Hitler and the Toothbrush

[Canofceleri]

Silent film legend Charlie Chaplin wearing a toothbrush moustache.

 

The toothbrush moustache, according to Wikipedia, came from late 1800s America and became very popular in Germany when tourists for the US wore it there. It seems likely to have displaced the ubiquity of the Kaiser moustache there, which Hitler himself even traded in for the toothbrush style that is now almost completely synonymous with him.

 

 

I had never even really heard of this style called the toothbrush until recently, I always just heard it called the Hitler moustache. And so, despite it's popularity in various country and adoption by beloved entertainers such as Chaplin and Oliver Hardy, it's connection with the German dictator is so deep that it seems to have made the style of facial hair immediately unpopular after WWII, and is still not worn to any meaningful extent to this day.

 

There are some who seem to question this. Jewish writer Rich Cohen even went so far as to sport the toothbrush in what he claims was an attempt to reclaim this lost style.

 

 

So here's where the debate comes in... I was speaking with my aunt about this and expressed the opinion that it is somewhat unfortunate that Hitler still has the power to turn wearing a style of moustache into an antisocial and hostile gesture if worn. He's even soiled the name Adolph, such is the power of Hitler's icon. I understand why, but I voiced the idea to my aunt that perhaps if people did not give up the moustache and continued to wear it, like say here in the US, that it would not be this way. My feeling is that if you run into five or ten guys a day sporting toothbrushes in places like Wal Mart or McDonald's, the link to Hitler would be far weaker and the moustache would not belong to him as it seems to today. She disagrees vehemently, saying that it would be a constant reminded of Hitler and associated atrocities, even if it were in common use.

 

Ideas?

 

 

[nlitement]

Well, that's just fashion, I believe it's worse that Nazi symbolism has also tarnished the true meaning of the swastika.

[Shayan Shaffey]

In iran every other person you see has a toothbrush mustache.

[Canofceleri]

In iran every other person you see has a toothbrush mustache.

Yes, true. I should have specified Western countries.

[SweatyPa1ms]

 

 

I dont like facial hair personally but it'd be boring if no-one had it. Generally, I say let people dress/look how they want. If people want to associate you with Hitler because of that then that is their problem .

[Rhoda]

Let's not forget Oliver Hardy either.

 

 

I don't know, it's quite an interesting thing to think about. My initial reaction towards the 'stache is obviously a Hilter connection, but the more I look the more other influences come into play. For me, I think it's less about who it's associated by and more to do with how damn unusual it is. There's certainly a stigma surrounding the style, but this raises a point to me - are people wearing it just to:

 

a) be needlessly controversial?

b) to "take it back"?

 

Alright, so you might argue that wearing facial hair shouldn't be controversial. You shouldn't have to feel uncomfortable just for sporting a style uncommon in today's culture, but then again, then are other more fashionable (and more attractive, surely) ways to wear facial fuzz. For every one person you get wearing it for genuine reason, you're going to get another two doing it "to be edgy" or for reasons political and cultural, almost to prove a point. Until that barrier is broken, I don't think the association will vanish either, and both don't seem to be going anywhere.

 

You could argue it's the same with his trademark hairstyle, but I won't go on.

 

[Canofceleri]

I did mention Hardy.

 

Anyhow, I guess the main question though is this... I guess some glossed over it:

 

 

I voiced the idea to my aunt that perhaps if people did not give up the moustache and continued to wear it, like say here in the US, that it would not be this way. My feeling is that if you run into five or ten guys a day sporting toothbrushes in places like Wal Mart or McDonald's, the link to Hitler would be far weaker and the moustache would not belong to him as it seems to today. She disagrees vehemently, saying that it would be a constant reminded of Hitler and associated atrocities, even if it were in common use.

 

 

[NaidRaida]

You would get major problems by wearing such a mustache here in Germany!

[Otter]

There are still people who feel, or who claim to feel, disenfranchised by the Nazi Party and Hitler in particular. I do think that if it were commonplace we'd see a lot less outrage, but I think you're looking at the causal relationship from the wrong direction.

 

We think shiny black boots and tailored uniforms are attractive, and the Nazis certainly had a hand in that. Many examples of modern graphic design (and typefaces, even) have roots in the Nazi movement, who, as will come as no surprise to anyone, were extremely focused on their outward appearance. The difference, obviously, is that these are far less iconic than Hitler's mustache or the tilted Swastika, but they are examples of society accepting certain portions of the Nazi influence.

