedupHitler'spersonalityinthisway: Themostoutstandingtraitinmyfriend'scharacterwastheunparalleled consistencyineverythinghesaidanddid.Therewasinhisnaturesomethingfirm, inflexible,immovable,obstinatelyrigid,whichmanifesteditselfinhisprofound seriousnessandwasatthebottomofall hisothercharacteristics.AdolfHitler simplycouldnotchangehismindorhisnature. (Spielvogel,p.126) In1907hepersuadedhismothertofinancehisattempttostudyartinVienna.He failedtheentranceexamfortheAcademyofFineArtsthecommitteenotedsimply: "Sampledrawingunsatisfactory."In MeinKampf,Hitlerlaterdescribedthisexperienceas an"abruptblow": [Iwas]soconvincedthatIwouldbesuccessfulthatwhenIreceived myrejection,itstruckmeasaboltfromtheblue. Hesoughtanexplanationandwas toldbytheRectoroftheAcademythattherewasnodoubtabouthisunsuitabilityforthe schoolofpainting,butthathistalentplainlylayinarchitecture.Hitlerlefttheinterview, asheputit,forthefirsttimeinmyyounglifeatoddswithmyself. Afterafewdaysof thoughtheconcludedthattheRectorwasrightandthatIwantedtobecomeanarchitect andobstaclesdonotexisttobesurrenderedto,butonlytobebroken. Inreality,his rejectionwasabodyblowtohisprideandhedidnotbouncebackasquicklyasheashis ownstorysuggests.Heappliedagainthenextyearandwasrejectedagain. (Kershaw, pp.245)Allofhislifeheborethewoundofthatrejection.Heragedthattheartschools werestaffedby"pipsqueaks"andaimedonly"atkillingeverygenius."

4 Hitlersangerandembarrassmentatfailingtheentranceexaminationforthe ViennaArtAcademywasallthemoreintensebecausehisfriendandroommateAnton KubizekwasacceptedbytheVienneseAcademyofMusic.AtfirstAdolftriedtokeephis rejectionasecret,butinthemidstofanargument,hefinallyadmitted,theyrejectedme, theythrewmeout,theyturnedmedown. Forateenagertofailtopassadifficult entranceexaminationisneitherunusualnorshameful.ButHitlercouldnotbeartotellhis friendorhisfamily.Theblowtohisselfesteemwasprofoundandhisbitternessshowed. Hewouldflyoffthehandleattheslightestprovocation: Chokingwithhiscatalogof hates,hewouldpourhisfuryovereverything,againstmankindingeneralwhodidnot understandhim,whodidnotappreciatehimandbywhomhewaspersecuted.Ihadthe impressionthatAdolfhadbecomeunbalanced,hisroommaterecalled. (Kershaw,p. 39) In1938,whenHitlerwasatthepeakofhispowerandfame,thenovelistThomas Mannwroteaperceptiveessay BrotherHitler,inwhichheanalyzedtheartistic elementsinAdolfHitlerspersonality.Mannwrote: Thewholepatternisthere: therecalcitrance,sluggishnessandmiserable indefinitenessofyouththedimnessofpurpose,thewhatdoyoureally wanttobe,thevegetatinglikeasemiidiotinthelowestsocialand psychologicalbohemianism,thearrogantrejectionofanysensibleand honorableoccupationbecauseofthebasicfeelingthatheistoogoodfor thatsortofthing.Onwhatisthisfeelingbased?Onavaguesenseof beingreservedforsomethingentirelyindefinable.Tonameit,ifitcould benamed,wouldmakepeopleburstoutlaughing. (Fest,p.51)

TheHardestSchoolofMyLife
In MeinKampf,hewrotetheoftquotedsentencesabouthisyearsinVienna: IoweittothatperiodthatIgrewhard.Inthisperiodtheretookshapewithinmea wordpictureandaphilosophy,whichbecamethegranitefoundationofallmyacts. InadditiontowhatIthencreated,Ihavehadtolearnlittle,andIhavehadtoalter nothing.Viennawasandremainedformethehardest,butalsothemostthorough, schoolofmy life.(Spielvogel,p.22) HitlerdidnotrecallhisVienneseyearswithanyfondness: TomeVienna,the citywhich,tosomany,istheepitomeofinnocentpleasure,afestiveplaygroundfor merrymakers,represents,Iamsorrytosay,merelythelingeringmemoryofthesaddest periodofmylife.(Spielvogel,p.22) Hesaidthathungerwashisconstantcompanion. Thattoowasalie.Hisfamilyinheritancewasequaltotheyearlyincomeofalawyer.But hesquanderedhismoneyinanaimlessattempttoliveaculturedlife.Hevisitedtheopera andtouredVienna'smuseums.Insteadofmakingaseriousattempttofindwork,he preferredtofantasizeaboutagreatfutureasanarchitect,painter,orwriter.Hitlers strangerelationshipwithhisfriendKubizekcontinueduntil1908.Finally,Kubizek returnedtotheirapartmentthatsummerafterabrieftripandfoundthatHitlerhadmoved

