Nationalism and Nazi ideology

[kudzu]

military supremacy.

nazi ideology

Hitler’s 1924 book Mein Kampf

The two cornerstone documents of Nazi ideology were the NSDAP’s 25 Points (1920) and Hitler’s autobiography, Mein Kampf (1924). Nazi ideas were also outlined or discussed, albeit briefly, in many of Hitler’s speeches. But none of these sources was constitutional in nature, nor did they offer much in the way of details or specifics about how Nazi ideas should work in practice.

Hitler seemed to prefer that expressions of Nazi ideology were short, simple and broadly framed. At several times in the 1920s, Hitler resisted proposals to expand or re-draft the party’s 25 Points, declaring them to be “inviolable”. This was probably a deliberate strategy: because Nazi ideology was only ever outlined vaguely or in general terms, Hitler was free to interpret or re-invent it as he saw fit. Yet despite this fluidity Nazi had some core tenets that did not change:

Authoritarianism.

The Nazis desired strong government and extensive state power. They believed that government could not function effectively if it lacked the means to impose itself on society and enforce its policies. Decisions should be made by a leader with almost absolute power (a Fuhrer).

All political authority and sovereignty rested with this leader, who should be trusted by the people to make important decisions on their behalf (fuhrerprinzip). No other political parties or organisations other than the NSDAP could be tolerated. Other groups with political influence, such as unions or churches, would be restricted or abolished.

Totalitarianism.

To the Nazis, state power had few limits and could extend into all aspects of German political, social and cultural life. They believed it was the government’s duty not just to devise policy but to shape, coordinate and regulate society, for the betterment of the nation.

A totalitarian government must have the authority to control the press and unions; restrict civil liberties and freedoms; manage education and employ propaganda. Liberal freedoms from government power – such as civil liberties, individual rights and freedoms – were considered irrelevant and subordinate to the interests of the state.

Before total war, Nazism was a potpourri. Racialism and nationalism jostled shoulders with the socialistic revolutionary conservatism of many members of the Mittelstand (middle class). Romantic ideas came from right-wing youth groups. Hitler could utter the gospel of anti-capitalism to workers and the gospel of profits to businessmen. It was a rag-bag of inconsistent and incoherent ideas.

Walter Phillips, historian

Nationalism. Nazism was first and foremost a nationalist ideology. It was concerned only with Germany and German interests: restoring the German economy, achieving economic self-sufficiency, rebuilding its military and providing for the German people.

The Nazis had little interest in forming or improving international relationships, except to advance German interests. They detested diplomacy and despised multilateral groups like the League of Nations. Hitler and his followers had no intention of honouring or abiding by existing foreign treaties or negotiating new ones, except where it might help them fulfil their own objectives.

Militarism.

Hitler and his followers believed that re-arming and expanding Germany’s armed forces was essential for the defence of the nation. Rearmament would be carried out in defiance of the restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler also considered military strength essential for expanding the German state. The organisation and culture of the NSDAP were fundamentally militaristic, as evidenced by the size and popularity of the party’s paramilitary groups the Sturmabteilung (SA) and Schutzstaffel (SS).

Expansionism. The Nazis in general and Hitler, in particular, dreamed of unifying the German-speaking Aryan peoples of Europe, into a greater German state. To achieve this, Hitler believed his regime would need to acquire lebensraum, or ‘living space’, to accommodate the needs of the new Germany.

This ‘living space’ would be seized from the non-Aryan people of eastern Europe, in countries like Czechoslovakia, Poland and Russia. The first step to creating this greater Germany would be to achieve anschluss: the union of Germany and Austria.

https://alphahistory.com/nazigermany/nazi-ideology/

[PostmodernProphet]

stupid thread, stupid premise, stupid poster......

[kudzu]

stupid thread, stupid premise, stupid poster......

Of course you would think its stupid.

[kudzu]

stupid thread, stupid premise, stupid poster......

Of course you would think its stupid.

Right wing or left wing?

nazi ideology

In the ‘horseshoe theory’ the extreme ends are closer to each other

A question often asked of Nazi ideology is if it was left-wing or right-wing.

Conventional understanding suggests Nazism and fascism occupied the far right-wing of the political spectrum, with socialism on the far left.

In reality, this kind of linear positioning is too simplistic to be accurate. Some historians and political commenters argue that Nazism had more common with Stalinist socialism than political conservatism.

Hitler and Stalin were both totalitarian leaders; both regimes placed the needs of the state over those of the individual; both harnessed the economy to meet national priorities. There were some critical differences between Nazism and Stalinism, however, particularly in economic policy.

Private ownership of capital was permitted in Nazi Germany but outlawed in Soviet Russia. Under Hitler, Germany’s industrial moguls became even wealthier while small business was encouraged; privately-owned capital was only seized if it belonged to Jews. Both dictators sought to revive industrial production but used different approaches.

Both had different views and policies with regard to class, race and gender. French philosopher Jean-Pierre Faye suggests Nazism and Stalinist socialism occupied different ends of a horseshoe: they were opposed to each other ideologically but shared some goals and methods.

[Lightbringer]

..

OK so what's the point? Please tell me you're going to try to make the case that Trump is a Nazi.

[iolo]

Hitler, like Trump, supported monopoly capitalism, Stalin State Capitalism. Capitalism is not in enough of a crisis, nor is trump efficient enough, to produce real nazism

[Lightbringer]

Hitler, like Trump, supported monopoly capitalism, Stalin State Capitalism. Capitalism is not in enough of a crisis, nor is trump efficient enough, to produce real nazism

You say this after watching Bush and Obama in action? Dumbass white boy.

[kudzu]

OK so what's the point? Please tell me you're going to try to make the case that Trump is a Nazi.

If the shoe fits........

Too many people on the board don't know what nationalism means and confuse it with "patriotism".

This thread is just about defining terms.

[kudzu]

You say this after watching Bush and Obama in action? Dumbass white boy.

Hitler was all about protectionism.

Protectionism is the economic policy of restricting imports from other countries through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, import quotas, and a variety of other government regulations.

[Lightbringer]

If the shoe fits........

Too many people on the board don't know what nationalism means and confuse it with "patriotism".

This thread is just about defining terms.

I think you underestimate the board. I'm not aware of any confusion here except for a couple of people and I think they want to foster confusion.

[Lightbringer]

Hitler was all about protectionism.

Protectionism is the economic policy of restricting imports from other countries through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, import quotas, and a variety of other government regulations.

So was Thomas Jefferson. So was Washington. So was Hamilton.

[kudzu]

So was Thomas Jefferson. So was Washington. So was Hamilton.

No they weren't.. Did you study American history?

Protectionism and nationalism go hand in hand.

[Lightbringer]

No they weren't.. Did you study American history?

Protectionism and nationalism go hand in hand.

Yes, I did study a little bit. You do of course realize that tariffs were very important to this nation for a very long time? And Hitler liked dogs so dog lovers are Nazis? Of course not, that's absurd and suggesting that tariffs indicate Nazi sympathies is just as absurd.

[kudzu]

The Great Depression didn't really lead to the rise of protectionism. Most would say that the Great Depression didn't become "great" until the U.S. put various protectionist tariffs in place and it was the protectionism that made an "ordinary" depression "great".

Note how things weren't all that bad until the 1930 U.S. Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act and the responses it engendered:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression

[kudzu]

Yes, I did study a little bit. You do of course realize that tariffs were very important to this nation for a very long time? And Hitler liked dogs so dog lovers are Nazis? Of course not, that's absurd and suggesting that tariffs indicate Nazi sympathies is just as absurd.

Breakdown of international trade

Many economists have argued that the sharp decline in international trade after 1930 helped to worsen the depression, especially for countries significantly dependent on foreign trade.

In a 1995 survey of American economic historians, two-thirds agreed that the Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act at least worsened the Great Depression. Most historians and economists partly blame the American Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act (enacted June 17, 1930) for worsening the depression by seriously reducing international trade and causing retaliatory tariffs in other countries.