Preface

This study is not propagandistic in any sense of the term. It
represents an attempt to screen the wealth of contradictory, conflicting
and unreliable material concerning Hitler into strata which wll be helpful
to the policy-makers and those who wish to frame a counter-propaganda. For
this reason the first three parts are purely descriptive and deal with the
man (1) as he appears to himself, (2) as he has been pictured to the
German people, and (3) how he is known to his associates. These sections
contain the basic material for the psychological analysis in sections IV
and V in which an attempt is made to understand Hitler as a person and the
motivations underlying his actions.

The material available for such an analysis is extremely scant and
spotty. Fortunately, we have at our disposal a number of informants who
knew Hitler well and who have been willing to cooperate to the best of
their abilities. The study would have been entirely impossible were it not
for the fact that there is a relatively high degree of agreement in the
descriptions of Hitler's behavior, sentiments and attitudes given by these
several informants. With this as a basis it seemed worthwhile to proceed
with the study filling in the lacunae with knowledge gained from clinical
experience in dealing with individuals of a similar type. This is not an
entirely satisfactory procedure, from a scientific point of view, but it
is the only feasible method at the present time. Throughout the study we
have tried to be as objective as possible in evaluating his strengths as
well as his weaknesses.

All plain numbers in parentheses refer to the page of The Hitler Source
Book, a companion volume in which the original material is to be found
together with the complete reference. Numbers in parentheses preceded by
M.K. or M.N.O. refer to pages in Mein Kampf and My New Order,
respectively. A detailed Index to the original material is to be found at
the beginning of the Source-Book. A complete bibliography is appended to
this study.

It is hoped that the study may be helpful in gaining a deeper insight
into Adolf Hitler and the German people and that it may serve as a guide
for our propaganda activities as well as our future dealings with them.

[signed] Walter C. Langer
----------------------------

Consultant, M.O. Branch, OSS

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