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Psychology of the Totalitarian Movement

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 April 2017

Extract

For a long, long time I had a picture of Mussolini in my office. I was not a Fascist, not even an Italophile, but for me as for many other Europeans, Mussolini represented a very characteristic type in the evolution of mankind: a beneficent adventurer beginning in anarchy and becoming die saviour of spiritual values. At least I so fancied. The picture was a reproduction of a drawing by Toorop, the Javanese-Dutch artist, who had painted the Italian Dictator without ever seeing him, just as he had painted the face of an apostle or a visionary.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © University of Notre Dame 1939

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References

1 The Messiahship idea so prevalent two or three years ago, and concretized in the notion of Enderich, now seems all but submerged under the ravings for the worst kind of racism. Three years ago, there was still some reason for hope. Cf., Perroux, François, Les Mylhes hitlériens. Paris, 1935Google Scholar.

2 These will be recognized as the ideas of the German philosopher. Max Scheler, stated most clearly in Nature et Formes de la sympahie, Payot, Paris; and in L'Homme du ressenlimenl. Gallimard, Paris.

3 It is known that in Germany, contrary to the English usage, the life of a lease on cattle is strictly supervised by the State. The Germans applied their methods in conquered territory in 1915–16, etc. For an exact exposé on the subject, cf. von der Meersch, R. Ramon de Maxence, Invasion 14. ParisGoogle Scholar. They are merely adapting to man their veterinarian techniques.

4 This natural reaction can be seen in the making in Gide's, AndréRetour de l'U.R.S.S., 1936Google Scholar, even though he had just espoused Communism.

5 Robert d'Harcourt's L'Evangile de la force, demonstrates the irreducible struggle between Christianity and Nazism.

6 Hitler admits that he began with every kind of misfit, and today, continues to develop his own people.

7 Here should be studied, in the light of Nietzsche or Max Scheler, the part played by latent resentment in those who are well-disposed.

8 Apropos, it is not known outside of Germany that Hitler erected a monument at Bayreuth to commemorate his June Thirtieth. This monument is dedicated to its victims, and is inscribed: “Now that death has freed you, you march with us in the same ideal.”

9 The most recent movement, the Iron Guard with Codreanu in Roumania, demonstrated this technique of perversion and assassination at its best. Against this violence there is no salvation except in violence. Likewise, the death of Codreanu exemplifies a technique. Europe is too much poisoned by her past and her national idols easily to recognize as a neuropath and a criminal a cynical politician. The complete lack of all morality, the only law of the world, is still considered by too many professors as the best way of understanding international life. A useful fool can be a great man in Europe.

10 Von Rickthofen: The Red Scourge, A War Diary.

11 They go so far as to remove the child from family control, and there is special organization, government supported, for this purpose, “The Work of Separating from the Home,” “Los von Elternhaus Bewegung.” The German priests know how great the danger is for children and youths.

12 The continuance of the war no longer interested him. His drama was over.

13 According to other notes of the aviator, we learn that his great preoccupation was trying out new angles for taking pictures. “If I could only find some automatic way for a roll to wind after each exposure, what a collection we could make.” This refuge in photography represents a rupture with the drama, and not a personal addition to the drama; we read, page 422: “This war is certainly a stupid mess, and I can't be the only one to think so. Fortunately for the big shots, it doesn't leave us much time to think … of the country. …; they entertain us with exploding bombs and clashing cymbals. … When I leave these thoughts, I start drinking to keep my blood boiling, and be ready to go out to kill, and rejoice in my victories, and watch over them like a treasure. A fine philosophy! Fine for these times of freedom, when man is supposed to be better than a beast! Better? Not in my opinion.

I was forgetting this morning's picture. I think I'll get a good positive, when it's dry….”

This is exactly, but more clearly, how Von Richthofen felt before Ludendorff, and Hindenburg.

14 See the description of these beings in Conrad Heyden: Adolf Hitler. Do not fail to read also about Adolf Hitler's moral life. What will be the judgment of history on our times, with such a man in control?

15 Le Procès du “Bloc des Droitiers et des Trotskistes antisoviétiques,” report of the debates for February-March, 1938—French translation, 850 pages. This has been analysed by Jofé, , in “Revue du Droit Pénal et Criminologie,” 06,09, 1938Google Scholar.

16 Such an evolution, although less nationalistic, is now taking place in many Socialists. Henri de Man, speaking of die February 16 Independence, says textually: “I prefer a national socialism that is lived, to an international socialism that is spoken.”

17 One should read and study his youth, ingratitude, lies, nervous crises; but the measure of the man can be taken only in the light of the happenings of June 30th, when he deliberately decided to do away with his companions. See the horror of this in Heyden's Adolf Hitler.