Rise of Nazi Germany: Ideology, Policies & Totalitarianism
Nazi Germany: The Rise to Power
Against the backdrop of the 1929 crisis, the bourgeoisie pressured Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as Chancellor. Hitler had long claimed that he and his party were Germany’s only solution.
Adolf Hitler joined a paramilitary group that transformed into the Nazi party in 1920. The party rapidly gained support among the middle class, officials, and small traders.
In 1924, while imprisoned, he wrote Mein Kampf, outlining his ideology: racism, anti-Semitism, violence, anti-communism, and pan-Germanism.
In 1932, with financial backing from big capitalists, Hindenburg appointed him Chancellor. Following the Reichstag fire in February, Hitler abolished civil rights and liberties. After Hindenburg’s death, Hitler seized power, proclaiming the Third Reich and establishing a dictatorship.
Inside Politics
- Suspension of all constitutional guarantees
- “Aryan Supremacy”
- Deprivation of citizenship for Jews
- Establishment of a people’s court
- Creation of the secret police (SS or Gestapo)
Economic Policy
- Dissolution of unions
- Increased military strength
- Boost to the steel industry
Foreign Policy
- Withdrawal from the League of Nations
- Implementation of the “living space” concept
- Pact of Steel with Italy
- Support in the Spanish Civil War
- Concordat with the Holy See
- Invasion of Poland in 1939
Educational Policy
- Purification of the teaching profession
- Nazi youth indoctrination for Nazism and violence
The Concept of Nihilism
Nihilism is central to Nietzsche’s philosophy. He viewed European nihilism as a threat, the culmination of a historical decline. This interpretation rejects higher values like strength and spontaneity, favoring equality and humility.
The Roots of Nazism
Nazism’s emotional power stemmed from tribalism and resentful nationalism. National humiliation created fertile ground for Nazism. The Nazi project offered hope and a sense of glory. Many followers shared Hitler’s resentment over Germany’s defeat in World War I, blaming Jews for the war.
Tacitus’s Germania praised the brave Germanic tribes. The idea of pure Germanic roots resurfaced in 19th-century nationalism. Fichte believed Germany needed living space, requiring the expulsion of Jews, whom they blamed for the “stab in the back.”
Nietzsche’s ideas were also incorporated into Nazi beliefs. He criticized Christianity for:
- Feminizing men
- Being relics of an ancient world
- The hypocrisy of Christians
- Offering false hope for an afterlife
Nietzsche summarized Western culture’s diagnosis with the term nihilism.
Common Elements of Totalitarianism
- Totalitarian State Concept: The state is a vital organization serving individuals.
- Single Party Rule: Totalitarian governments emphasize absolute party dominance.
- Social Enemy: Identification of a negligible social group as an enemy.
- Mass Mobilization: Large gatherings and powerful images of the leader.
- Absolute Leader: The leader’s decisions are unquestionable.
- Economic Interventionism: Pursuit of economic self-sufficiency.
- Cultural Control: Culture is controlled and directed by the state.