Journey into Darkness: Hitler’s Evolution During World War I

World War I was a time of turmoil and terror. The aftermath of  Archduke Franz Ferdinand‘s assassination and increasing militarization brought the world to the brink of war. In this period, countless individuals underwent a transformation, but few emerged as enigmatically transformed as Adolf Hitler. Before the conflict, he was an aspiring artist with little direction or renown. By the war’s end, he had boarded on a path that would shape history in the darkest ways. 

Josh Becker’s Hitler in the Madhouse sheds light on this critical period, particularly during Hitler’s stay at Pasewalk Military Psychiatric Hospital. Let’s discuss.

A Soldier’s Trauma

Adolf Hitler served with notable distinction in the 16th Bavarian Regiment, where his dedication and bravery earned him two Iron Crosses, a rare honor for a soldier of his rank. Despite these accolades, the relentless and harrowing realities of life on the Western Front began to take an immense toll on both his physical health and mental stability as the war dragged on. The constant threat of death, the devastating loss of comrades, and the unending barrage of artillery fire left scars that were not merely physical. In October 1918, during a catastrophic mustard gas attack near Ypres, Hitler suffered temporary blindness, a condition that left him incapacitated and vulnerable. This physical affliction was compounded by what medical professionals would later diagnose as “hysterical blindness,” a psychological condition believed to be rooted in the profound emotional and mental trauma caused by the unrelenting horrors of war.

The Days at Pasewalk

Hitler’s transfer to Pasewalk Military Psychiatric Hospital has long remained a topic shrouded in speculation and mystery. Why would a low-ranking corporal, with no significant political or military standing at the time, be transported hundreds of kilometers across a war-torn Germany during the chaotic and tumultuous final days of World War I? Some historians have posited it was a mere coincidence of medical necessity, but Josh Becker presents a more intriguing perspective. He believes that the transfer was orchestrated due to the intervention of Major Anton Freiherr von Tubeuf, an officer who reportedly saw exceptional qualities in Hitler. According to Becker, Major von Tubeuf viewed Hitler as not just a soldier of courage and tenacity but as someone with untapped potential for leadership, even in the midst of his rank and file obscurity.

Upon arriving at Pasewalk, Hitler was placed under the care of Dr. Edmund Forster, a renowned neurophysiologist known for his innovative and cutting-edge medical practices. Dr. Forster employed treatments and psychoanalytic techniques that were considered groundbreaking for the era. These methods, aimed at addressing the psychological and physical effects of war trauma, were believed to be crucial in treating Hitler’s condition. It was during these sessions that significant elements of Hitler’s psyche may have come to the surface, laying the foundation for the ideological transformation that would later change the course of history.

The Catalyst of Defeat

While at Pasewalk, Hitler received news of Kaiser Wilhelm II’s abdication and Germany’s impending surrender. These events reportedly triggered an intense emotional reaction. According to Becker’s account, Hitler’s vision returned shortly after, coinciding with a psychological awakening. 

This was the beginning of a belief to “save” Germany that would later lead him to an era of dominance and terror. 

The Role of Psychoanalysis

Dr. Forster’s sessions with Hitler revealed deep-seated feelings of resentment and magnificence. Hitler expressed disdain for his father, reverence for his mother, and an intense hatred for those he deemed responsible for Germany’s plight. Becker’s reconstruction suggests that these sessions helped crystallize Hitler’s worldview by blending personal grievances with a broader narrative of national betrayal and resurgence.

From Corporal to Agitator

Upon his discharge in November 1918, Hitler was a changed man. Returning to a shattered Munich, he refused to succumb to despair like so many other veterans. Instead, Hitler reinvented himself as a political agitator. Within a year, he joined the nascent National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP), laying the groundwork for his eventual rise to power.

Shadows of Pasewalk

The records of Hitler’s time at Pasewalk, documented by Dr. Forster, vanished under mysterious circumstances. Forster himself met a tragic end, officially ruled a suicide. Becker’s work raises many unanswered questions: Did Forster’s treatments and insights contribute to Hitler’s radicalization? Was the erasure of these records deliberate to conceal uncomfortable truths?

A Turning Point in History

Becker’s take on Hitler’s stay at the Pasewalk hospital offers a chilling exploration of how trauma, psychology, and historical circumstances converged to shape one of history’s most infamous figures. Learn more about Hitler’s transformation and conversion into a man the world would see as the dictator of Germany in Josh Becker’s Hitler in the Madhouse.