Why did Martin Heidegger gain a strong reputation among philosophy students in the 1920s?

Martin Heidegger gained a legendary reputation among philosophy students in Germany during the 1920s primarily due to his mesmerizing podium presence as a lecturer. Although he published very little during the early part of the decade, his teaching style created a "subterranean renown" that his former student, the political philosopher Hannah Arendt, famously described as being like a "rumor of a hidden king".1

His influence was further bolstered by his role as the heir apparent to phenomenology, the movement founded by his teacher Edmund Husserl. Heidegger utilized the phenomenological method to "dismantle" traditional Western metaphysics, which he viewed as inadequate for genuine philosophical inquiry. His lectures during this period, which were later published as transcripts, revealed his synthesis of diverse themes—including Søren Kierkegaard’s focus on individual uniqueness, Aristotle’s concept of practical wisdom, and Wilhelm Dilthey’s notion of historicity—which deeply resonated with students seeking new directions in philosophy.1