#18 Seeing Hitler: Testimonies of Friends and Comrades

Contrary to the claim that he was a man of absolute self-confidence, we know of numerous documented cases in which he displayed the exact opposite behavior. At such times he acted surprisingly helpless, even submissive, as in the 1920s when he met aristocrats and influential people.

But even when he was already in power, for example in encounters with Hindenburg or even Marshal Pétain, his body language expressed helplessness and confusion. Walter Langer, as a psychological expert, noted that he often did not know where to put his hands in such moments.

Hitler made submissive gestures, such as kissing Hindenburg’s hand as though he were a servant. Hanfstaengl recalls situations where Hitler said nothing at all and stammered in nervousness when facing an aristocrat. He had particular difficulty dealing with members of the royal family.