Who would succeed Hitler?

**Jolt** · 08-07-2009, 08:09

Imagining Hitler had somehow won the war/got some sort of white peace with his enemies, and lived on to rule Germany until his death, who do you think would have succeeded him?

Let's not forget that Hitler wasn't exactly young. He was 56 years old when he killed himself, also taking into account the amount of stress a leader has to endure during a World War, coupled with his history of drugs, it means he probably wouldn't have many more years to live. He would have to steer Germany out of its massive debt it had contracted to persue rearmament and autarky, and while obviously the outcome of the war would surely influence the resources he would have available to him to pay off the debt, it would still be another source of stress and hard labor. I believe he would have some more 5 years to live before he started getting some kind of physical complications. In any case, who do you think would have succeeded Hitler in the case the III Reich continued in existence?

**Samurai Waki** · 08-07-2009, 08:21

I would imagine Joseph Goebbels would have been handed control of the country (I mean he actually did succeed Hitler, maybe for only a day, but had enough power within the Nazi Party to do it nonetheless) but he was Hitler's Closest Hand, as well as perhaps one of his most devout followers. He didn't have the Charisma that Hitler had, but he was a zealot through and through, and probably would have taken his duties as Fuhrer exceptionally seriously, and with vigor. He would've made a great (albeit terrifying) Leader.

**Ethelred Unread** · 08-07-2009, 08:42

There's a lot of ifs there!

If Germany had one the war by 1941 (e.g. won battle of britain) and then gone on to push the russians back to the Urals (securing middle eastern oild reserves etc), then maybe Hitler wouldn't be as stressed and would continue on longer?

His replacement in his eventual demise would have to be someone from within the party - perhaps their would have been a Trotsky/Stalin type split in National Socialism?

Fatherland by Robert Harris has a look at this as I'm sure you know! (or for completely hatstand alt. history check out Harry Turtledove)

**Martok** · 08-07-2009, 09:04

I think it would've depended at least partially on when the war would've ended in this hypothetical scenario.

If Germany had managed to secure victory and/or peace prior to 1943, my money would be on Goering to succeed Hitler. If the war ends later than that, however, it's much harder to say. I agree that later on Goebbels had the "inside track", as it were, but I wouldn't be as certain of his ascension.

**rotorgun** · 08-09-2009, 05:25

No matter what time frame we speak of, my opinion is that there would have been an internecine struggle between the various factions within the Nazi party. Himmler, who controlled the SS had something like a private army within an army. He was a powerful figure in his own right, and kept many of the sycophants that surrounded Hitler in fear. Goering was a fool, albeit a tyrannical one. I don't think he had the clout, or the intelligence to pull it off. I can't remember who was in charge of the Gestapo, but Himmler's SS troops would have kept them in line I think. Goebbels was a deep old file for sure, and had control of the media. He was certainly cunning and determined enough; his loyalty was the strongest to Hitler perhaps of all his minions. I just don't think he had the military skills necessary to carry out a coup with out the loyalty of the Wehrmacht behind him.

My money is on Himmler and his SS boys. I believe Goebbels would have fallen in behind anyone with the strength to lead as he was more of a follower I think.

**Centurion1** · 08-09-2009, 19:03

himmler. Hitler even had a contigengcy plan in which Himmler succeed him.

I recommend you read the man with the iron heart by harry turtledove. not exactly what you are asking but a good read nonetheless