Time Man Of The Year 1938 - Looking Back At A Controversial Pick

Prof. Constantin Bosco MD 22 Jun 2025

It’s quite a moment when you look back at history and stumble upon something that just, you know, really makes you pause. One such instance involves the rather startling choice for Time magazine’s Man of the Year in 1938. This was, as a matter of fact, a decision that has continued to spark a lot of conversation and, quite frankly, disbelief for a good many years since it happened. We’re talking about a selection that, even today, makes people wonder about the thinking behind it at the time.

You see, every single year, Time magazine has this tradition of picking someone, or sometimes a group, or even an idea, that has had the most significant sway over events in the past twelve months. This pick isn't meant to be, like, a prize or an award for good deeds; instead, it’s about who or what really shaped the happenings of the world, for better or, well, for worse. It’s a way of looking back at what really mattered in a particular year, giving us a contemporary feel for the times.

And so, in 1938, the individual chosen for this notable recognition was Adolf Hitler. This particular choice, you could say, stands out as perhaps the most talked-about, the most debated, and, in some respects, the most unexpected selection in the magazine's long history. It truly caused a stir and, you know, continues to be a point of discussion whenever the topic comes up.

A Glimpse at the Person: Adolf Hitler's Early Days
The Pick That Raised Eyebrows - Time Man of the Year 1938
Why Did Time Choose Hitler as Man of the Year 1938?
How Did Time Magazine Explain Their Man of the Year 1938 Choice?
Was This the Only Time Time Magazine Featured Hitler?
How Has Time Magazine Addressed Its 1938 Selection?
What Else Was Covered in the 1938 Time Man of the Year Issue?
What Does Time's Person of the Year Really Mean?
Are There Other Figures Recognized by Time Magazine?

A Glimpse at the Person: Adolf Hitler's Early Days

To get a bit of a picture of the individual who became Time’s Man of the Year in 1938, we can look back to when his influence really started to grow. His public rise, you know, actually began in 1919. This was the year he decided to join a group called the German Workers Party.

That party, as it turns out, later underwent a name change, becoming what we now know as the Nazi Party. This early step was, in a way, the very first part of a path that would lead to him being recognized by Time magazine many years later. So, that’s just a little bit about his beginnings, as our text shares.

Personal Details and Key Bio Data

Detail	Information
Rise Began	1919
Joined	German Workers Party
Party Renamed	Nazi Party

The Pick That Raised Eyebrows - Time Man of the Year 1938

So, as we’ve touched upon, in the year 1938, Time magazine made a choice that, to be honest, really caught people off guard. They named Adolf Hitler as their Man of the Year. This was, you know, a decision that truly surprised many across the globe, and it wasn't long before it began to generate a lot of talk and disagreement, making headlines everywhere.

The actual issue of the magazine, with Hitler on the cover, hit the newsstands on January 2, 1939. This timing meant it was looking back at the events of the preceding year, 1938. The image of him on the cover, like, certainly made a statement, and it was a visual that many people would not soon forget.

It’s interesting to note that this was the year just before Germany, you know, moved into Poland, an action that, as we know, set off World War II. So, the magazine’s decision was made right at a very tense moment in world affairs, which, you know, adds another layer to why it was such a big deal. The magazine, as it happened, still keeps the article online, which lays out their thinking at that time, long before anyone could have imagined the terrible things that were yet to come.

Why Did Time Choose Hitler as Man of the Year 1938?

This is, you know, a question that comes up a lot, and it’s a fair one to ask. Time magazine, since 1927, has consistently picked a person, a woman, or an idea that, for better or for worse, has had the biggest sway over the events of the past year. It's not, you know, a pat on the back for being a good person or doing good things. Instead, it’s about who held the most influence, for good or for bad.

In 1938, it was clear that Adolf Hitler had, sadly, become a central figure on the world stage. His actions and decisions were, in a way, shaping the direction of many countries, particularly in Europe. The text makes it quite clear that the reasons for his selection were not because he had, like, won some kind of international praise or approval. It was, rather, about the undeniable effect he was having on global happenings.

The magazine's choice to make Adolf Hitler the Person of the Year in 1938 has, you know, undoubtedly been their most talked-about selection. For those who aren’t familiar with the magazine’s specific criteria, this pick has, you know, long caused a feeling of disbelief. It really goes to show that the selection is about influence, not endorsement, which is a key point to keep in mind.

How Did Time Magazine Explain Their Man of the Year 1938 Choice?

Time magazine, as it happens, went into quite a bit of detail to explain what was, you know, perhaps the most debated of its choices. They didn't just announce the name and leave it at that. The magazine, you know, published a multi-page piece that went into the political ascent of Hitler.

