Nazi Ideology

Consider your homework on the Nazi 25-Point Program, Hitler's writings in Mein Kampf, and Hitler's background. Take all of your knowledge of the above and develop several solid paragraphs that discuss and analyze Nazi ideology. I've provided you several guiding questions below.

Ideology: A statement of broad principles and vision for the future

Key questions to consider when analyzing the ideology of a leader:

• What ideas are proposed?
• What issues or grievances do they address?
• Do they represent a new form or structure for the society?
• Do they introduce entirely new concepts, values or goals to the society?
• Have they been inspired by a particular individual, school of thought or philosophy?
• How relevant or effective are they in attracting support within the local, regional and international community?
• Is it revolutionary, visionary, or inspirational?
• Can it inspire support, cause excitement? Does it appeal to broad sectors of society? Who does it attract?
• Which groups in the society will feel challenged or threatened by the new ideas?

Adolf Hitler will forever be known for his involvement in WWII, cause of the rise to racism in Germany and of course, the Holocaust. Nazi ideology isn't something that just fell upon him however, but rather he created it with his basic values which were created for various reasons throughout his lifetime. Nazism consisted of many aspects brought about by Hitler in his 25-Point Program and writings in his book, Mein Kampf. 

When Adolf Hitler was first put in the public spotlight after his arrest for the beer-hall Munich Putsch, he was exposed as a possible leader for a country in devastation and destruction. People began paying more attention to what the Nazi party had to say. Hitler's 25-Point Program became more noticed. This 25-Point program was developed in February of 1920 by Hitler and DAP leader Drexler. It consisted of many ideas such as unity of the German people... but only true blood German people; no Jews; Germans have the right to vote/only citizens, therefore no Jews could vote either; land and territory expansion -- for the citizens; equal rights and duties of citizens; first duty must be mental and physical -- for the greater good of the community; and of course, the elimination of the Treaty of Versailles. Conveniently enough (for Hitler), shortly after the 25-Point Program was composed, Germany had three major crises which took place in 1923. First there was the occupation of the Ruhr Industrial District, which then led to the second crisis: hyperinflation. Finally there was the Munich Putsch, which failed. 

Germany was clearly in distress and needed a solid leader to guide them out of trouble. While spending time (a short time) in prison because of his arrest in Munich, Hitler dictated his book Mein Kampf. This book was a solid telling of all of his ideology for the Nazi party. In basic summary, he wrote of war propaganda, the causes of Germany's collapse, nation and race, and foreign policy. However where did his radical ideas for Nazism come from? Hitler grew up feeling alone and isolated. His father and mother both past away when he was young. While he was a shy and awkward boy, he admired power and success. Some of the skills that he possessed while growing up consisted of his commitment, energy and single-mindedness. He [Hitler] knew how to capture a crowd and tell them what they wanted to hear; he was a demagogue. 

Between the ages of 18 and 24, Hitler drifted around, slumming in Vienna, and even living in a Jewish quarter. During this time, many of his basic ideas were developed. These basic ideas were as follows: anti-semitism -- Hitler thought that Jews were ruining purity of German blood; pan-Germanism -- thought that Germans should unite; spread; and expand; anti-Marxism -- Hitler was not a fan because Marx was a non-religious Jew, he had hostility toward him; anti-democracy -- thought that government should be one party, one idea, and have one powerful leader; anti-capitalism -- he often times criticized big businesses; and socialism -- he was against Marxism, but for national community. It's safe to say that Hitler had these ideas clear to himself before he helped develop the 25-Point Program or wrote Mein Kampf. Hitler seized his first opportunity of a large public leadership title in 1920, when he helps with the creation of the DAP turning into the NSDAP. Using his powerful skills and abilities, he spoke to large crowds and gained membership. 

Hitler's Background to 1923

Hitler's Background 

Discuss Hitler's background to 1923 and how it influenced his rise to power with the NSDAP.

Characteristics:

• felt lonely, isolated
• shy/moody (especially after death of mother in 1907)
• admired strength, success
• wanted a powerful role, convinced he would play a big one in society 

Skills/Abilities:

• very single/narrow-minded
• committed (^therefore would push for one idea relentlessly) 
• could hypnotize an audience
• with what they wanted to hear
• with great energy
• could make people feel safe
• *demagogue 

Basic Ideas:

• anti-semitism
• Jews were ruining purity of German blood
• pan-Germanism
• Germans should unite; spread; expand
• anti-Marxism
• Marx was a non-religious Jew; hostility 
• anti-democracy 
• gov't should be one party, one idea, one powerful leader
• anti-capitalism
• criticized big businesses
• socialism 
• against Marxism, but for national community 

Important Timeline Points:

• 1889 -- Hitler born in Austria
• 1895 -- Hitler wishes to become a priest... a powerful, convincing job
• 1903 -- Death of Hitler's father, Alois. Hitler becomes wayward; unhappy. Two years later leaves school with no qualifications.
• 1907 -- drifts around, lived in a Jewish quarter, where he developed a hate for Jews and Marxism
• Had a fear that he was 1/4 Jewish -- destroyed the town his father was born in hoping to eliminate any traces of ancestry 
• Oct 1918 -- feels betrayed after hearing of defeat of Germany
• 1919 -- joins German Worker's Party, joins
• 1920 -- 25-Point Program; German Worker's Party --> NSDAP

