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A biography of Adolf Hitler published two years before his autobiography Mein Kampf may also have been written by Hitler:
In the early fall of 1923, when Adolf Hitler was still mostly known for his frenzied speeches at Munich beer halls, a slim biography was published that lauded him as the savior of the German nation and even compared him to Jesus. The book, "Adolf Hitler: His Life and His Speeches," was credited to Baron Adolf Victor von Koerber, a German aristocrat and war hero. Scholars have said that Hitler sought Mr. von Koerber out for the biography because he needed a conservative figure without links to the Nazi Party to help legitimize him as a leader.
However, new research says Hitler penned the work himself. This suggests that Hitler had designs on taking power earlier than many historians have previously thought and manipulated public opinion to get there.
"Adolf Hitler: His Life and His Speeches" was published two years before "Mein Kampf," the autobiography and manifesto that historians consider the moment Hitler went from political propagandist to leader in waiting. The von Koerber biography was published shortly before Hitler helped lead a bungled coup in Munich known as the Beer Hall Putsch.
"It's 1923, and Hitler suddenly decides he needs to boost his national profile," said Thomas Weber, a professor of history and international affairs at the University of Aberdeen, in Scotland, who uncovered documents in Mr. von Koerber's archival papers that he argues reveals Hitler as the biography's true author. The documents included a sworn statement by the publisher's widow.
Dusty old Godwin meme.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 11 2016, @01:04AM
Spoken like someone who has never truly lived under a dictatorship. I live in the Philippines and am old enough to remember the era of Ferdinand Marcos, and what is happening with Duterte worries me that we are returning to those days. It's the same with the Pinochet regime, and that you would say that these bastards did nothing wrong is the height of insanity. In the reigns of Marcos and Pinochet people just disappeared for no apparent reason, and Duterte is heading in that direction. He has killed over three thousand people, who may or may not be related to the illegal drug trade, and we will never really know whether these people really are guilty or just people who have crossed those in power for whatever reason. There is no way to prove it. Duterte talks about a major drug lord biting the dust because he tried to fight back, but that sure sounds like absolute crap. If I were a drug lord on the level of a Season 5 Walter White or higher, I sure as hell wouldn't want to get into a shootout with the police and get my ass killed (unless I of course had a death wish just as Walter White did at that point): I'd rather surrender and get my Sauls to twist things about. And who knows about all those thousands of Season One Jesse Pinkmans. I'm pretty sure they would have found prison preferable to a shallow grave. I could wind up just like them myself someday, though I have never used any controlled substances or knowingly consorted with those who do, if things keep going the way they are going. Hopefully I can get out of this place before that happens.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 11 2016, @07:02AM
You have my profoundest consolations. May you find your way away soon.
I am afraid for my Filipino friends. They have gone dancing. Some have travelled and partied. Some have enemies. Not knowing if or why they might be targetted is sickening.