Adolf Hitler Preface
[Transcription note: Bracketed [Page] links provide access
to the individual images from which these transcriptions were
made]
[Page 1]
Preface
This study is not propagandistic in any sense of the term. It represents
an attempt to screen the wealth of contradictory, conflicting and unreliable
material concerning Hitler into strata which wll be helpful to the
policy-makers and those who wish to frame a counter-propaganda. For
this reason the first three parts are purely descriptive and deal with
the man (1) as he appears to himself, (2) as he has been pictured to the
German people, and (3) how he is known to his associates. These sections
contain the basic material for the psychological analysis in sections IV
and V in which an attempt is made to understand Hitler as a person
and the motivations underlying his actions.
The material available for such an analysis is extremely scant
and spotty. Fortunately, we have at our disposal a number of informants
who knew Hitler well and who have been willing to cooperate to the
best of their abilities. The study would have been entirely impossible
were it not for the fact that there is a relatively high degree of
agreement in the descriptions of Hitler's behavior, sentiments and
attitudes given by these several informants. With this as a basis it
seemed worthwhile to proceed with the study filling in the lacunae
with knowledge gained from clinical experience in dealing with
individuals of a similar type. This is not an entirely satisfactory
procedure, from a scientific point of view, but it is the only feasible
[Page 2]
method at the present time. Throughout the study we have tried to be as
objective as possible in evaluating his strengths as well as his weaknesses.
All plain numbers in parentheses refer to the page of The Hitler Source
Book, a companion volume in which the original material is to be found together
with the complete reference. Numbers in parentheses preceded by M.K. or
M.N.O. refer to pages in Mein Kampf and My New Order, respectively. A detailed
Index to the original material is to be found at the beginning of the Source-Book. A complete bibliography is appended to this study.
It is hoped that the study may be helpful in gaining a deeper insight into
Adolf Hitler and the German people and that it may serve as a guide for
our propaganda activities as well as our future dealings with them.
[signed] Walter C. Langer
The
original plaintext version
of this file is available via
ftp.
[
Index |
Next ]
Home ·
Site Map ·
What's New? ·
Search
Nizkor
© The Nizkor Project, 1991-2012
This site is intended for educational purposes to teach about the Holocaust and
to combat hatred.
Any statements or excerpts found on this site are for educational purposes only.
As part of these educational purposes, Nizkor may
include on this website materials, such as excerpts from the writings of racists and antisemites. Far from approving these writings, Nizkor condemns them and
provides them so that its readers can learn the nature and extent of hate and antisemitic discourse. Nizkor urges the readers of these pages to condemn racist
and hate speech in all of its forms and manifestations.
OSS Psychological Profile
----------------------------
Consultant, M.O. Branch, OSS