Hi guys, This is my first question here on the forum. I'm just a WW2 history enthusiast and I had a question about Hitler and his relationship with the wehrmacht: why didn't he make himself a marshal? I know that for example Stalin had done this. Does anyone know why? we see him in his photos and films always in a semi-military uniform but never wearing a marshal's platinum on his shoulders.
Hitler was fairly modest personally, and took pride in thinking of himself as a common soldier, and in his WWI service in the ranks. He was often at odds with the career soldiers, General Staff, etc.
When the war started 1939, Hitler said he would not remove his uniform until the war was over. So he decided not to have any Marshall etc clothing He only had the iron cross over the left pocket.And black badge for being wounded. And golden Psrty badge. Just compare with Göring who wanted every possible medal in the world. Hitler Archive | Adolf Hitler's uniforms
Didn't have to. He knew he was Der Fuhrer (but needed to be locked up in an insane asylum). Other examples: Stalin. One Hero of the Soviet Union award. Napoleon. He wore the Legion d'Honneur. Secure and confident leaders don't need a chestful of medals. Insecure ones do. Idi Amin comes to mind. Look at all the Medals of Freedom awarded in the US from 2012-2016 (which made them meaningless).
We had a joke some 40 years ago. Brezhnew was having a big operation. -What operation? -Chest enlargement so all the medals can fit his chest. I guess the same goes for Göring.....