The man. The myth. The legend.
Adolf Hitler.
Villain or Visionary?
The ex-chancellor and dictator had calloused his mind and brought himself up to exuberant levels of discipline, he possessed a certain level of charisma and intelligence that allowed him to manipulate and captivate his audiences. He was a skilled orator, able to stir powerful emotions and rally support for his radical ideologies. His ability to tap into the fears and frustrations of the German people following the aftermath of World War I and the Great Depression contributed to his rise to power.
Hitler's army consisted of approximately 13 million soldiers during the second world war, these soldiers were trained to adapt to the most lethal situations. Recruits were taught to dehumanise their enemies, particularly targeting Jews and other groups deemed undesirable by the Nazi regime. Drills were designed to desensitise soldiers to violence and death, numbing their empathy and fostering a ruthless mentality.
German soldiers' settlements during World War II ranged from makeshift trenches on the front lines to crowded barracks. These settlements were characterised by harsh conditions and minimal comforts.
One intriguing rumour that emerged during this tumultuous time was that Hitler forbade his soldiers from using Colgate toothpaste.
The rumour of the Colgate ban seems to fit seamlessly into the context of the time, as it plays on fears of contamination and poisons, which were prevalent themes during wartime propaganda.
During these times, the popularly growing toothpaste had the perplexing code “CI 77891” etched onto its packaging under the ingredients list.
This code is used to represent the chemical compound 'Titanium Oxide’.
Taken together, multiple studies indicate that the high level of oxidative stress is related to exposure to this very substance.
The nano-particles of this chemical lead to cell damage-associated responses, whereas at moderate levels of oxidative stress, inflammatory responses are likely to be stimulated by the activation of Reactive oxygen species sensitive signalling pathways.
The activation of these pathways eventually activates cell death receptors.
The exposure to this material has resulted in concerns about nanoparticle-sized titanium dioxide possibly crossing the blood-brain barrier.
Although more research is needed to establish any potential health risks, oblivion is not the answer and this was recognized by Adolf almost immediately after the launch of this product.
It only shows the importance given to his army and the eye for detail that the most apparently “cruel” man in history had.
In the haywire distinction between ‘good’ and ‘bad’, we lose sight of the better, and in hindsight, all that Adolf Hitler wanted was better.
Maybe not a good man, but for sure a great one.
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