One-sentence summary: Many journalists and political observers, both German and international, underestimated Hitler due to his seemingly comical persona and political failures, failing to foresee his rise to power despite clear signs of his emotional grip on the masses.
Timothy W. Ryback’s article explores the widespread journalistic and political underestimation of Adolf Hitler during his rise in Germany, particularly in the early 1930s, and how this misjudgment contributed to misunderstanding the threat he posed. The piece opens with the renowned journalist Dorothy Thompson’s infamous 1931 interview with Hitler, where she dismissed him as insignificant-a sentiment echoed by much of the press at the time, including German outlets and international correspondents. Hitler’s background as a failed artist, awkward speaker, and political gadfly fueled public ridicule, with newspapers lampooning everything from his name and failed citizenship bids to his bizarre behavior and fashion mishaps.
Numerous humiliating episodes — like tripping during his citizenship oath or his appointment as a rural police commissioner — painted Hitler as farcical rather than formidable. German and international journalists documented his awkward attempts at legitimacy and public outreach, often dismissing him as a “Little Man” with no real path to power. Despite this, Hitler retained a magnetic influence over his base, as noted by observers like psychiatrist Hans Prinzhorn and U.S. Ambassador Frederic Sackett, who warned of Hitler’s emotional sway despite his seeming ineffectiveness.
While most journalists misread Hitler’s chances, Ryback points out that even Hitler himself was close to despair in late 1932, amid internal party struggles, financial ruin, and political isolation. Nonetheless, a fortuitous series of political maneuvers and backroom deals in early 1933 led to his appointment as chancellor — shocking many who believed his career was over. The article suggests that the journalists’ failure lay not in faulty analysis of his character but in underestimating the changing circumstances and the powerful emotional bond he held with his followers. Ryback concludes that Hitler’s rise was not inevitable, but it was made possible by a mix of underestimation, political chaos, and his demagogic skill.
Ryback also notes that the only figure who accurately predicted Hitler’s rise in 1932 was a Jewish clairvoyant named Erik Jan Hanussen, adding a final twist of irony to the story of the press’s failure to foresee history.
Ryback, Timothy W. “What the Press Got Wrong About Hitler.” The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2025, www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/03/hitler-press-germany/682130.
Key takeaways:
- Dorothy Thompson and many other respected journalists dismissed Hitler as insignificant or laughable.
- Much of the German and international press mocked Hitler’s appearance, background, and political blunders.
- Despite ridicule, Hitler maintained an intense emotional hold on his base through performance, repetition, and grievance-driven rhetoric.
- Journalistic coverage often failed to grasp the deeper impact of Hitler’s messaging and charisma.
- Hitler’s political movement was nearly bankrupt and fragmented by late 1932, with even Hitler contemplating suicide.
- A mix of luck, manipulation, and behind-the-scenes political bargaining vaulted Hitler to power in January 1933.
- The press’s misreading was partly due to the belief that democratic institutions and reason would prevail.
- A Jewish clairvoyant, Erik Jan Hanussen, was one of the few to publicly predict Hitler’s rise in 1932.
Most important quotations:
- “In something like 50 seconds, I was quite sure he was not [the future dictator].”
- “They keep thinking they’ve hit on a crucial point when they say that Hitler’s speeches are meaningless and empty… But intellectual judgments of the Hitler experience miss the point entirely.” – Hans Prinzhorn
- “No one is laughing now.” – Adolf Hitler, in his 1932 audio address
- “He is the very prototype of the Little Man.” – Dorothy Thompson
- “The whole world is laughing about Gendarme Hitler.” – Das Volk
- “That man is hopeless… This whole trip was a waste of time.” – Karl von Wiegand
- “This was the challenging statement made to me tonight… the hour of his supreme triumph is at hand.” – Sefton Delmer
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