How Did Hitler's Power Influence Followers

The term power is most often associated with leaders, especially in the context of this course because leaders have a certain degree of power over their followers. Power is defined simply as the capacity to produce effects on others (Shih, 2013). The amount of power an individual has affects the individual’s ability to influence followers (Shih, 2013). Influence is any change in a follower’s beliefs or values (Shih, 2013). A fine example of a leader with power is Adolf Hitler who was famous for his ability to influence his followers through his powerful charisma.
In the early 1930’s Germany was suffering economic hardships (“Hitler”). These conditions gave Hitler a good opportunity to appeal to the everyday working man with the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. The Nazi group appealed to the lower classes such as the youth and unemployed (“Hitler”). German democracy ended in 1933 when Hitler was elected chancellor of Germany (“Hitler”). The Third Reich had only one master and only the Nazi political party existed during this time. Hitler
My grandmother was a part of the Hitler Youth when she was a child and possesses the same values and ideas even though she came to America when she was in her 20’s. My grandmother speaks of Hitler fondly, as a man who “loved children and animals.” My grandmother grew up in Innsbruck, Austria and was the youngest of three children. She explains that the Hitler Youth sent the children to do work on farms and castles in order to build character. She tells me that he did many good things for the people of Innsbruck. I find it interesting to hear her prospective on these events, especially considering how Hitler is viewed as an evil tyrant–and rightly so. I find myself amazed by the degree of his power and influence can transcend culture and time. Hitler had helped everyone to kill the