Hitler permanently blinded

[Joe Bonkers]

Supposedly when Hitler, who was in a military hospital temporarily blinded after a gas attack, heard the news of the Armistice, he was so shocked the blindness relapsed. We basically have just Hitler's word for this, so who knows; but let's take it at face value, and extend it further to imagine that the shock left him not temporarily but permanently blind.

Two questions:
1. Can he still come to power?
2. If he does come to power, what's different about Nazi Germany under his rule (it's almost certain to be different in some way)?

 

[Gar48]

Can he still come to power?

No, he can't
His handicap would probably end any chance of a political career with a fascist ideology

 

[The Lethargic Lett]

As a far-right, darkly charismatic veteran crippled by the war, I can see him as a Nazi ideologue or as the 'mascot' for the DNVP, but not much else.

 

[Gar48]

As a far-right, darkly charismatic veteran crippled by the war, I can see him as a Nazi ideologue or as the 'mascot' for the DNVP, but not much else.

Would the nazis even want him?
If their ideology is the same as OTL, they will simply condider him an other sub-human who could ruin the "master race"

 

[redjirachi]

Hitler became blind due to war injuries, not because of a natural disability. Did the Nazis hate on disabled veterans?

 

[Gar48]

Hitler became blind due to war injuries, not because of a natural disability. Did the Nazis hate on disabled veterans?

Apparently very well
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw2m4gFcbI3zwZC0_vEP5irw

 

[Gar48]

Apparently i was wrong
The nazis could wasily use him to get the support from the veterans

 

[Hilarious Bolloc]

"“Gentlemen, you must pardon me. I have grown blind in the service of my country and now find that I am growing old.”

 

[Anarch King of Dipsodes]

Supposedly when Hitler, who was in a military hospital temporarily blinded after a gas attack, heard the news of the Armistice, he was so shocked the blindness relapsed. We basically have just Hitler's word for this, so who knows; but let's take it at face value, and extend it further to imagine that the shock left him not temporarily but permanently blind.

Two questions:
1. Can he still come to power?
2. If he does come to power, what's different about Nazi Germany under his rule (it's almost certain to be different in some way)?

IMO, no. I don't think he can exercise the same level of charisma on his henchmen when he can't see their faces to judge their reactions. Nor, probably, audiences that he speaks to. His rise was improbable even as it was; with that added handicap it becomes impossible.

There is only one case of a successful blind politician, AFAIK. That was Senator Thomas Gore (D-OK, 1907-1921, 1931-1937).

 

[NHBL]

If he's not a leader of the party, he's probably not going to be welcome at all. He simply does not fit the "Aryan" look they want; he'd be inferior due to that.

 

[David T]

There is only one case of a successful blind politician, AFAIK. That was Senator Thomas Gore (D-OK, 1907-1921, 1931-1937).

I don't know if you'd count David Paterson. "At the age of three months, Paterson contracted an ear infection that spread to his optic nerve, leaving him sightless in his left eye and with severely limited vision in his right." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Paterson