Joseph Lacey: How could so many people support Hitler?

How could so many people support Hitler?

Philosopher Hannah Arendt was a German Jew who dedicated herself to understanding how the Nazi regime came to power, and more specifically, how it inspired so many atrocities. She believed the true conditions behind the unprecedented rise of totalitarianism weren’t specific to Germany, and developed theories on how to best combat such threats. Joseph Lacey explores the work of Hannah Arendt. [Directed by Sarah Saidan, narrated by Christina Greer, music by André Aires].

The trial of Adolf Eichmann revealed a mild-mannered bureaucrat behind the logistics of mass murder, unsettling those who expected a monster. This contradiction led to the idea that evil can be disturbingly mundane when individuals stop questioning their roles. The rise of totalitarianism, as seen in Nazi Germany, sprang from societies that valued economic productivity over political and moral engagement. True resistance, the idea argues, lies in open dialogue and courageous self-reflection, even under threat.