Man, Demon, Icon: Hitler’s Image between Cinematic Representation and Historical Reality

Abstract

Since his death on 30 April 1945, Adolf Hitler has tended to be viewed as the epitome of evil. This moral judgment is particularly apparent in the various representations of him which have emerged in feature films produced in the post-war era. Although historians have emphasized Hitler’s decisive role in the Holocaust,1 it is nevertheless somewhat misleading to portray him as a demon. Indeed, although Hitler himself was unquestionably wicked, the bureaucratic organization and efficient implementation of the Final Solution cannot be perceived as the act of a single person. Viewing it as such risks overlooking the role played by the many knowledgeable German citizens who actively assisted with or took advantage of the deportations and murders.2 Many will have witnessed their Jewish neighbors fleeing the country or being deported, and almost every family will have had at least one member carrying out active military service. Although anti-Semitism itself was promoted by Hitler’s policies, it cannot purely be seen as a direct consequence of them.