WI Alois Hitler died between the conception and birth of his most infamous otl son?
WI Alois Hitler died between the conception and birth of his most infamous otl son?
The Nazi Party was just another tiny racist nationalist political parties fomenting in Munich. It was nothing before Hitler joined it, which may explain why we know so little about it pre-Hitler. Some other nationalist sect would have taken over in the thirties, though probably more Fascist/Nationalist than Nazi. OTOH, the circumstances of the Kaiser's abdication left a big hole that Hitler was able to fill. Who's to say whether someone else (who we know nothing of) might have filled the void instead? And worse, been more of a competent evil, like the technocratic Heydrich? The buffoonery of Mussolini, paranoia of Stalin, or bloodlust of Hitler cannot be taken for granted. What if a Franco-like dictatorship arises instead? And it will arise. The Weimar Republic was not destined to survive.
To clarify this assumes the otl monster's birth but not experiencing his father's brutality
To clarify this assumes the otl monster's birth but not experiencing his father's brutality
Frankly I always assumed his personality was formed more by his being spoiled rotten by his mother, not being brutalized by his father. Alois Hitler certainly showed no love for his son Adolph, but there is no indication that he treated his other children any better or worse. It was neglect and indifference from Alois more than anything else.
Wasn't Hitler's own personality that of the spoiled child always having to have his way, rather than the twisted ghoul who slaughters small animals and pulls wings off flies?
Not all evil is the result of bad genes or a cruel upbringing. Sometimes it is because you have been raised to believe that the world is your oyster, ultimately turning you into a solipsist. Having a solipsist running a country is a pretty horrifying concept. I see Hitler, Stalin, Mao, the Kims, Pol Pot, and any God-King autocrat of antiquity to be solipsists.