The author cites unknown facts of conducting psychological and hypnotical tests over Shilkgruber resulted in developing his perception himself as an exceptional person. The tests were made by German leading psychologist Edmund Foster in November 1918 http://english.pravda.ru/science/19/94/377/11201_hitler.html

Having been in a english course that requires one to think critically and to be able to write research papers, the thing that bothers me is "the author cites unknown facts."

Edit:
To clarify, "unknown facts" does not necessarily mean previously unknown facts. Could it be a synonym for opinion?

MAYBE he was hypnotized ... but what does it mean ? nothing ....

It impressed him so much that for the rest of his life he believed in his extraordinary abilities.

i guess he believed that almost everybody ( well ,almost every german :rolleyes: ) has this power !
watch "Triumpf des Willens" ( triumph of the will ) , and you´ll see .....

Originally posted by sweet Pentax
but what does it mean ? nothing ....

You're right, unless the author of the book tries to make too much of it.

how 'bout this didn't he kinda hypnotized the german people

He had a cult of personality around him, but he never used hypnotism in the technical sense of the word.

The danger regarding people like Hitler, Rumsfeld, Bush etc. is that at some crucial point they mistakenly begin to believe their own BS and the lies that were initially intended as a means to an end take on a life of their own.

The danger regarding people like Hitler, Rumsfeld, Bush etc. is that at some crucial point they mistakenly begin to believe their own BS and the lies that were initially intended as a means to an end take on a life of their own.

That's a rather empty rhetoric, unless you are speaking of Bush's Judeo-Christian delusion that he was sent by god to attack Iraq. Any crazy desert religion will do that to you. Hitler was extremely self-centered, but was a pragmatist until the end (he didn't even believe in race as a scientific notion.)

empty rhetoric ? no man , that´s exactly the truth ! those guys really think/thought they can´t be wrong ;)

a pragmatist until the end

well , he made endless nonsense , perhaps you remember stalingrad :confused:
and that is just a rather obvious example :rolleyes:

" Hitler was extremely self-centered, but was a pragmatist until the end"

really? Then why did he make so many stupid errors of judgement towards the end?