The first episode in the BBC’s three-part series; The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler, does exactly what it says on the tin – it looks at the extraordinary rise to power and popularity within Nazi Germany of its most infamous leader, Adolf Hitler. Written and produced by Laurence Rees – who won a BAFTA for his previous series Nazis: A Warning from History and a Grierson Award for his Auschwitz: The Nazis and the ‘Final Solution’ – the series uses the testimonies of those who lived through such a turbulent period in modern history and the historical accounts of Germany and its government at the time.
Adolf Hitler seemed an unlikely leader – fuelled by anger, incapable of forming normal human relationships and unwilling to debate political issues. Such was the depth of his hatred that he would become a war criminal arguably without precedent in history. Yet this strange character was once loved by millions. How was this possible, and what role did Hitler’s alleged ‘charisma’ play in his success? Though the events examined in this series happened over 80 years ago, its message remains largely relevant to society to this day, acting as a stark warning from history as to the consequences of social apathy in the face of dictators.
The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler – Wednesday 8:00pm on London Live
