ther Jews flee to Osterlich, while Schultz and the barber are sent to a concentration camp. Like many Jews of the era, Hannah laments, ôWouldnÆt it be wonderful if they stopped hating us and let us go about our business like we used to? WouldnÆt it be wonderful if we didnÆt have to go away to another country?ö (Chaplin 1940). When HynkelÆs forces invade Osterlich, the barber and Schultz escape. Meantime, Hynkel is fishing in civilian clothes to divert attention from the invasion, but he is mistaken for the barber by storm troopers, while the barber is mistaken for Hynkel. Hynkel is taken to a concentration camp while the barber is obliged to greet the victorious troops in Osterlich. The films ends as Hannah listens to the final words of a lengthy speech given by the barber, ChaplinÆs direct appeal for the forces of humanity to rise up against fascism.
The film successfully parodies the tactics of the Nazi regime and the absurdity of fascism. As critic Jamie Russell (2003) maintains:
Exaggerating HitlerÆs animated demagogic style at the microphone into complete absurdity, ChaplinÆs childish satirical swipes work because of û and not in spite of û their refusal to accept Nazism as anything other than an outrageously bad joke (1).
Hynkel is, of course, Hitler, while Tomania is Germany. Osterlich is Austria and the Jewish Ghetto represents the Jews persecuted by Hitler. Napaloni is Mussolini and Bacteria is Italy. Chaplin uses humor in the meeting of Hynkel and Napaloni, a meeting which dissolves into them beating one another with a stick of bologna. However, truth pervades every scene, like the Propaganda Minister Garbitsch assuring Hynkel he could tear up the document after signing it, much like Hitler tore up the Munich Agreement before occupying Prague.
Chaplin designed the film as an appeal to humanity and democracy against the forces of fascism and evil. In this manner, his Minister of Propaganda...