In 1925, a 35-year-old Adolf Hitler was released from prison after a short stint following an attempted coup, dubbed the “Beer Hall Putsch.” While incarcerated he wrote his manifesto/autobiography Mein Kampf. He was eager to seize power in Germany.

One of Hitler’s best talents was oration. He first developed his acumen for public speaking in beer halls, where his rants would start out cool and precise, then escalate into hypnotic histrionics as his audience became more engaged (and drunk).

This talent for sweeping crowds along with his hateful screeds didn’t come naturally. Hitler was extremely self-conscious about his appearance, and wanted to make sure his visual impact was as persuasive as his words.

For that purpose, Hitler asked his personal photographer Heinrich Hoffmann to take photos of him rehearsing speeches. Hitler would try out various gestures and expressions, then review the pictures to see if his postures looked stunning or stupid.

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