5 outwithoutleavingaforwardingaddress.Whennexttheymet,AdolfHitlerwas ChancellorandFhrerofGermany. Hesankintotheunderclassofthegreatcity.Hitlermademuchofhispovertyin MeinKampf. Themothersdarlinghadlosthissoftdownybedandthecarefree existencehehadenjoyedinLinz.Insteadofthehollownessofcomfortablelife,hewas nowthrownintoaworldofmiseryandpoverty,withDameCareashisnewmother. (Kershaw,p.29)Hisonlysourceofmoneywasasmallorphan'spension.Heworkedat afewconstructionjobs.Inthesummerhewouldsometimessleepintheopenonapark benchinwinterwhentheweatherturnedcold,hesoughtshelterinahostelforthe homeless.Foralmostthreeyears,from1910until1913,Hitler'saddresswasthehostel forthehomelesson27Meldenmannstrasse.Heremarkedlater,Inmyimagination,I livedinpalaces. Forawhilehestruckupanarrangementwithashadycharacternamed ReinholdHanischwhosoldhispaintingsandpostcardscenesonthestreet.This relationshipsoonturnedsour.HitlerfiledacomplaintaboutHanischthatresultedina shortjailsentence.In1938,whenhehadthepowertodoso,HitlerhadHanischtracked downandmurderedtoeraseanotherembarrassingreminderofhispast. (Fest,p.47) Theunhappyyoungmancravedrespectabilityandacceptancebythebourgeois worldinsteadhefeltrejected.AdolfHitlermovedthroughtheexcitementandglitterof prewarViennalikeashadow,unlovedandunattached.Hitler,theselfstyledartist, seemedutterlyunawareevenoftheartisticcurrents.HeknewnothingofSchonberg, RichardStrauss,ortheSecessionmovement.Hewasignorantoftheexpressionist paintingsofGustavKlimtorOskarKokoscka."InsteadtheyoungmanfromLinz,"writes JoachimFest,"relivedinWagnerandBruckner,therapturesofhisparent'sgeneration." Atheartacountryhick,HitlerstoodoutsidethelockedgatesofViennesesocietyhewas notarevolutionary.Hewasjustlonely. (Fest,pp.3436)Itishardtoescapethe conclusionthatAdolfHitlerwasacompletefailureatage24:Unemployed,uneducated withnofriends,nohintofalovelife,andfewprospects.Hewasanembitteredloner, similarinmanywaystothepsychologicalprofileofU.S.politicalassassins. (Loader)

THEESSENTIALJEW
Thepsychologicalconsequencesoffailureareeitherdirectedinwardintheformof criticalselfreproachoroutwardintheformofprojectedanger.Logically,Hitlershould haveembracedtheMarxistcause,buthepreferredtoidentifyhimselfwiththe establishment.Heclungdesperatelytothepretenseofrefinementandsocialpolish, wearingadecentsuit,adarkovercoat,andcarryingawalkingstickwithanivoryhandle. Hebridledatthesuggestionthatheshouldaccepta"merebreadandbutterjob."Inhis memoirs,heclaimedthatViennawascrucialtointellectualdevelopment: Inthisperiod myeyeswereopenedtotwomenacesofwhichIhadpreviouslyscarcelyknownthe names:MarxismandJewry. (Kershaw,p.29)Hefoundanideologythatallowedhim toexplainhisfailureandatargetforhisresentments.Itisimpossibletoexplainthe precisecauseortheexactbeginningofHitler'shatredoftheJewsbutitisalsoclearthat antiSemitismwastheoxygenofhismentallife.Itwasalltooeasytotransferhis impotentangerandfrustrationintoracehatred.Onceithadcrystallized,itremaineda permanentandgrowingfeatureofhischaracter.

