The Rise of Nazism in Germany: From Popularity to Totalitarianism
Nazi Popularity:
1. The Nazi party offered national unity, prosperity, and full employment unlike the Weimar Republic, which experienced troubles caused by Marxists and “November Criminals.”
2. They promised to overthrow the Treaty of Versailles and to rebuild Germany with political and military power.
3. The SA, the Nazis’ private army, was attractive to German youth.
4. There was hostility to communists, approved by landowners and industrialists who feared a communist revolution.
5. Hitler’s political abilities, especially his gift for public speaking, contributed to his rise.
6. The contrast between Hitler and the Weimar Republic was stark. Hitler was strong and decisive, while the republic was dull and unable to maintain law and order.
7. The absence of an economic crisis showed Hitler’s efficiency, as he eliminated unemployment and the fear of a communist revolution.
Hitler as Chancellor
Hitler was suggested as chancellor by von Papen and von Schleicher. The reasons for this suggestion were that the nationalists feared a Nazi “coup d’état” (golpe de estado); they thought it was better and easier to control Hitler from inside the party without being a strong opposition; and with an alliance with the Nazi Party, they would get a majority in Congress, letting them return to a monarchy and to the past’s political system.
· Election of March, 1933: Nazis and Nationalists gained a majority, which was good for nationalists but better for Nazis since they could start using the state for their own goods and benefits.
· Reichstag Fire: Setting fire to a part of Congress was a plan from an anarchist, though the SA and the SS (Hitler’s forces) “helped” him do it, destroying the Reichstag. Hitler used this damage to stir up fear of communism and a pretext for banning and eliminating the socialist party.
· Enabling Law, March 1933: This act gave Hitler dictatorial powers (for example, he could pass laws without any approval of Congress) for 4 years.
· Gleichschaltung = Totalitarianism: Turned Germany into a fascist state. Its policies were:
a) Germany became a one-party state.
b) State parliament and government lost all political power à ≠federalism
c) The civil service was purged. This means that the enemies of the state were removed because they lacked reliability; for example, Jews were not only left apart and criticized, but they were also boycotted, sent to “work camps” (campos de concentración), and their citizenship was taken.
d) Trade unions were abolished.
e) The education system was totally controlled by the state so that children could be indoctrinated with Nazi opinions.
f) Communications and media were controlled by Goebbels, used to raise Nazi power and leadership in society.
g) Economic life was organized with two main aims: unemployment and self-sufficiency (auto abastecimiento).
h) Religion was under state control. First, Hitler made a deal with the Catholic Church, but it didn’t last long enough (4 years) because they disagreed with the euthanasia problem; the sterilization of people; and the competition between Catholic youth vs. Nazi youth. A second deal with Protestants was made, which would last longer, becoming the “Reich Church,” announcing a “Reich Bishop” too.
i) Germany became a police state, with contributions and help from the Gestapo and SS. The SA was no longer important or useful. It was even betrayed by Hitler since he chose the army over them.
j) Anti-Semitic policies were implemented. Jews were blamed for every miserable event that Germany suffered; they were stripped of their citizenship in 1935 in the Nuremberg Laws; the main aim was to exterminate them as a final solution.
Hitler’s Popular Policies
1. His arrival caused enthusiasm and anticipation after a weak Weimar Republic.
2. He was successful in eliminating unemployment by increasing public works, rearmament, and increasing the number of state employees in the government.
3. He gained support from workers through welfare programs.
4. Industrialists and businessmen were delighted by the party, even with its economic interference.
5. Farmers were in a favored position, with hereditary state support and an economic aim to reach food self-sufficiency.
6. He gained support from the army, the Reichswehr.
7. Foreign policies were a brilliant success.
August 1933 = Hindenburg dies, and Hitler combines both the power of chancellor and president.
Nazism vs. Fascism:
Similarities:
1. Anti-Communism.
2. Totalitarian state that controlled everything, limiting personal freedom.
3. Economic aim of self-sufficiency.
4. Close to unity between all classes that work together.
5. Supremacy of the state, intense nationalism, cult (culto) of leadership (unipersonal)
Differences:
1. Fascism was never established in Italy as Nazism was in Germany.
2. The Italian economic system was inefficient. There was more unemployment than self-sufficiency.
3. The Italian system was neither ruthless nor brutal. There were no mass atrocities as in Germany.
4. There was no anti-Semitism until 1938.
5. The Italian government had more success regarding religious policies.
6. Italy had no constitutional positions; they had a monarchy, and the king had a vital role, with the power to dismiss and/or arrest the president, in this case, Mussolini.
Domestic Affairs…
As a success: Domestic affairs were successful, however, this website claims that if Hitler had gone to warn the third grade, it would have lasted longer.
As a superficial success: Hitler’s domestic affairs were superficially successful since they could not resist the test of time; even without war, the policies were unsustainable. This school of thought claims that the economic miracle was an illusion, that there was a huge budget deficit leading to Germany’s bankruptcy, and that every successful policy was obtained by unacceptable methods: unemployment was obtained through brutal anti-Semitic campaigns and rearmament, self-sufficiency was not possible unless Germany was stable to take over and exploit areas of eastern Europe such as the north of Czechoslovakia, and the success was a permanent condition that depended on war.