The aim of this paper is to examine the spiritual background of Hitlerism in order to reach an understanding of Hitler's personality. The psychic structure called 'national character' is made up of inherent and acquired characteristics. 'Hatred which at first divided the German tribes … found a centrifugal escape after the unification of Germany… Lust for power and the worship of brute force are basic traits common to both German statesmen and philosophers', often concealed by an attempt at idealization. Projective mechanisms, especially of one's own aggressiveness, serve as alibi so that the attack appears as a self-protection. This was particularly used by Frederick the Great—probably