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he goes on to become the genocidal leader of an authoritarian state...this isn't unique to German history
Not unique, but slightly unusual. In most cases, the dictatorship took power from a legitimate government by force of arms. Hitler was handed the keys to the Reich Chancellery by the German people in a free vote.
gbj_tester
Only if he goes on to become the genocidal leader of an authoritarian state (which is, you may note where other have not, this this isn't unique to German history) at which point you may josh and reminisce with him about how he's gone from faffing about with watercolours to gassing minorities in a matter of a few years, before wondering if you pushed him too hard on signing up for those Saturday art classes instead of playing football with his mates.