TIME Magazine is for Nazis and Commies

Guess who was TIME Magazine’s “Person of the Year” in 1938? Well, let me give you some facts about 1938. Benny Goodman and his orchestra became the first Jazz musicians to headline at Carnegie Hall, Joe Louis knocked out Max Schmeling in the first round of their rematch at Yankee Stadium, Superman debuted in Action Comics, Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds caused widespread panic across the country, Seabiscuit defeated War Admiral in the “Match of the Century”, and Howard Hughes completed a 91-hour flight around the world. But none of these events was enough to garner the award for their subject. And it didn’t go to a popular statesman like Winston Churchill or FDR. So who won TIME Magazine’s “Person of the Year” award in 1938? Oh, just a guy named ADOLF HITLER.

In 1934, Hitler declared himself Führer, and combined the offices of President and Chancellor into one – remaining a totalitarian ruler until his suicide in 1945. The Nazi Party emphasised nationalism and antisemitism as its primary political expressions, eventually resorting to murdering its opponents to ensure success. After the restructuring of the state economy and the rearmament of the German military, Hitler established a totalitarian and fascist dictatorship. He then pursued an aggressive foreign policy which resulted in the German Invasion of Poland in 1939, drawing the British and French Empires into World War II.

So who won the award the next year, in 1939? How about JOSEPH STALIN, General Secretary of the Communist Party for 31 years. After he became the de facto party leader and dictator in 1928, his programs of industrialization and collectivization in the 1930s coupled with his campaigns of political repression cost the lives of millions of people. However, it helped to make the Soviet Union the second largest industrial nation by 1937, so I guess he deserved the award.

TIME must have decided they were being a little too obvious, so in 1940 they gave the award to Churchill, and FDR received it in 1941. But they couldn’t deny their true sympathies, and Stalin won it AGAIN in 1942!
Hmmm.....no wonder the magazine’s border is red!