 

I figure the toothbrush mustache will become commonplace when society as a whole has learned to overcome the association, not the other way around. Sure, the individual can "take it back," like the writer you mentioned, and I applaud the effort. But you have to be utterly transparent about your intentions. And you will be constantly confronted about it. It's a process, however, and society will have to evolve as a whole. One day, Hitler will be just another chapter in the history books. Time, as they say, heals all wounds.

 

 

[NaidRaida]

A normal mustache is okay but this Hitler-like-shaped thing is an absolute no-go in Germany I can tell you. I never seen anyone with this.

An artist like Chaplin can wear it of course but as normal day person you would have no friends here I promise.

[Sanjeem]

A few of my Uncle's/ distant cousins have those moustache's, only they are Italian and darker so people never think of Hitler or Nazi symbolism when they see them.

[E.A.B.]

English words slowly change definition over time

 

And the connection between Hitler and that mustache will slowly fade away. We're at the ''make Nazi jokes'' stage right now. It'll get better

 

Just give it time

[K^2]

 

That's all I have to say on the topic.

[Clem Fandango]

Nobody is trying to "take it back" because moustaches aren't even in style these days. How many people under 40 50 do you know with a moustache? Of all the societal conventions to try and challenge, why pick the "distance yourself from Hitler" one?

[coin-god]

I wear a moustache. I'm 19.

I also use hats, and love Sir. Chap.

[mark-2007]

Richard Herring also had one, like the guy you bring up he was trying to "reclaim it" from Hitler. I think he did a stand-up show on it.

 

As for your aunt, I'm not sure if seeing someone where it would necessarily mind me of the atrocities Hitler caused, but it would make a poor first impression for most people, I reckon. I think that, like you say, if a lot of people were seen wearing it then it'd weaken the link.

Edited September 20, 2011 by mark-2007

[Saggy]

I think the real problem is that it's just such an old and dated style anyway, that it's just going to be natural for people to question the person's intention on wearing it. It's kind of like those guys that have the big handle-bar mustaches now days, I think people tend to just assume that they want to wear those in a kind of tribute to the people that use to wear them back in the day, kind of rejuvenating the style. When it comes to the toothbrush mustache, you've got your Charlie Chaplin and your Hitler, and you kind of just have to ask yourself whether its really a style people would like to see make a come back.

 

I mean, yeah, there's the idea of wanting to take it back... But is it really worth it? How cool of a mustache is it really? I think trying to make it normal and accepted again is just going to be kind of an uphill battle in the face of that association with Hitler. I mean to suggest that the style of mustache is somehow desirable enough to be accepted versus the overwhelming association and reminder of Hitler is a tall order.

 

I think one thing to take into consideration here too is not only just how recent the era of Hitler is but how much is face was really seen by the people of that time and afterward throughout the 20th century. What other historical figures that ever committed such an atrocity have had their image seen by so many people, and have had some kind of unique styling factor like that associated with them?

 

Think about it this way... Millions ( perhaps billions ) of people wear turbans with long garbs and large beards. However, ever since Osama Bin Laden and the events of 9/11 that appearance is associated with "terrorists" and you still have people to this day that generalize, stereotype or just discriminate people according to that. On the other side of that, is something like the Hitler 'stache... If attire that is worn by billions of people can be associated with just one person, then how can such a obscure style have a chance to be accepted?

[Clem Fandango]

But why do people even care? Did they see a picture of someone with that moustache and think "fuuuuck, that looks ssssoooo gooooood, if only Hitler didn't ruin it! I'm going to take it back!"? I doubt it, I think they're just trying to be edgy, maybe give their fame a slight boost.

[Der_Don]

Hitler ruined so many things in Germany. Nobody will ever wear that "toothbrush-mustache", no new born child will be named Adolf, even the old German greeting "Heil" is dead now. What a c*nt.

[Doc Rikowski]

Well, that's just fashion, I believe it's worse that Nazi symbolism has also tarnished the true meaning of the swastika.

True. A beautiful and ancient symbol became doomed in the West.

 

I believe we should start to overcome symbolism and stop being afraid of it.

[cidamelo]

One neighborhood of mine has this moustache and everyone calls him "Hitler"