At some level this is just human nature -- people want to be led, they want to trust the people they've given authority to.
But you're not supposed to check your critical thinking at the door, either!
Most of these terrible leaders were just that -- terrible leaders following corrupt people above them. Keep in mind that shouldn't excuse them, just like it didn't at the Nuremberg trials, either.
At some level this is just human nature -- people want to be led, they want to trust the people they've given authority to.
But you're not supposed to check your critical thinking at the door, either!
Most of these terrible leaders were just that -- terrible leaders following corrupt people above them. Keep in mind that shouldn't excuse them, just like it didn't at the Nuremberg trials, either.