Hitlers speeches

[Nina van M.]

Who wrote speeches for Hitler? Did he wrote them alone or was speech writer doing that instead of him?

And what do you think, was he good rhetorician and interpretator or was he just an ordinary ranter? Anybody seen public Mussolini's speeches maybe ?

salute, von K.

[alsaco]

Could we generalise the question ?.

It is now admitted that official speeches are written by specialists, on schemes or ideas given by the orator

But real orators, writing themselves or improvising, were the rule, at least in latin countries, until 1940.

Can someone give informations by whom, and when, the change occured ?. Not only Hitler, but Goebbels, Mussolini, Clémenceau, Churchill and other prominent leaders ?.

[Spitze]

I can add as a "fun thing" that Hitlers speeches was written with very big letters, because he refused to carry glasses.

[Veteran]

As far as I know Hitler wrote his speeches by himself. Some time ago I managed to see some faksimiles of preparations for long speeches written by his own hand (actually he wrote the most important words to remind himself during the speech <words like: Reich-Führer-high-forward-strongest-enemy-democracy-expansion-race> instead of the whole text). In early days of his political career he "discovered" his ability to manipulate with different words. He became a good rhetorician and soon he started to misuse his knowledge to manipulate with German public.
Results could be seen from 1933 to 1945.

[Redbaron1908]

Hello,

If anyone is intrested at lloking at some of Gobbels or Hitlers speeches they can look at the following link, it is quite intresting.

http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/ww2era.htm#Speech

[Nina van M.]

Yes, we could generalise that question on all other world leaders during WW2. But I would like to know, who wrote Hitler's speeches...
At first, I thought he was writing them alone, because nobody else but him could really write such things and in manner he wanted (we all know what kind of person he was). I wasn't sure, so I decided to ask you, if you know something more about this topic.

When I saw documentary on Hitler not long ago, I found interesting, that in private life he had gentle voice and there was no sign of "ranter Hitler". When he had speeches, technicians had a hard job, because they had to silence him so the sound would be clear enough. He misused his gift of eloquence for manipulation, he hypnotised whole crowds with speaking...
Horrible.

Compare him to Mussolini- what is your opinion?
In my opinion, Mussolini had no sense for improvising at all, he was too theatrical-his gestures were badly played and he could speak for a long time and tell absolutely nothing. He is bad and not really much of a rhetorician too me.

greeting, von kluge

[Szczerbiec]

True: Hitler spent hours planning his gestures, so it was no improvisation.

Mussolini was another type of dictator... he did not expose theories; he exposed dreams. While Hitler was stating important things in his speeches, such as economy, socialism, nation, Mussolini was talking about "covering the sun" with his aviation (thing that he never did).

Mussolini's gestures were improvised - true. Were they theatrical - yes. But through his gestures he exposed a certain pride of himself, a certain pride Hitler never had. One thing you must see is his pride on this picture: his smile, his postition. For me, Mussolini is the most original and proud dictator ever, but unfortunately a total failiure in the military and economy.

[EER]

Maybe the difference between Hitler and Mussolini's speech technique is that Hitler believed more in the power of what he was saying, whereas Mussolini believed more in the power of his own self.

[Szczerbiec]

Exactly!!! I could not resume better.

[Nina van M.]

Well written, EER!

Mussolini's speeches seem funny to me, just take a look at his face and gestures... How could man possibly take him seriously? His pride and pomposity... He exaggerated way to much.
I agree, Hitler's speeches were similar in some way, but Mussolini's seem quite ridiculous and OK, "original" to me.
What about Goebbels and his "propaganda" speech?
Yes, Mussolini exposed "dreams" in his speeches and isn't it ironic, he got lost exactly in those same dreams. Hitler's story is a bit different, but with the same end.

Who do you consider as a good rhetorician in WW2 and why?

Regards, von K.

[EER]

Thanks, guys

I tend to think that Hitler was the more gifted speaker. Mussolini worked off of a tremendous store of self-confidence, but Hitler had a tremendous amount of charisma. He could be inhibited and awkward in social situations, but he was able to intimidate people just with his stare and bearing even when saying nothing at all. When we look at him even today, his speeches have lost none of their power.

[Szczerbiec]

I must have added this picture

[Svennie]

Ian Kershaw mentions in his Hitler biography Hubris - in the preface- that all of Hitler's speeches have now been collected in a multi-volume work. He just does not mention its author, so I could not look it up easily in the bibliography. But with a little bit of patience, you'll find it.

Sven

[Nina van M.]

And those Benito's pictures are just confirming our statements from earlier posts, so Szczerbiec, you put dot on the i with posting them

What about Robert Ley, Ernst Röhm, Hermann Göring and others? Any comments on others maybe? I think this "goodbye" speech from Göring to soldiers trapped in Stalingrad was awful and I can't understand what were "rulers" thinking?! They had burried soldiers alive!!!
By the way, did anyone hear Rudolf Hess speaking?
And had any nazi knew how to speak normal and with normal voice without screaming? As far as I've heard, the answer would be "NO".

Greeting, von K.

[sancheq]

One thing that can't be overlooked is the power involved in the newly developed technology of electronic amplification. While Herr Hitler was probably effective without it in smaller settings, it was in the big arena gatherings that he reached his peak. It was undoubtedly a product of the increased crowd sizes exuding a self-exciting feeling among the horde, and it was surely also the fact that the Führer himself was excited by hearing his own voice at such volume, echoing back from the farthest reaches of the crowd. It was a human feedback loop at work, no pun intended.