WI: Hitler at Nuremberg

[Bookmark1995]

I know it is a bit out there, but what if a forlorn, Parkinson's-ridden, possibly-syphilitic Hitler has been put on trial and later hanged at Nuremberg?

Would the history of the world been different if a hysterical and demented Hitler had been allowed one last stand on the bench?

Or would the world, witnessing the almost-ruler of Europe reduced to a shrieking valid, just have one more reason to condemn National Socialism?

Would any potential racists be utterly disillusioned by the undignified defiance of their idol, or would they Hitler as a mere martyr?

 

[Don Corleone]

They might not have filmed the trial - they wouldn't want footage of Hitler looking remotely sympathetic. Just use the audio.

Getting the biggest fish might result in some degree of leniency for the other defendants.

Racism and antisemitism sadly remained mainstream even after Nuremberg. Hitler was just a bad vessel. Eugenics was discredited so it's better than nothing.

 

[Bookmark1995]

They might not have filmed the trial - they wouldn't want footage of Hitler looking remotely sympathetic. Just use the audio.

Getting the biggest fish might result in some degree of leniency for the other defendants.

Racism and antisemitism sadly remained mainstream even after Nuremberg. Hitler was just a bad vessel. Eugenics was discredited so it's better than nothing.

So, there wouldn't be any effect on world history? Just some affect on pop culture?

 

[Don Corleone]

So, there wouldn't be any effect on world history? Just some affect on pop culture?

Probably. The Reich had already been defeated and its leaders were out of power.

 

[kernals12]

The photo of the most evil man in human history being shot by a firing squad will be one of the most iconic ever.

 

[Bookmark1995]

The photo of the most evil man in human history being shot by a firing squad will be one of the most iconic ever.

I pictured Hitler being hung like a criminal.

In any case, what would the impact of a public execution have on German society.

 

[Kalga]

The photo of the most evil man in human history being shot by a firing squad will be one of the most iconic ever.

He'll probably be hung though, like the other ones at the trial OTL. In fact, Goring specifically asked to be executed by firing squad as befitting of a soldier, which was denied, and then he took that cyanide capsule to escape the shame of being hung like a common criminal.

 

[Maeglin]

As noted, it'd be a hanging, not a firing squad. As for the trial itself, a combination of Hitler being ill and a shrieking lunatic likely means he gets confined to the cells for his own safety, with his statements being read out in court. If he needs to be wheeled out, drug him into a stupor first.

 

[Derek Jackson]

In otl Goering was given good treatment for his addiction and seemed healthier than during WW2. Might Schickelgruber have got the same

 

[Skallagrim]

It is assumed that Hitler would be shrieking and raving. This is not a given. Although his health will definitely be failing him (with his addition to all kinds of narcotics doing him no favours), we may safely assume that he'd be treated the same way the other captured Nazis were in OTL. That is: no torture and drugging and stuff. He'll get fair treatment, a fair trial and then a fair hanging. But he'll get to speak. And no, they won't try to 'hide' him. That will make them look afraid of him.

So what I suspect is that Hitler, by now depressed and of an apocalyptic mind-set, will use his opportunity to speak not so much to scream and rave. Rather, he'll probably do his utmost to defend his choices and actions, and predict that in destroying him, the other powers have doomed themselves to a horrible future. He'll make himself look like a martyred messiah, who will be vindicated by history. He'll probably be convincing (to those inclined to agree with his views, that is). Hitler was, after all, notoriously good at such speeches. And his broken health will only illustrate his message of doom and gloom.

That message will no doubt resonate with Neo-Nazis. To the point that anything and everything they can bring up will be presented as 'evidence' that their Führer was right all along. 9/11? Hitler was right! Debt crisis? Hitler was right! Immigration crisis? Hitler was right! They'll be shouting it until the end of time, presumably accompanied with quotes from his final statements in court. As such, I very much think that this scenario would most likely bolster Neo-Nazism to some extent.

 

[Bookmark1995]

It is assumed that Hitler would be shrieking and raving. This is not a given. Although his health will definitely be failing him (with his addition to all kinds of narcotics doing him no favours), we may safely assume that he'd be treated the same way the other captured Nazis were in OTL. That is: no torture and drugging and stuff. He'll get fair treatment, a fair trial and then a fair hanging. But he'll get to speak. And no, they won't try to 'hide' him. That will make them look afraid of him.

So what I suspect is that Hitler, by now depressed and of an apocalyptic mind-set, will use his opportunity to speak not so much to scream and rave. Rather, he'll probably do his utmost to defend his choices and actions, and predict that in destroying him, the other powers have doomed themselves to a horrible future. He'll make himself look like a martyred messiah, who will be vindicated by history. He'll probably be convincing (to those inclined to agree with his views, that is). Hitler was, after all, notoriously good at such speeches. And his broken health will only illustrate his message of doom and gloom.

That message will no doubt resonate with Neo-Nazis. To the point that anything and everything they can bring up will be presented as 'evidence' that their Führer was right all along. 9/11? Hitler was right! Debt crisis? Hitler was right! Immigration crisis? Hitler was right! They'll be shouting it until the end of time, presumably accompanied with quotes from his final statements in court. As such, I very much think that this scenario would most likely bolster Neo-Nazism to some extent.

