¶ … German Fascism
Fascism is arguably the most influential and controversial political ideology in modern history, and continues to be a fascinating topic for political study and discussion. Yet, despite fascism's worldwide existence and its responsibility for the development of numerous groups and political movements, Germany remains only one of two countries (the other being Italy) in which the ideology of fascism has enjoyed the success of political power. Although there is very little consensus amongst political scientists and academics on many issues of fascism, there is a general agreement that the success of fascism in Germany was not due to any singular, or isolated, factor. Rather, it prospered as a result of Germany possessing the ideal combination of a strong national identity, a well-developed system of public persuasion and propaganda, and an existing government that was too weak and unstable to provide effective resistance against social and economic crisis. Therefore, although the accepted opinion is that German fascism was an evil and isolated abhorrence that was ended forever by the Allied victory in World War II, this paper proposes that its success was achieved through a set of political, social and economic conditions that could occur in any country, at any time.
One of the primary factors in fascist ideology is the development of a strong sense of national identity and although German fascism, in the form of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) or, as it is more commonly known, the Nazi party, did not achieve political power until 1933 (Laqueur, 165), there is evidence that Germany possessed a strong sense of nationalism as far back as the sixteenth century (Shirer, 91). The nationalistic writings and values of the popular philosopher and religious reformer, Martin Luther (1483-1546) were later expanded upon by thinkers of the Romantic Movement (Eatwell, 6), and by 1873, when German journalist Wilhelm Marr published his highly successful book, The Victory of the Jew over the German, the seeds of nationalism, and anti-Semitism, had become generally promoted and accepted (Eatwell, 21). The belief in national pride and strength continued to develop throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, ultimately leading to the outbreak of World War I in 1914 (Nolte, 386). Rather than a victorious show of national strength, the war ended in humiliating defeat for the German people (Berwick, 19). This humiliation was intensified by the conditions imposed on their country by the Allies through the Treaty of Versailles, which demanded German acceptance of full responsibility for starting the war, changes to Germany's eastern boundaries, the removal of all German colonies, and a commitment to the paying of restorative compensation to the Allies (Eatwell, 23). The war had shattered German society and they now required someone on who to place blame, both for the defeat and for the humiliating aftermath. They found two convenient scapegoats in their newly formed democratic government and the Jews (Nolte, 401). What they now sought was the rebirth of their country and the restoration of their national identity and pride, but they no longer believed that the politics of liberalism and democracy would provide this (Shirer, 61). The German State was collapsing and the people demanded radical changes, and it was fascism, with its emphasis on national unity and military strength that was able to provide a popular and successful alternative.
Although the after effects of World War I, and the conditions imposed on them by the Treaty of Versailles, were particularly embarrassing for a nation with such a proud military past as Germany, it was the post-war problems such as massive unemployment and crippling inflation that ultimately placed the ruling Weimar Republic under pressure from the growing popularity of fascism (Shirer, 62). Therefore, when the Depression that swept over Europe and the United States in 1929 almost brought Germany to its knees through economic crisis and crippling unemployment, fascism's proposals to restore Germany's economic and military...
The closest one could come to putting a date on the beginning of Fascism in Italy would be to magically zip back in time to March 23, 1919, where in a Milan's Piazza San Sepolcro, the founding fathers of Fascism. As their ideas evolved, they began to be more vocal. In 1921 they developed a plan for action for the nation of Italy. That plan evolved as time progressed,
Ensured the Success of the Third Reich Hitler's Nazi economic plan was, until the loss of the war intervened, such a success that foreign economists went so far as to call it a miracle. The Nazi economic framework, which emphasized total employment, total commitment, and the supremacy of big business, relied on a series of radical measures to propel the resurgent nation into a state of military readiness. Several factors
Marxism and National Socialism Lenin's version of socialism, which became the model for the Soviet Union, China, Cuba and other underdeveloped nations that underwent revolutions in the 20th Century, was highly centralized, hierarchical and authoritarian. It emphasized rapid industrialization and economic development under the direction of the Communist Party, although in all these semi-feudal societies this was carried out without the benefits of any type of liberal or democratic traditions. Lenin
Germans, Post World War 2 Evil, German attitudes through the Twentieth Century, and humanity The Second World War has had a terrible impact on society as a whole and it is safe to say that it shaped the way that people perceived the idea of being human and of life in general. Michael Hanake's 2009 motion picture The White Ribbon discusses with regard to a series of events happening in a fictional
Mazower says this is ridiculous, for Hitler was not "as A.J.P. Taylor once famously implied, 'just another politician'...The Second World War did not start because of diplomatic misunderstanding or confusion, nor even because of Hitler's deceit or duplicity. Rather it started because -- very late in the day -- Hitler's opponents realized they were faced with a 'clash of worlds'" (74). The book is less strong in a few other
The world would now be required to accept socialism, Leninism, and eventually Stalinism, as part of the European landscape. With the defeat of Germany, Austro-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire; the shift in the balance of power moved toward the only major participant not devastated on its own soil by war -- the United States. The U.S. grew in economic power after Versailles, assisting not only its former allies in rebuilding,
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now