When it comes to celebrity crushes, even the most unexpected figures can’t resist.

From Muammar Gadhafi admiring Condoleezza Rice to Osama bin Laden’s fondness for Whitney Houston, peculiar infatuations have been revealed.

Yet, it might come as no shock that Adolf Hitler harbored a peculiar fondness for none other than Clark Gable.

Despite the actor’s passing in 1960, Hitler’s fixation on Gable reached unparalleled heights.

Amid the chaos of World War II and the struggle for his Third Reich’s survival, Hitler astonishingly placed the actor at the forefront of his interests, perhaps overshadowing numerous critical matters.

Hitler’s preoccupation with various eccentricities is well-documented.

His ascent to power stemmed from a belief in a conspiracy orchestrated by Bolsheviks and Jewish communities globally, attributing Germany’s downfall post-World War I to this malevolent alliance.

Subsequently, he delved into occult practices and maintained a lifelong obsession with Karl May’s adventure novels.

Considering his later involvement with drugs, it is evident that Hitler possessed an addictive temperament.

Even prior to Hitler assuming Chancellorship of Germany in 1933, Clark Gable had garnered recognition through numerous film appearances.

As Hitler’s ambition led to the invasion of Poland in 1939, Gable had already solidified his status as a Hollywood luminary, contrasting starkly with Hitler’s pariah image.

In 1940, amidst Gable’s starring role in “Gone With the Wind,” Hitler’s conquest of France coincided.

According to Gable’s biographer Warren Harris, Hitler’s fascination with the actor grew over time.

However, reciprocation from Gable’s end was unlikely.

Following America’s entry into the war, Gable enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces, declining a cushy posting offered by Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold to create films for the service.

Opting for officer candidate school after basic training, Gable aimed to become an aerial gunner aboard bombers.

By October 1942, Gable had attained the rank of 2nd Lt. Clark Gable.

Despite Arnold’s desire for a recruiting film, Gable led a motion picture unit tasked with producing such content.

Subsequently deployed to England in 1943, Gable actively participated in combat missions, including one over Germany.

Despite Gable’s active involvement in bombing missions against Germany, Hitler’s admiration for the American actor persisted.

Throughout World War II, Hitler even offered a substantial reward for Gable’s capture and delivery unharmed.

Nonetheless, Gable returned to the U.S. in November 1943 to edit his wartime footage, culminating in the release of “Combat America” in 1944.

Discharged from active duty in 1944, Gable’s Hollywood commitments precluded his reserve duties by 1947.

While Gable received several military accolades, including the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal, Hitler met his demise by suicide before facing retribution from the Red Army.