After the war Hitler pursues his dream of becoming a politician and establishes the Social Revolutionary Party. The principles of his party appear to have a direct correlation with his experiences from the war. During his political campaign, he emphasizes nationalism. An idea he was disgusted to see lost amongst cowardly soldiers who purposefully injured themselves so they could escape the war. Nationalism is also an idea he felt Ebert, Scheidemann, Barth and Liebnitz abused when they when they supported withdrawing from the war. In discontent Hitler feels, "For they were ready to sacrifice the whole nation, and if necessary to let Germany be destroyed," (200)
To secure Germany’s Nationalism, he aspired to revolutionize Germany and create an ideal German race. The ideal German race excluded his threats, such as the Jews and Marxists. Kershaw explains, "Any crossing of two beings not at exactly the same level produces a medium between the level of the two parents" (285) Thus without regulation, inter-level breeding would result in a lower-level offspring than the highest-level parent, degrading the German race. His reasoning closely parallels the theory of Social Darwinism, which emphasizes a race is created through the survival of the fittest. In Hitler’s case, a German race consists of those who he selected as most ‘fit’. Hitler justified his selection processes through manipulation and prejudges. For example during the war, he supposedly witnesses Jews causing the economic turmoil. He held onto this idea, when explaining the current economic situation (after the war), "Actually the Jew by means of the trade union, which could be a blessing for the nations, shatters the foundations of the national economy." (323) when in fact, the economic crisis was due to the country’s debt.
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In the war Hitler is hit by a mysterious gas that he and doctors could only describe as, "...yellow-cross gas, whose effects were still unknown to us as far as personal experience was concerned." (202) As the mysterious gas gnaws at Hitler, he reflects on his last cry during his mother's death. Afterwards, he explains how he has come to believe no mercy shall be given to any injured or deceased, as there are others suffering. Yet those responsible for the shortcomings of Germany shall be avenged. Perhaps we should take into note that this harsh ideology occurs after this unknown gas hits him? Doctors do not know the long-term effects, nor do they have faith Hitler will fully recover. Despite the fact, Hitler appears to have made a successful recovery. Yet, as we understand today, gaseous effects on humans have a significant impact on the brain. Chemical imbalances can occur, notably changing ones emotions and thought processes. Although Hitler is a ruthless man prior to the attack, did the incident fuel his aggression?
I kind of like the idea of trying to rationalize Hitler's mindset with all that happened in the war. However, I feel like Kershaw would call that an easy way out. For me, Mein Kampf only reinforces what Kershaw has been trying to say from the beginning, which is that Hitler was merely an instrument. He himself didn't even fully realize his potential until he had no other choice. Mein Kampf is merely a representation of the man that Hitler believed he could be, not the man he was.
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