This piece, as our text tells us, included pictures of the German leader, giving readers a visual account of his rise. The article aimed to provide a comprehensive look at how he had, you know, gained such a significant amount of sway. Henry Luce, who started Time, expressed it as choosing the person who had "most influenced events of the preceding year," whether that influence was "for better or worse." This phrase, "for better or worse," is, you know, really at the core of their selection philosophy.

The magazine, in its own words, sought to present a contemporary look at what was, you know, considered to be of great consequence during that particular year. So, while it certainly wasn't an academic or completely objective look at the past, the list did, you know, give a snapshot of what people felt was important at that moment in time. It was, in a way, their attempt to make sense of a rapidly changing world.

Was This the Only Time Time Magazine Featured Hitler?

It’s a good question to ask whether Hitler appeared on the cover of Time magazine more than once. As a matter of fact, he did show up on the cover on a number of occasions. The one on January 2, 1939, when he was named Man of the Year for 1938, is, you know, probably the most well-known.

There’s sometimes a belief that Hitler was named Time’s Man of the Year in 1933. However, while he was indeed featured on the cover that year, he wasn’t actually given the "Man of the Year" title until 1938. So, that’s just a little bit of clarification about his appearances. He certainly had a visible presence in the magazine’s reporting during that period.

How Has Time Magazine Addressed Its 1938 Selection?

Time magazine, to its credit, has, you know, actually spoken about its choice of Hitler as "Man of the Year" for 1938 on several different occasions over the years. They haven't just, like, let it sit there without comment. This shows a willingness to, you know, revisit and explain one of their most talked-about decisions.

For example, a piece in their December 13, 2021, issue discussed the "Person of the Year" title, touching upon the history of the selection. This suggests that the magazine is aware of the lasting impact and, you know, the questions that such a choice still raises. It's a way for them to, you know, keep the conversation going and provide context from a later point in time.

Even many years after Hitler’s birth, as a Time article from April 19, 2019, points out, he continues to be seen as a symbol of evil. This later commentary from the magazine, you know, helps to put their 1938 selection into a broader historical perspective, acknowledging the terrible legacy that unfolded after their initial decision. It’s, in a way, a recognition of how history played out.

What Else Was Covered in the 1938 Time Man of the Year Issue?

While the main focus of the January 2, 1939, issue was, of course, the Man of the Year selection, the magazine also covered other happenings around the world. Time magazine, you know, typically includes various sections focusing on different global news items. So, the 1938 issue was no different in that regard.

The magazine often includes sections on "Foreign News," which would have contained reports from different countries. Our text mentions a few interesting titles that seem to be from such sections within the magazine, like "Red Kitty (Foreign News / Great Britain) Russia," or "White or Red (Foreign News / Russia) Foreign News." These titles, you know, give us a little peek into the other matters that were on people’s minds back then.

Other intriguing headlines from the foreign news sections mentioned include "Marty's Mutiny (Foreign News) France," "Dutchman's Mistakes (Foreign News / France) Foreign News," and "Case of the Dirty Shirt (Foreign News)." These bits and pieces, you know, suggest that the magazine provided a wide look at international events, beyond just the main "Man of the Year" story. It really gives you a sense of the broader news landscape of that time.

What Does Time's Person of the Year Really Mean?

The whole idea behind Time’s "Person of the Year" selection is, you know, quite simple at its core. Since 1927, the magazine has been picking an individual, a group, or even an abstract concept that, for better or worse, has most shaped events over the previous twelve months. It’s, like, a recognition of influence, not necessarily a badge of honor.

The magazine’s list, you know, isn't meant to be some kind of academic study or a completely unbiased look at the past. Instead, it offers a contemporary view of what was considered truly important during each particular year. It’s a snapshot, you could say, of the biggest forces at play in the world, as seen through the eyes of the magazine at that specific moment.

Time, you know, makes its choices based on who had the most significant sway on the world during the past year. This approach means that sometimes the choice might be someone widely admired, and sometimes, as in the case of the 1938 Time Man of the Year, it could be someone who would later be remembered for very different reasons. It’s all about the degree of effect on global events, really.

Are There Other Figures Recognized by Time Magazine?

Yes, absolutely. In addition to the main "Person of the Year," Time magazine, sometimes with a partner company, also acknowledges influential people or groups in other categories each year. So, it's not just about that one big pick; there are, you know, other forms of recognition too.

Over the years, the "Person of the Year" title has been given to a wide array of individuals. Our text tells us that there have been 41 unique global leaders who have been chosen for this recognition. This shows, you know, the diverse range of figures who have, at different points in history, held such considerable sway

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Time Man Of The Year 1938 - Looking Back At A Controversial Pick

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