6 ViennawasperhapsthemostantiSemiticcityinCentralEuropeandHitlerwas exposedtoendlesspamphletsonthethemeinhiswanderingsthroughthecoffeehouses. AntiSemitismwasalsoapowerfulpoliticaltoolusedbytheMayorKarlLuegertowin electionafterelection(HitlercalledLueger"themightiestmayorofalltimes").In1910, theyearhearrivedinthecity,theJewishpopulationstoodat8.6percent.Inthe Leopoldstrasse,Hitlerhadhisfirst,fatalencounterwithalienlookingOrthodoxJews.He describedthatencounterinthesewords: OnedaywhenIwaswalkingthroughtheinnercity,Isuddenly cameuponabeing cladinalongcaftan,withblackcurls.IsthisalsoaJew?AtLinztheycertainly didnotlooklikethat.SecretlyandcautiouslyIwatchedtheman,butthelongerI staredatthisstrangefacethemoremindreshapedthefirstquestionintoanother form:isthisaGerman? (Kershaw,p.61) ForHitler,theanswertothisquestionwasaresoundingno!Hecontinuedhis observations: Themoralandphysicalcleanlinessofthisracewasapointinitself.Itwas apparentthatthesewerenotwaterlovingpeople,andunfortunatelyonecouldtell thatevenwitheyesclosed.Laterthesmellofthesecaftanwearersoftenmademe ill.Itwasrepellingsuddenlytodiscoverthemoralblemishesofthechosenpeople. In MeinKampf,Hitlerdescribedthisasthemomentwhenthescalesfellfromhis eyes.Vienna'sfoulsmellingJewswerejustthetipoftheiceberg,themostvisiblesignof adeepermalaise.TheJewswerelikeleecheswhofastenthemselvestosocietyandinfect everyone.Thus,wheneverwecutopenasocialsorelikeprostitutionordruguse,Hitler commented,"wealwaysfindalittleJew,blindedbythesuddenlight,likeamaggotina rottencorpseanicyshudderrandownmyspinewhenseeingforthefirsttimetheJew asacool,shamelessandcalculatingmanagerofthisshockingvice." BytheendofhisViennayears,thebasicpatternofAdolfHitler'scharacterwasin place: 1.AparanoidhatredofJews. 2.Lazinessandahabitualneedtoprojectpersonalfailureontoscapegoats. 3.Aninabilitytoformlovingtieswithanyone,especiallywomen,andacorresponding tendencytowardsmanipulationinrelationships. 4.Extremeselfabsorptioninunrealisticfantasies.

REDEMPTIONBYWAR
InAugust1914,theFirstWorldWarbrokeoutaneventthetwentysixyearold Hitlerrememberedas"abeautifulsacredmoment"andmorepersonally,as"adeliverance fromtheemptinessofmyyouth." Inapsychologicalsense,warwasredemptionofsorts. HefoundahomeintheListregimentandasenseofbeingapartofafearedmilitary

7 machinetheGermanArmy.HehadleftViennaforMunichtoavoidserviceinthe Austrianarmy.HepetitionedtheKingofBavariarequestingpermissiontoserve.The answerarrived: "WithtremblinghandsIopenedthedocument,[thusbegan]thegreatest andmostunforgettabletimeofmyearthlyexistence." Hewasbyallaccountsazealoussoldier.Hespentmostofthewarservingas courierdeliveringmessagesbackandforthbetweenthefrontlinetrenchesandregimental headquarters.Thejobfittedhispersonalityandallowedhimtoremainaloner,sofaras possible,withinamilitarysetting.Someofhiscomradesrememberedhimasabrown noserbecauseofhisoverlyzealousattitude.Whenhisfellowsoldiersrelaxed,hewould oftenignoretheirtalesofsexualexploitsandothersoldiertalk,andtakeextratimeto cleanhisrifleorpolishhisbayonet.OnemanwhoservedwithhimsaidthatHitlernever relaxedandalwaysacted"asifwe'dlosethewarifheweren'tonthejobeveryminute." Althoughhisregimentsufferedappallinglosses,Hitleravoidedseriouswounds. ButgivenhismoodinessandaloofbehaviorHitlerneverrosebeyondtherankofcorporal. Accordingtooneofhisofficers,hisbearingwasexceedinglyunmilitaryhisuniformwas oftenslovenly,heslouchedandgenerallyremainedtaciturnunlesssomeremarkwouldstir himintodeliveringaharangue.FranzWiedemann,adjutantoftheListregiment,later testifiedattheNurembergtrialsthatHitler'spromotiontoNCOwasdeniedbecause "wecoulddiscovernoleadershipqualitiesinhim." StillHitlerwasabravesoldier.Hisluckinavoidingwoundsconvincedsome comradesthathehadsomespecialfeelingofinvulnerability.HereceivedboththeIron CrossFirstandSecondclasses.Justwhathedidtoreceivetheseawardshasbeenlostto history.ANazischoolbookclaimedhecaptured15Frenchsoldiersandmarchedthem backtocaptivity.Hitlernevermentionedthespecificsoftheaward.TheIronCrossFirst Classwasaverysignificantstepinhislifebecausetheawardwasseldomgivenanenlisted man.Fromthatpointforward,noonecouldquestionhispatrioticcredentialsanymore thananAmericancouldquestionthepatriotismofaCongressionalMedalofHonor recipient.ThemedalgaveHitlerinstantcredibilityandlegitimacy.

