World War II: Germany: Importance of NAZI Ideloogy


Figure 1.--.

Historians still dispute the importance of NAZI idelogy during World War II. Many historians in the 1960s and 70s began to question the centrality of NAZI idelogy in the German wr effort. It is generally conceeded that Hitler truly believed the ideas he expoused in Mein Kampf. The question is how wide spread was the acceptance of NAZI ideology among NAZI officials and the public at large. Many Germans today believe or prefer to believe that the War and German attricities especially the Holocaust was the work of Hitler and a small group of important NAZI leaders. Other historians argue that NAZI ideology was central to the German war effort and widely supported by the German people.

The NAZI Party

The National Socialist German Worker's Party (NAZIs) became the most powerful of all Fascist parties. It was not founded by Hitler, but became dominated by him at an early point. He fashioned it an instrument for a personal totalitarian dictatorship. Mussolini and his Fascists seized power in Italy a decade before the NAZIs seized power ans stronly influenced Hitler. After the NAZIs seized power they soon elclipsed Mussolini's Fascists.

Mein Kampf

Adolf Hitler after his conviction for treason as a result of the Munich Beer Hall putch wrote Mein Kampf while confined in Landsburg Prison. He dictated orally which Rudoolf Hess, his secretary, wrote down. This probably contributed to the rambling text. Mein Kampf is a long and rambling book which as a result, the content aside, mskes for difficult reading. Hitler as an avid consumer of crack pot ideas, many of which are exhibited in the book. The essential thesis, however, is very simple. To Hitler the core of the German people is the farmer. The first step in the revival of Germany was the destruction of the Jews who he saw as weakening the Aryan German people. Once the Jews were eliminated, Germany could develop the strength to seize the land needed by the German farmer in the East from the Slavs (Czechs, Poles, and Soviets). The German soldier would then seize the land from the Slavs who would be expelled or enslaved. The land would then be colonized by German farmers. Germany's policies in the Occupied East followed just this perscription. The anti-Semetic aspect of Mein Kampf is often mentioned in connectin with the Holocaust. Less commonly discussed is the Hollocaust for the Slavs which the NAZIs would have persued if they had won the War.

German Opinion

It is diffiult to measure what Germans really thought about the NAZIs. It must be remembered that they never received a majority in an a democratic election. And even among those who voted for the NAZIs, it id difficult to know just what their motives were and just what aspects of the Party platform that they endorsed. There isd general agreement among historians that World War I and the Treaty of Versailles created the conditions for the rise of the NAZIs and other like-minded right-wing groups. Historians also agree that Hitler cleverly stressed the NAZI issues that were most appealing to the German public. There is also general agreement that the bulk of the German people did not want another world war. Beyond these points of agreement there is considerable difference of opinion among scholars.

Historians Question the Importance

Historians still dispute the importance of NAZI idelogy during World War II. Many historians in the 1960s and 70s began to question the centrality of NAZI idelogy in the German wr effortand the extent to which that ideology had pemeated throughout German society. It is generally conceeded that Hitler truly believed the ideas he expoused in Mein Kampf. The question is how wide spread was the acceptance of NAZI ideology among NAZI officials and the public at large. Many Germans today believe or prefer to believe that the War and German attricities especially the Holocaust was the work of Hitler and a small group of important NAZI leaders. This is a convenient point of view and thus populsr among many Germans because it helps to transfer the blame for the WAr and NAZI attrocities to a small group of Party officials.

Central Importance

Other historians argue that NAZI ideology was central to the German war effort and widely supported by the German people. One historian argues persuasivly that NAZI ideology was a powerful force motivating both German soldiers and civilians. [Bessel] Other important scholars have reached similar comclisions. [Hastings]

Sources

Hastings, Max.

Bessel, Richard. Nazism and War (modern Library, 2005).





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Created: 6:43 PM 11/9/2004
Last updated: 6:43 PM 11/9/2004