(WAR in EUROPE, 1941-45 – continued) In the thirties, Roosevelt
had been the happy warrior, frequently smiling, while Hitler
rarely smiled in public or in private gatherings. Roosevelt was
born into a family of wealth, believing in democracy and
international comity, while Hitler had struggled for his place
in society, disliked democracy and believed in national
aggrandizement at the expense of others. Roosevelt had never
been in combat or the military. Hitler was a combat veteran who
felt wronged by his country's failure to achieve victory in
World War I, and he wanted to make amends for that failure.
Hitler wanted to impose his will on the Russians. Roosevelt
looked forward to Russia liberalizing itself. Hitler was for the
grandeur of the state – the Fatherland. Roosevelt believed in
politics for people. Roosevelt believed in a nation of laws.
Hitler believed that he was the law. Hitler had been more of a
mystic than Roosevelt and believed in the power of will –
despite circumstances. He blamed defeat not o