Hitler’s mustache

[1889]

I hope this question isn't too stupid for the world history forum but seriously what’s the deal? I’ve only ever seen that configuration of facial hair on him and Charley Chaplain. I think it looks really silly but I doubt that’s the effect Adolph was after. I can understand why it wouldn’t be popular after 1945 but was it in style in the 30’s?

 

[thetrooper]

Now you see it in my avatar too!

And I can understand that this kind of mustache wasn't exactly all the rage post WWII...

 

[Greizer85]

I wonder how long it will take before it becomes socially acceptable again. A thousand years probably.

 

[1889]

Socially acceptable or not, who would ever think its a good look.

 

[LightSpectra]

Look at it this way: be thankful that the evil mass murdering tyrant decided to take an ugly hairstyle, since otherwise, something beautiful would've become anathema.

 

[peter grimes]

Well, one could turn the question around an ask why any specific arrangement of facial hair (or lack!) might be considered fashionably smart. I live in an area where lots of guys will sculpt all sorts of "distinctive" arrangements into their facial hair, and I cannot for the life of me imagine why they think it makes them look better than either a full beard or no beard.

 

[Agent327]

I hope this question isn't too stupid for the world history forum but seriously what’s the deal? I’ve only ever seen that configuration of facial hair on him and Charley Chaplain. I think it looks really silly but I doubt that’s the effect Adolph was after. I can understand why it wouldn’t be popular after 1945 but was it in style in the 30’s?

All I know is Mr Hitler was quite fond of Chaplin's antics on the white screen (not sure what his response was to The Great Dictator, though).

 

[Yoda Power]

I think he went for something people would notice, so they would remember him.

 

[Lord Tirian]

Socially acceptable or not, who would ever think its a good look.

We-ell, that's what I keep thinking when I see 80's style mullets, affectionately known as "Vokuhila" in Germany...

Cheers, LT.

 

[Dragonlord]

I think he went for something people would notice, so they would remember him.

Yes, that's it. I saw in a biopic that he had a regular mustache until he started orating in the 20's, then he shaved it to make himself more memorable.

 

[BananaLee]

Socially acceptable or not, who would ever think its a good look.

It's the "I'm-so-awesome-I-can-have-a-rubbish-moustache-do-and-still-be-worshipped-by-millions" look.

 

[rilnator]

Himmler had the same moutache IIRC.

I don't think Hitler was hoping to be remembered by his moustache, in his mind he was the builder of the thousand year Reich.

 

[GoodGame]

Yes, that's it. I saw in a biopic that he had a regular mustache until he started orating in the 20's, then he shaved it to make himself more memorable.

This is the only arguement that makes intuitive sense to me. An ambitious demagogue would try to make an impression on the masses however he could.

 

[Dragonlord]

This is the only arguement that makes intuitive sense to me. An ambitious demagogue would try to make an impression on the masses however he could.

Exactly. Bear in mind that he didn't become the all-powerful Führer overnight - he started his career in demagogery soon after the First World War and was incarcerated for a failed putsch in 1923 (which is when he wrote his infamous Mein Kampf).

By the time he came to power, the mustache was a trademark everyone was used to ... if he had shaved it off at that point, people would have asked why ... much safer to keep it. Besides, he was probably used to it by then.

AFAIK, not many men imitated the style even in the 3rd Reich - I've read that many poked fun of the sorry thing who even otherwise idolized Hitler ... I guess it was accepted as a personal ideosyncracy peculiar to Hitler.

 

[Oruc]

Nope!

 

[1889]

I duno sounds pretty crazy but we are talking about Hitler here.

I did find this interesting article on uncyclopedia that has a fair amount to say about it. http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Charlie_Chaplin

Lots of stuff I've never read anywhere else.

 

[Plotinus]

Richard Herring is about to do an Edinburgh show on precisely this topic, in preparation for which he's been going around with a Hitler moustache to see what effect it has. He shaved it off after a few days because he felt too embarrassed.

Oliver Hardy had one too, and what's more he retained it even after Hitler spoiled it for everyone else, but alas, no-one calls it the "Hardy moustache".

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

doesnt Mugabe have one as well

Yep, and it looks ridiculous.

 

[dannyshenanigan]

Well, Hitler's hairdo has come into popularity with the emo kids of today.

 

[Steph]

We have a joke that works in French..

"Cela faisait fureur à l'époque" = "It was very fashionable at the time".

is said the same as

"Cela faisait Fürher à l'époque" = "It makes you look like the Fürher".