DBWI: If Hitler Had Gone to Vienna, Not Paris...

Suppose the young Adolf Hitler had decided to go to Vienna, instead of Paris as he did in OTL. (Yes, this may seem far-fetched, given that Paris was obviously more important as an artistic center. But let's give as a POD that Hitler is too lazy to learn French.) As we know, Hitler became bitterly anti-French as a result of his experiences in Paris, and above all the lack of French respect for his artistic abilities. In *Mein Kampf* he wrote:

"France is, and remains by far, the most terrible enemy. This people, which is constantly becoming more Negrofied, constitutes...a grim danger for the existence of the European white race...For Germany...the French danger means an obligation to subordinate all considerations of sentiment, and to reach out the hand to those who, threatened as much as we are, will not tolerate...France's drive toward dominion."

It is hard for me to imagine a Hitler who had not lived in Paris writing such things. (The "Negrofied" business is no doubt the result of some unpleasant experiences with some Senegalese living in the city.)

Is it even possible that without his Paris experiences Hitler would never have become anti-Semitic? France was after all the country of the Dreyfus affair, and young Hitler was an avid reader of the Paris anti-Semitic gutter press. Furthermore, it is likely that French chauvinism played a role in Paris' failure to recognize Hitler's artistic talents, and that his work would have won more respect in Vienna, perhaps leading him never to go into politics in the first place.

Any thoughts?
 
Wasn't there some anti-Semitic mayor of Vienna that was really popular around that time? Maybe Adolf becomes anti-Semitic anyway.
 
In the long run, maybe things are better off. If Germany was oriented against the Reds instead of France and Britain, maybe the Bolsheviks wouldn't have ended up with everywhere northeast of the damn Pyrenees. If Germany could be used as a bulwark against Trotsky and the lackeys he propped up in Poland, the Baltic, and half the Austrian successor states, maybe there'd still be a French Republic. Hell, with all the butterflies involved, maybe Stalin is able to pull off his power play and Socialism in One Country is the dominant philosophy of the Soviets instead of frickin Trotsky deciding to try to launch a revolution in every country in the world.
 
Suppose the young Adolf Hitler had decided to go to Vienna, instead of Paris as he did in OTL. (Yes, this may seem far-fetched, given that Paris was obviously more important as an artistic center. But let's give as a POD that Hitler is too lazy to learn French.) As we know, Hitler became bitterly anti-French as a result of his experiences in Paris, and above all the lack of French respect for his artistic abilities. In *Mein Kampf* he wrote:

"France is, and remains by far, the most terrible enemy. This people, which is constantly becoming more Negrofied, constitutes...a grim danger for the existence of the European white race...For Germany...the French danger means an obligation to subordinate all considerations of sentiment, and to reach out the hand to those who, threatened as much as we are, will not tolerate...France's drive toward dominion."

It is hard for me to imagine a Hitler who had not lived in Paris writing such things. (The "Negrofied" business is no doubt the result of some unpleasant experiences with some Senegalese living in the city.)

Is it even possible that without his Paris experiences Hitler would never have become anti-Semitic? France was after all the country of the Dreyfus affair, and young Hitler was an avid reader of the Paris anti-Semitic gutter press. Furthermore, it is likely that French chauvinism played a role in Paris' failure to recognize Hitler's artistic talents, and that his work would have won more respect in Vienna, perhaps leading him never to go into politics in the first place.

Any thoughts?

Who knows? It's even possible Paris would still be standing today...
 
Exactly. If Hitler doesn't hate the French, maybe some strong, great leader of Germany manages to hold off the Russians. They certainly wouldn't have been able to steamroll France without all of their puppets from the Baltic to the Balkans being live bullet sponges.
 
I think he would have ended up even more anti semetic, not less.

Adolf Hitler was exposed to the excess's of the dreyfes affair but he was also exposed to Zionism and ended up seeing that as a way to deal with the jewish problem. Where as the kind of anti semitism in veinna didn't have that logical 'solution' being so omi present, and he most definantly woulden't demand that the Palastinian mandate emidatly be turned into a jewish state as a price of peace for the british people.

Ultimently the Jewish communities feelings about the man are complicated, no one evicted more jews from their homes, depriving them of their property and resources at the level Adolf did, but that action saved a lot of jews from Communism, and Israel was eventally able to turn the millions of immagrents into the successful capitalist nation that it is today. Still its Ironic for all of Hitlers miltarism, blustering and rage he ended up being undone because he trusted Trotsky of all people to keep his word and not bum rush germany. Its Ironic that his effort to deport all the jews saved so many from the rampages of communism while germans suffered horribly until the 1970 revolutions which finally drove the russians out, and the 1990 collapse of the thing as a whole.
 
Hitler wouldn't have become the fashion icon of the early 20th century if he didn't develop his style from his time in Paris. So there would be no flamboyant, colourful outfits with accessories to go with the centrepiece of his look, the little moustache. If he lived in Vienna and went on to be the leader of the Third Reich as per OTL, he probably would've worn boring, drab brown military outfits.
 
Hitler wouldn't have become the fashion icon of the early 20th century if he didn't develop his style from his time in Paris. So there would be no flamboyant, colourful outfits with accessories to go with the centrepiece of his look, the little moustache. If he lived in Vienna and went on to be the leader of the Third Reich as per OTL, he probably would've worn boring, drab brown military outfits.

"Fashion-icon" is too kind. "Symbol" maybe, but a ""fashion-icon" means people actually tried to emulate him...

Its possible that if he goes to Vienna that he is accepted for his art. I mean, while it never would have been up to French standards, I think it certainly played into the Germanic sensibilities. And if that doesn't work, maybe he is driven more towards architecture in Vienna. Anti-Semitic or not, it might not even matter as he could remain a private citizen. Which means that with no Hitler leadership, maybe Germany and the rest of Europe fall even easier. As much as you can blame the Soviet expansion on him, you have to give him some credit for being a decent administrator. The other German leaders at the time were so incompetent that maybe they roll over without even attempting to put up a fight.
 
Who knows? It's even possible Paris would still be standing today...

Eh. There's basically no way Paris doesn't get shelled to shit in the fighting, even if Hitler didn't demand it razed. The only way it comes out of World War 2 intact is if the front lines never make it that far, either because the Allies have a Miracle at the Marne type situation again or if France surrenders the city before the fighting even reaches it, but I can't imagine France just giving up like that rather than withdrawing to Fortress Brittany.

Besides, what would Canadian First Div do? Just go back to England after landing in Brittany?
 
Paris took a beating thanks to Hitlers art school choices. Taken in March of 39 by Germany. Then The Russians grab it in 42. It is one of six cities hit on exchange day in 57 when America goes nuclear to save Britain. It gets torched again during the anti communist uprisings of the 70s. Finally, to round it all off, a home grown terrorist sets off incendiary devices the make the great London Fire look like a candle.
Sometimes I wonder why people keep going back there.
 
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