Often times, a dictator's background is what greatly influenced their rise to power. For Hitler, there are many evident pieces of information which provide reason for his rise. His personal characteristics included him being shy, awkward and moody. He was also very lonely and isolated. It is more likely than not that these characteristics came about from his childhood with his father, and then the death of his father. After the death of his father, many say that he went wayward and started performing poorly in school.  While he was unhappy, he also had many fantasies of power, and admired strength and success. Even at the age of 6, Hitler is said to have wanted to be a priest. Even though priesthood is no way able to be compared to a dictator, they both contain the necessity of being able to have leadership, be powerful and have the ability to convince a crowd of something.  Hitler was known to be a very committed man. He was a single-minded fanatic, which in his case was an advantage because even being narrow-minded, he had the ability to use his energy and commitment to be convincing. Hitler was a supporter of propaganda. He knew how to hypnotize an audience, and is easily described as a demagogue. 

After the death of his mother in 1907, he drifted around for about six years, and even spent some time living in a Jewish quarter. During this time he developed many of his basic ideas that he's known for today. These ideas are anti-semitism -- Hitler thought that Jews were ruining purity of German blood; pan-Germanism -- thought that Germans should unite; spread; and expand; anti-Marxism -- Hitler was not a fan because Marx was a non-religious Jew, he had hostility toward him; anti-democracy -- thought that government should be one party, one idea, and have one powerful leader; anti-capitalism -- he often times criticized big businesses; and socialism -- he was against Marxism, but for national community. In 1919, Hitler attended a German Workers' Party meeting and joins. A year later, the German Workers' Party turns into the NSDAP and Hitler uses his skills as a powerful orator to build up membership. He also developed the 25-Point Program which consisted of his basic ideas.  Overall, Hiter grew up lonely and in a hatred world, therefore developing his rise to power in Germany. 

Hitler's Ideals Expressed in Mein Kampf

Mein Kampf

While Aldolf Hitler was in prison for the arrest of trying to overthrow the government in Munich, he dictated his ideals for the Nazi party. Hitler was still not very known and the Nazi party was starting to disappear  with him in jail. While the Mein Kampf was not regarded largely by many, it contained many of the ideas that followed the Nazi party into the 1930s and 1940s. 


In Volume 1, Chapter 6, Hitler accounts his ideas of war propaganda. In section 1, Hitler says "function of propaganda does not lie in the scientific training of the individual, but in calling the masses' attention" conveying that war propaganda should be in focus of the group and not the single person. More than once, Hitler refers to the "art of propaganda", seeing propaganda as a skill that one must obtain in order to be successful. He says that propaganda needs to hit an emotional aspect and be believable (sections 2, 3). Another point that Hitler makes is that "effective propaganda must be limited to a very few points and must harp on these in slogans until the last member of the public understands what you want him to understand by your slogan" (section 4). He wants to convey that the message of the propaganda should be precise and to the point, for if it tries to be "many-sided", it will lose the attention of the people. In addition to that, he points out that the function of propaganda is "not to ponder the rights of different people" (section 7), but instead to focus in on one argument and stick with it. Hitler seemed to have his approach to succeeding the Nazi party lined up, and propaganda was a very important part of it. 


In Volume 1, Chapter 10, Hitler explains the causes of collapse. The first point that Hitler makes is that Germany's loss of WWI is to blame for the "present evil" (section 9). In sections 11 & 12, Hitler even goes so far to say that the Jewish should take some of the blame -- "their whole existence is based on one single great lie, to wit, that they are a religious community while actually they are a race - - -and what a race!" He then goes on explaining the "poison" that the German press and government injected into the people pre-War. He asks questions about how it was considered okay for a state to do such things to their people. In section 21, this chapter takes a "positive" twist when Hitler writes "I believe that the present generation, properly led, will more easily master this danger." I think it's especially important that he said "properly led", basically implying that with governing from someone like himself, there could be success. 


In Volume 1, Chapter 11, Hitler focuses, once again, on nation and race. In sections 22 and 23, he writes about the importance of pure breeding, what he called "racial purity" in hopes in the delimitation of various other races. Speaking again on pure breeding, Hitler gives an example of the success of this in section 26, "The Germanic inhabitant of the American continent, who has remained racially pure and unmixed, rose to be master of the continent; he will remain the master as long as he does not fall a victim to defilement of the blood". I think it's particularly interesting in the last section of this chapter where Hitler says "The lost purity of the blood alone destroys inner happiness forever, plunges man into the abyss for all time, and the consequences can never more be eliminated from body and spirit."


In Volume 1, Chapter 14, Hitler speaks of "Eastern Orientation and Eastern Policy". He presses the importance of Germans staying strong and holding their ground (aka land). He says that Germans must "secure their land and soil" (section 30). Not only must they retain their land, but also expand it. In section 32, he speaks of German "take over", stating that Germany must be "a world power or there will be no Germany."

I think that throughout the entire Mein Kampf (the sections that I read), Hitler proposes his own sort of propaganda. He keeps his ideals straight forward and stays confident in what he says. Any deceived reader during his time could most likely be persuaded with time.