THEVISIONISBORN:(RUDOLFBINION&R.G. WAITE)
DefeatleftHitlerdespondent.Tomakemattersworse,hewaswounded lessthanamonthbeforetheendofthewar.ABritishmustardgasattackat Ypreslefthimblindedandafflictedwithahoarseandpainfulthroatitalsogave hisspeakingvoicethatdistinctivetimbre.Wewillneverknowwhatwentonin Hitler'smindashelayinhospitalrecoveringfromthemustardgas.Rudolf Binionhasusedthetoolsofpsychohistorytopresentthefollowingargument. ThesmellofthemustardgasremindedHitleroftheiodoformadministeredtohis dyingmotherin1907.Bothmustardgasandiodoformaresharpscentedliquids thatburnthroughtheskinandleaveafoulodorbehindthem. BinionarguesthatHitler,lyinginhishospitalbed,relivedhismother's martyrdom,exceptthatthistimeGermany,hissurrogatemother,wasbeing defiled.OncehemadetheconnectionthatinbothcasestheJewshadbeen responsible,Hitlerhadfoundthesolutiontobothhispersonalandpolitical

8 problems.InBinion'sjudgment,"Dr.Blochhadbeenrightintreatingonepoison withanotherthetimehadcometoapplythesametreatmenttoGermany's diseasetopoisonthepoisoners,orJews."LucyDawidowiczcommentedthat thehistoryoftheHolocaustbeginsinHitler'shospitalbed.Inthelastchapterof MeinKampf,writtenin1924,Hitlermadestatementsthatcertainly psychologicallyforeshadowAuschwitz: IfatthebeginningoftheWarandduringtheWartwelveorfifteen thousandoftheseHebrewcorruptersofthepeoplehadbeenheldunder poisongas,ashappenedtohundredsofthousandsofourverybest Germanworkersinthefield,thesacrificeofmillionsatthefrontwouldnot havebeeninvain. (Spielvogel,p.270) ThereisonealternatetheorytoexplainHitler'spathologicalhatredof Jews.Let'slookattheargumentpresentedbyR.G.Waite.Waiteperhaps cameclosesttoexplainingtherealrootsofHitler'santiSemitismwhenhe observedthatHitlerfelt"Jewishnesstobeanevilwithhimself,apoisontobe purged,ademontobeexorcised."PerhapsitsimplywasthatHitlercouldnot convincehimselfthathisownfamilytreewascompletelyAryan.Hecertainly tookpainstocoverhistracksandobscurehisorigins.Eveninhisbody language,gesturessuchascoveringhismouthandnostrils,repeatedlywhile speaking,toobscurefacialfeatureshefelttobe"Jewish"lendsomecredenceto Waite'stheory.Thefamousmustachewasdesignedtodrawattentionaway fromhis"Jewish"nostrils. WaiteconcludesthatHitler'santiSemitismwastheproductofa "borderlinepersonality."Hitler'sdisorderbeganinchildhood,solidifiedinhis adolescenceinViennaandearlyadulthoodintheGreatWar,andwas powerfullyreinforcedandnormalizedinasocietyHitlerultimatelyshapedtohis ownpersonalitytraits.Borderlinepersonalitiesalsotendtoembraceadmired qualities(Aryantoughness,will,masculinity,creativity)whileprojectingdespised characteristics(degeneracy,softness,femininity)ontootherscapegoats. Ultimately,itisimpossibletoproveordisprovesuchtheories,butitisalsoclear thatbytheageofthirty,AdolfHitlerwasconsumedbyhishatredofJews.Ina letterdatedSeptember16,1919,calledthefirstpoliticalstatementofhiscareer, Hitlerstatedhismotivesquiteclearly: "ArationalantiSemitism...mustleadto thesystematiclegalfight....Itsultimategoalmustunalterablybetheelimination oftheJewsaltogether."