Now THAT would be frightening. Hitler using his manipulative powers to make people mourn him.

 

[Kalga]

Now THAT would be frightening. Hitler using his manipulative powers to make people mourn him.

Well, he was known as the silver tongued devil for a reason...

 

[Jearom]

Would any potential racists be utterly disillusioned by the undignified defiance of their idol, or would they Hitler as a mere martyr?

Disillusioned? On the contrary it will just spawn more conspiracy theories among Neo-Nazis. They'll just say the Allies drugged him to make him look insane. That kind of fanaticism doesn't accept truths, it just creates new explanations.

 

[GDIS Pathe]

Giving one of History's best orators a public platform after straightening his health and diet out seems like a very bad idea

 

[Skallagrim]

Now THAT would be frightening. Hitler using his manipulative powers to make people mourn him.

To be fair: it would mostly influence the attitude of those inclined to support him anyway. At that time, all sane people knew very well what a monster he was. The main danger I see is closer to the present. While Neo-Nazism is thankfully a very minor fringe in OTL, I've noted an increasing tendency among elements of the "Alt Right" (or whatever you wish to call it) to quasi-ironically defend Hitler and Nazism. They already try to tie him to current events, pointing to refugees entering Europe and making claims that "this proves he was right; the wrong side won World War II". If he had literally mad doom-and-gloom predictions that could easily be put in that context, I can see such Nazi apologism/revisionism getting broader support on the far right-- more of them would be willing to openly express their support.

As much as Hitler deserved the noose, he very probably did us all a favour when he blew his own brains out.

 

[elkarlo]

Now THAT would be frightening. Hitler using his manipulative powers to make people mourn him.

He wasn't the cartoon villian people want to dismiss him as. He could make some statements as was said, predicting ruin in Europe for following communism and Jewish influence . They could and probably would resonate more, given all that has happened in the past few decades.

 

[elkarlo]

To be fair: it would mostly influence the attitude of those inclined to support him anyway. At that time, all sane people knew very well what a monster he was. The main danger I see is closer to the present. While Neo-Nazism is thankfully a very minor fringe in OTL, I've noted an increasing tendency among elements of the "Alt Right" (or whatever you wish to call it) to quasi-ironically defend Hitler and Nazism. They already try to tie him to current events, pointing to refugees entering Europe and making claims that "this proves he was right; the wrong side won World War II". If he had literally mad doom-and-gloom predictions that could easily be put in that context, I can see such Nazi apologism/revisionism getting broader support on the far right-- more of them would be willing to openly express their support.

As much as Hitler deserved the noose, he very probably did us all a favour when he blew his own brains out.

The predictions, I think wouldn't make his views mainstream, but would probably give him credit in conspiracy theory circles and the types that like Alex Jones . Not mainstream, but it'd Def give him more influence at the fringes

 

[Bookmark1995]

To be fair: it would mostly influence the attitude of those inclined to support him anyway. At that time, all sane people knew very well what a monster he was. The main danger I see is closer to the present. While Neo-Nazism is thankfully a very minor fringe in OTL, I've noted an increasing tendency among elements of the "Alt Right" (or whatever you wish to call it) to quasi-ironically defend Hitler and Nazism. They already try to tie him to current events, pointing to refugees entering Europe and making claims that "this proves he was right; the wrong side won World War II". If he had literally mad doom-and-gloom predictions that could easily be put in that context, I can see such Nazi apologism/revisionism getting broader support on the far right-- more of them would be willing to openly express their support.

As much as Hitler deserved the noose, he very probably did us all a favour when he blew his own brains out.

I just figured letting a senile and syphilitic Hitler go on trial, and making an ass of himself due to his decaying brain would be the most torturous blow to Nazism. More so than Germany's military defeat. Seeing him for what he really was would make Germans feel even more foolish for having been seduced by that madman.

 

[Deleted member 94680]

So many Hitler fanboys on here it’s depressing.

You really think having ol’ Adolfo on the stand, answering for his crimes will suddenly make the WAllies go “oh shit, maybe the little guy is right? Maybe there is a world-spanning conspiracy of Jews controlling our every decision? Better let him off and appoint him World President!”

Like all the other senior nazis at Nuremberg changed anyone’s mind? Can anyone recite any passages from their trials? Why would Hitler’s be any different? This isn’t the tv age, it’s not like it’s going to be streamed live 24 hours a day. The Allies will control what the world sees anyway. It’ll confirm he’s been captured and once confirmed guilty after the due process of law it’ll confirm he’s dead.

 

[Bookmark1995]

So many Hitler fanboys on here it’s depressing.

You really think having ol’ Adolfo on the stand, answering for his crimes will suddenly make the WAllies go “oh shit, maybe the little guy is right? Maybe there is a world-spanning conspiracy of Jews controlling our every decision? Better let him off and appoint him World President!”

Like all the other senior nazis at Nuremberg changed anyone’s mind? Can anyone recite any passages from their trials? Why would Hitler’s be any different? This isn’t the tv age, it’s not like it’s going to be streamed live 24 hours a day. The Allies will control what the world sees anyway. It’ll confirm he’s been captured and once confirmed guilty after the due process of law it’ll confirm he’s dead.

No, we never said that.

We're saying that there is a possibility a potential final stand before a jury could be a fodder for future Nazis.