Is it true that “Time magazine supported the genocide in 1938” by honoring Adolf Hitler as “Man of the Year”?

“Time magazine supported the genocide in 1938, making Aldolf Hitler the ‘Man of the Year’”, reads a publication recently shared on the social network X/Twitter, which adds that the same social media outlet “supports genocide in 2024, labeling those who oppose to the genocide of Palestinians as ‘anti-Semites’”.

To support the statement, two images of what are supposed to appear appear: on the one hand, a cover of “Time” that was probably released at the time of World War II, with a photograph of the main face of Nazism in Germany; on the other, a supposed very recent edition of the magazine, featuring the Star of David – one of the most sacred symbols for followers of Judaism –, and with the title “The New Antisemitism”.

The allegation gains particular importance at a time when ongoing Israeli bombings over the Gaza Strip, following the terrorist attack carried out by the militant group Hamas on a music festival on the border, on 7 October.

But will there are reasons to claim that this North American media outlet supported the genocide in 1938” by naming Adolf Hitler as “Man of the Year”?

About the most recent of the covers presented on tweet under analysis, it is confirmed that it corresponds to the March 11, 2024 edition of this North American magazine. In fact, its main article offers a reflection on whether criticism made of Israel in the context of the war with Hamas can be considered anti-Semitic.

Regarding the oldest cover, it is important to note that, contrary to what is claimed, it is from the edition of April 13, 1936 of this renowned media outlet – one of several in which Adolf Hitler was highlighted. In this issue, the discussion focused on the impact of the remilitarization of the Rhineland by German troops, an action that contributed to the start of the Second World War.

In fact, the issue of “Time” that named the Nazi leader “Personality of the Year” was only released January 2, 1939 and doesn’t even feature a photograph of himself prominently. Instead, a black and white illustration depicting Adolf Hitler as a small figure playing the organ, accompanied by the caption: “From the profane organist, a hymn of hate.”

In fact, the same social media outlet, in an article originally published in 2016 (which has since been updated), explains to readers about “how the Personality of the Year is chosen”. And the same source adds, citing information initially provided by the former editor-in-chief of “Time”, Walter Isaacson, in the 1998 edition of the magazine: “The title goes to ‘the person or people who have most affected the news and our lives, For the good or for the badand who embodied what was important in the year, for better or for worse.'” And Adolf Hitler is pointed out precisely as an example of this – that is, that the chosen figure “is not necessarily a hero”.

Thus, we conclude that there is no foundation to say that “Time” magazine supported Nazi Germany’s genocide policy when it awarded Adolf Hitler the title of “Person of the Year” in 1938.

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Polygraph Assessment: