Nazi Ideology, World War II, and the Holocaust
Nazi Beliefs
- Authoritarianism: Decisions should be made by a leader with almost absolute power.
- Totalitarianism: 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.
- Nationalism: It was concerned only with Germany and German interests. The Nazis had little interest in forming or improving international relationships, except to advance German interests.
- Militarism: Hitler and his followers believed that rearming and expanding Germany’s armed forces was essential for the defense of the nation.
- Expansionism: The Nazis in general, and Hitler in particular, dreamed of unifying the German-speaking Aryan peoples of Europe into a greater German state.
- Third Way: Nazism and fascism considered themselves a third way, an alternative to both democracy and socialism.
- Economic Sovereignty: Economic power, prosperity, and self-sufficiency were priorities for the NSDAP. The role of the state was to manage the economy, dictating what should be produced.
- Racialism: The Nazis considered Aryans to be Europe’s master race. They believed that their innate superiority granted them the right and obligation to rule over other races.
World War II
The Second World War was a military conflict that took place between 1939 and 1945.
Causes of the War
- Nationalist Discontent: At the end of the First World War, both Germany and Italy were unhappy. Germany was unhappy because the Treaty of Versailles had obliged it to give up territory to Poland and Czechoslovakia.
- Economic Protectionism: During the Great Depression of the 1930s, European governments adopted protectionist policies to reduce imports. These measures forced countries to find new markets for their products.
- Expansionist Policies: Germany, Italy, and Japan wanted to expand their territories in order to acquire more raw materials and to satisfy their territorial demands.
- Appeasement Policies: Great Britain supported a policy of appeasement towards Germany and Italy. As a result, the territorial expansion of these countries was tolerated; the aim being to maintain peace.
Hitler’s Rise to Power
Hitler’s rise to power cannot be attributed to one event, but a mixture of factors, including events happening outside Germany. Hitler used these factors to his advantage, and in 1933 he legitimately gained power to become chancellor.
- Many workers turned to communism.
- Many middle-class people turned to Nazism.
- Nationalists blamed the Treaty of Versailles.
In 1928, the Nazis had only 12 seats in the Reichstag; by July 1932, they had 230 seats and were the largest party in Germany.
The Holocaust
The Holocaust was the systematic extermination of Jewish people by the Nazis during the Second World War in all countries occupied by the Axis powers.
First Measures Taken Against Jews
- A law excluded Jews from public administration.
- Mixed marriages were prohibited and annulled.
- Jews were prohibited from occupying liberal professions, such as teachers, doctors, lawyers, and journalists.
- Jewish businesses were closed down, and their property was expropriated.
- Jews were forced to live in ghettos surrounded by walls or fences, where there were food shortages.
- Masses of Jews were deported to concentration camps, where they were exterminated.