Appeal Of Nazism And Communism Flashcards
What 8 things brought together the appeal of nazi ideology?
- Nazi ideology
- The power of will
- Struggle and war
- A racial community
- A national socialism
- The Führerprinzip
- Aggressive nationalism
- Anti-semitism
What was the Nazi ideology based off of?
The 1920 25 point programme, although Hitler didn’t agree with many of the points
Where were Hitler’s main ideas and aims laid out?
Mein Kampf (my struggle)
Why weren’t Hitlers ideas consistent over time?
His policy statements changed based on the audience he addressed during his speeches etc. so he could appeal to all classes and get maximum support
When was Mein Kampf properly starting to be read?
Around 1933, before then not too much
What was the significance of Mein Kampf to nazism?
Laid out many Nazi propaganda themes
What did Hitler say in 1922 showing he was acting as a force for change in Germany?
‘If one realised a truth, that truth is valueless so long as there is lacking the indomitable will to turn this realisation into an action’ - Hitler was a very driven man
How did Nazi Propaganda show Hitler’s power of the will?
It presented strength, determination to succeed and power, all qualities of Hitler to follow as Nazis
How did the SA present the power of the will and who did they appeal to?
Presented an image of dominance and discipline through parades, appealing to ex-soldiers and working class who were looking for this thrill
How did Hitler use struggle and war to appeal to upper classes?
He claimed scientifically that struggle and conflict between races was part of the natural order of things
How did Nazis believe war and violence would benefit Germany?
It would reconstruct German society and create a new Reich through putting down other races
How did Nazi propaganda glorify struggle and war?
Glorified military views such as loyalty which were presented through the SA
What is the Nazi policy of Volksgemeinschaft?
A ‘people’s community’
- Hitler vaguely wanted a state based on racial community, where:
. Aryans were the citizens allowed in the state
. Others were denied rights of citizenship, treated as mere ‘subjects’
What would be in the ‘real community of the people’ in the ‘people’s community’?
. No social classes
. All Germans would have equal chances in society
. Everyone would work together for the good of the nation - common commitment to ‘German values
- these people would benefit from employment and welfare benefits
What was the Nazi aim for cultural and social revolution in Germany?
. Create a ‘new man’ and ‘new woman’:
- awareness of the importance of their race
-strength of character to work unselfishly for the common good
- willingness to follow Hitler’s leadership
How did the Nazi ‘people’s community’ seem very backwards?
It consisted of wanting to go back to a romanticised Germany before the race was ‘polluted’ with ‘alien’ blood and before industrialisation had divided society across classes
Who was the ‘people’s community’ to be based on?
‘Blood and soil’
- German peasants who Nazis loved had maintained their ‘racial purity’ and traditional values by not getting drawn into the dividing industrialisation
Why were the Nazis called the National Socialist German Workers’ party?
. To appeal to everyone (catch all party)
. Attempt to gain working-class support
. To differentiate themselves from the international socialism of the Communist party
What is an example of how the 25 point programmes points were economically radical and how did Hitler feel about them?
Called for the confiscation of war profits
- Hitler never fully committed to the radical aims and changed his message depending on his audience
How did Hitler have to be careful in his views after 1929?
He was looking for support from wealthy businessmen such as Fritz Thyssen and needed to assure them a Nazi government wouldn’t threaten their interest (hence why Nazis were national socialists)
How did Hitler appeal to working-class voters?
Used ‘socialism’ and Volksgemeinschaft as the same thing
- ‘to be social means to build up the state and the community of the people.’
Why did Hitler want to destroy the Weimar Republic and how did he make it clear in his April 1922 speech?
. Parliamentary democracy was weak
. Wanted an authoritarian government
. Believed democracy encouraged the growth of communism
‘Democracy is not fundamentally German; it is Jewish.’
Where did Nazi belief on Weimar democracy come from?
From the German army being ‘stabbed in the back’ by the ‘November criminals’ to end WW1
What was Nazi belief on the replacement for the Weimar Republic?
. It should be replaced by a dictatorship, a one-party state
. Germany should be fun on the principle of leadership (Fuhrerprinzip)
When did Nazis start to be run under Fuhrerprinzip, with Hitler as supreme leader?
Since 1925
What were Hitler’s 3 aims outlining his aggressive nationalism?
- Reverse the humiliation of the TOV (he called it ‘unlimited blackmail and shameful humiliation’) and restore Germany’s lands
- Establish a ‘greater German Reich’ with all Germans inside the borders of the state
- Secure Germany it’s ‘Lebensraum’ - provide and settle its people to sustain Germany as a great power
What did Hitler want to happen with Germany’s 1914 borders?
Didn’t just want to restore them but also expand the territory of the Reich
- involves a war to secure Germany’s Lebensraum in the East
- justified by Hitler’s racial theories and belief in the necessity of struggle
Where were Nazi and Hitler’s views on Jews?
. Hitler saw them as responsible for all of Germany’s ills
. Nazi propaganda showed them as greedy and only motivated by selfish motives
. ‘Parasite in the body of other nations’ - conspiracy of Jews establishing worldwide dominance over other races
. Responsible for the evils of capitalism and the growth of communism
. Responsible for WW1 defeat, TOV and Germany’s power decline
What was Hitler’s most important view on communism?
It was a Jewish creed that had undermined the political and social cohesion of Germany and should be eradicated
When did the KPD and NSDAP get a surge of electoral support and who capitalised on it more?
During the depression years, but Nazis broadened their appeal much better than communists
Where did main Nazi support come from before 1929?
The Mittlestand, lower-middle class (white-collar workers, small shopkeepers, independent craftsmen)
Who did Nazis gain support from after the Wall Street Crash?
The mittlestand but more so broader middle classes and farmers
How did Nazis get support from farmers?
Exploited their discontent during the depression years by promising higher prices and protection against imports (a policy of Autarky)
How was the Nazi success from farmers shown?
In some rural constituencies in 1930, Nazis secured 68% of the vote in one district in north-west Germany
Why did the middle class start to support the Nazis?
They were worried about the perceived threat of a communist revolution and were disillusioned with established middle-class parties such as DVP and DNVP
What gender of people did Nazis do well with?
The youth and the women
Where was Nazi support strongest geographically?
In the Protestant north, east and centre of Germany, but less successful in the Catholic south and west
When was Hindenburg elected and when did his term in office end?
1925, seven-year term till 1932, by which time he was 84 years old
