Hitler rose in an era that societies believed in "Great Men" as the foundation of leadership and progress. Huge masses were more than willing to be putty at the hands of a leader they'd perceive as "great leader." This was true for Germany, Russia, USA, UK, Italy, China, Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Iraq, Japan, etc. etc.
On the other hand, WWII left a bad taste from "great men" in populaces' mouth and turned the mentality around towards people need to inoculate society against the great men as they'd be just too clever and charismatic to be trusted. This explains modern politicians as pretenders of "I am just one of the common people."
Judging from the immense banners of the Ayatollah Khomenei in last Saturday's parade, the Iranian regime still operates on the pre WWII model.
Did most Iranians ever feel the presence of WWII? Or most of the Arab world? The Nazis wooed the Arab World, very successfully. But they didn't feel modern war on their own skin, except in North Africa. |
