“Generals think war should be waged like the tourneys of the Middle Ages. I have no use for knights; I need revolutionaries.”
- April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945
- Born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire
- Political leader of Nazi Germany
- As the leader of the Nazi Party, he caused World War II and led the Holocaust (the persecution and genocide of European Jews)
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Quote
“Generals think war should be waged like the tourneys of the Middle Ages. I have no use for knights; I need revolutionaries.”
Explanation
In this quote, Adolf Hitler contrasts traditional, honorable forms of warfare, exemplified by the medieval knights and their chivalric codes, with his own approach to warfare—which he sees as ruthless, unconventional, and driven by radical change. The “tourneys of the Middle Ages” represent formal, structured, and perhaps predictable battles, governed by rules and honor, whereas revolutionaries are those who are willing to disrupt the established order and engage in unrestrained, strategic, and ideological warfare. By rejecting the concept of knights and favoring revolutionaries, Hitler emphasizes his preference for totalitarian, ideological warfare that aimed to reshape society, rather than simply fighting for power within existing structures.
Historically, this quote reflects Hitler’s approach to World War II and the Nazi regime’s methods. He believed that warfare in the modern era required not just military might, but a radical vision for the future, driven by total commitment to an ideological cause—militarism, nationalism, and racial purity. For Hitler, victory in war was not just about defeating the enemy, but about transforming the world according to Nazi ideals. This is evident in the brutal tactics employed during the war, including blitzkrieg (lightning war), which was designed to disrupt and overwhelm opponents quickly, rather than relying on traditional, prolonged engagements.
In the modern context, this quote serves as a reminder of the dangers of ideological warfare, where the means of achieving victory are justified by a revolutionary cause. While modern warfare may still involve strategic innovations and tactical surprises, Hitler’s approach exemplifies the risk of using war as a tool to reshape societies and enforce a particular ideology, often through violence, oppression, and destruction. It underscores the need for international cooperation and diplomacy to resolve conflicts peacefully, rather than resorting to ideologically driven wars that have devastating consequences for innocent lives and global stability.
