Adolf Hitler Practised His Body Language – Assessing Hitler’s Bizarre Gestures and Postures
Christopher Philip
Spin a web – catch a fly? Archived photographs show that Adolf Hitler practised his body language and never intended for the photographs to be viewed by the public.
Recently released photographs show that Adolf Hitler was far from a naturally born manipulator. Rather, the photographers reveal that Hitler meticulously practised his nonverbal communication.
In fact, he even hired private photographer Heinrich Hoffman to document his gestures and postures so that he could later review them. He also, presumably wished to observe his own gestures and postures through the eyes of others. The photographs were taken in 1925 and were never meant to been consumed by the public eye. In fact, the photographer was specifically instructed to destroy the negative – which was obviously ignored instead choosing to hide them until Hitler’s arrest at the end of the Second World War. The images then disappeared into various archives and eventually printed in Hoffman’s 1955 memoir, “Hitler Was My Friend.”
In the images one may see his depictions of the Führer striking some rather odd poses, but a careful examination proves that there are more to them than simple theatre.
Hitler reportedly rehearsed his emphatic gestures as he listened to recordings of his hate-filed speeches.
The photographs show Hitler pointing at a pretend audience, raising a clenched fist, pointing upward and frequently displaying his open palms while frowning angrily.
At times the ruthless leader appears to be taking part in dramatic play, spinning webs as if spider man, summoning power from beneath the grave, or appealing to the heavens from above, but one thing remains consistent, through his postures and gestures, he aimed to influence by evoking specific feelings in others to create a desired impression.
As Roger Moorhouse, historian reports “He used Hoffmann as a sounding board, but never intended the images to be published.” As Hitler experimented, he’d look at them and say “No, that looks silly” or “I’m never doing that again — He was a very modern politician in that way. He was concerned about how he looked and his public persona.”
The images show that even prominent and “effective” leaders work at their craft. While charisma is often natural, many hours are spent behind the scenes correcting and perfecting delivery. While Hitler’s atrocious past is far from grounds for imitation, the images illustrate the process he undertook in order to exact a powerful influence over his followers. It is not surprising that his use of body language was so prominent nor was the fact that he secretly rehearsed.
Here are some of the photographs and how we they might be interpreted by an audience:
In this photo we see a simultaneous upper palm-down expression showcasing power with a bizarre lower palm as if summoning power from below. The palms can show honesty when displayed palm up, but when displayed palm down shows a desire to press down on others with the palms. In this image Hitler is seen reaching for palm power grasping with fingers open and at the same time raising power from his lowered palm.
An odd expression he may have never shown in public. His hands balled into fists he displays aggression and a readiness to strike with full power by leaning backward as does a magician ready to deploy a lightening bolt.
His facial expression shows scorn and grief by compressing the muscles between his eyes. His palms are up as if ready to accept, but cocked. It’s as if he’s questioning “what do you think you’re doing.”
Outright power and anger with a raised balled fist ready to strike out at opponents.
A facial expression of awe and surprise, gazing upwards at a higher being with palms open pawing for answers and ready to accept as if collecting rays of sunshine.
Shooting a web (spider man) by pointing his finger forward spearlike, the rear hand cocked and balled ready to strike out with power. His gaze cast to the side (to another person or audience) implies that his finger is accusatory – “that person is…”
One of the more normal postures with his palms turned upward as if offering an honest felt opinion. Palms up shows that he is offering and accepting.
The finger is a dagger ready to strike. In this case, he wields it as a staff. Normally pointed toward an offender he may be counting our specific orders or emphasizing important items in this image. His eyes are eerily cast to the side.
His eyes are drawn wide in this photograph revealing the whites – a sign of aggression. One hand is seen making a gesture of precision with the other awkwardly or perhaps casually stuffed into his pocket.
Resources
Learn More Starting Today!
Learn the basics of body language quickly and easily by taking one of our tailor-made video courses!
Short on cash? Then read an ENTIRE comprehensive book on body language – it’s totally FREE!
Which body language video course will you start with?
1. “The Secrets of Body Language”
3 comments for “Adolf Hitler Practised His Body Language – Assessing Hitler’s Bizarre Gestures and Postures”