National Socialism Essay

By 1890, Germany had been a nation state for almost 20 years. Liberal nationalism was dying from its own success, and a new brand of popular ideas on the German Volk and fatherland was emerging to represent the generation which had been born in the boundaries of a German state, and was now reaching adulthood. Necessarily, these ideas would adopt foundations of German cultural superiority and common identity which had been espoused at the start of the century, and this was encouraged by colonialism. This popular nationalism was encouraged by the more active climate of public debate and freer politics. They were also no doubt affected by the position of the army in German society and the interference of a government dominated by the

Peter Fritzche’s book, Germans into Nazis, contends that, “Germans became Nazis because they wanted to become Nazis and because the Nazis spoke so well to their interests and inclinations…however, voters did not back Hitler mainly because they share his hatred of the Jews…but because they departed from established political traditions in that they were identified at once with a distinctly popular form of ethnic nationalism and with the basic social reforms most Germans counted on to ensure national well-being.” (8-9) His argument rests on the notion that the Nazis had a vision for Germany that incorporated Germans into a national community, throwing off the restraints of a tired government, and propelled them towards a future that would

In this essay I will consider to what extent the German economy has been central to change regarding the development of Germany over the whole period, 1890-1991. I will consider the German economy under the Kaiser in accordance with World War 1, during Hyperinflation under the Weimar Republic in 1923, in Nazi Germany under Hitler and in East and West Germany leading to the building of the Berlin Wall. It appears that the German economy to a large degree has been exceedingly central to change in the country over this entire period. It is evident though that the economy itself has not solely been the derivation of precise events over the course of the period. There have been other ideas and proceedings that must be taken into consideration

Understanding that “he who controls both [the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Education] and ruthlessly and persistently exploits his power in [both] can achieve extraordinary things,” he demanded control of two ministries within the Republic’s Government, which was met with unwelcomed opposition (197). Frustrated with the German Peoples Party’s reasoning behind rejecting his proposal, Hitler presented the Reichstag with an ultimatum, which after discussion was accepted. Realizing the various political parties in opposition of the NSDAP, Hitler ordered his newly appointed Minister of both the Interior and Education, Wilhelm Frick, to rid civil services of Marxists and to incorporate National Socialist ideas into the education system (197). However, without complete control of the republic, the first attempts to seize control were anything but successful for the NSDAP. Nevertheless, the party continued to target both the susceptible forms of media through propaganda and vulnerable, yet influential individuals through intimidation. The National Socialists were increasingly forcing themselves on to the front page of newspapers and had began to enter the systems of clubs and associations that were representative of the civil and societal structure of many regional communities (198). With growing support, the appeal of a large, expanding, influential national party seemed to be the best representation of local interests under the idea of a united Germany (198) Remarkably enough, Hitler was able to not only identify the conduits of least resistance, but also capitalize on these opportunities and leverage his successes to help achieve his later seizure of

By the early 19th century, Germany had consisted as several un-unified Germanic states. Although these states were separate governing bodies, they had many things in common which would ultimately lead to their unification. German nationalism was driven by four main forces. The first of which was race. Many of the people in the region were derived from Germanic origin. Much like as we have seen in the colonial United States, a commonly shared ancestry has helped promote the unification of these nation states. Culture was another powerful

The Weimar governance of Germany has, in historical consciousness, been defined by its tumultuous beginnings in 1919, to its collapse to the radical right in 1933. For this fourteen-year period, the nation was to face various obstacles in a climate of ‘revolutionaries against reform.’ A three-year period of hyperinflation and Great Depression in 1929 caused economic strife. Politically, the extremism on both the right and left resulted in paramilitary groups and called into question the ability of the Weimar system to uphold democracy. Thus, 1933 saw the rise of the Nazi party and a radical system that would define Germany for years to come. One of the principal problems with this, is understanding how a civilian population turns to such radical

In examining great social and cultural changes in the modern West, many specific events come to mind: the Renaissance and the Reformation, the “discovery” of the Americas, industrialization, and World War Two. One such event, often overlooked, is the “Great War”, 1914-1918. Like every people affected by the expanse of this war, Germans were deeply affected and forever changed. As a social, cultural, and psychological reaction to World War I, the German people created the Weimar Republic, leading to a drastic change in German society and culture. To best understand these changes, a comprehensive analysis of World War I, before, during, and after, is necessary.

At the turn of the 19th century into the 20th, Germany had become the top European industrial power. Promising a better life, and having had industrial advances in order to provide for new citizens, Germany was a magnet for immigrants looking for jobs and opportunities. Life was comfortable and prospering in the newly unified state until Germany ambitiously entered the Great War. In 1918, German officers gambled on battles on its eastern front and failed to win the war. Huge empires shattered and their citizens lost trust in their leaders: Germany was utterly defeated, stripped of all of its power and wealth, and riding a wave of despair. This cycle of power leading to the public’s mistrust in their leadership, is replicated in the last ten minutes of Robert Wiene’s 1920 film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

In the middle 19th century Germany was going through difficult changes. Germany was going through a change of leadership and a change in the economy during this time (“History of Germany”). Many great men and women decided to make the great journey to a new nation to make a name for themselves and their families.

An unemployed soldier after fighting in World War I, Hitler engaged himself as a politically active individual joining the Nazi Party. Shortly after joining, “Hitler proved to be such a powerful public speaker and organizer that he quickly became the party’s leader. Calling himself Der Fuhrer- “the Leader”- he promised to bring Germany out of chaos” (the book). As part of the Nazi Party, Hitler implemented government policies based on anti-Semitism and racism. Nazism, which is a specific type of fascism, believed in a superior race; “Germans- especially blue eyed, blond haired “Aryans”- formed a “master race” that was destined to rule the world. “Inferior races,” such as Jews, Slavs, and all nonwhites, were deemed fit only to serve the Aryans” (the book).

The Rise of National Socialism The rise of National Socialism in Germany resulted in World War II and the Holocaust. The signing of the Treaty of Versisad in 1919 proclaimed that over 10 million were killed in the first World War and Germany must take the blame and pay for all the damage. This meeting set up three goals: Repayment from Germany for all the damage occurred (12-13 billion dollars), to ensure the Germany would never be able to pose this kind of threat again, and to make sure this situation could never happen anywhere ever again. To help accomplish these three tasks they put into action a League of Nations to watch all countries and make sure this could

Marxist criticism is inherently existentialist. One cannot know anything without having been exposed to it as some sort of life experience. There is no knowledge a priori, as some of the ancient philosophers would have us believe. Rather, knowledge is accumulated a posteriori, through actual experience. Therefore, there is almost nothing that is inherent and absolute in our knowledge. It can never be purely objective, as knowledge is absorbed through the grid of our own perceptions, and that grid is in turn formed through our youthful socialization within our particular culture. For this reason, Marxist analysis does not allow gut-feeling or individual bias to play too great a role in the debate. It is more important

What would happen if we all made the same amount of money? To understand what our society would be as socialist, we must understand the difference between socialist and capitalist ideas. The question becomes not so much as what is socialism, but how does it differ from capitalism, and what is wrong with capitalistic ideas to where we would need socialism.

World War I was a war of unfathomable magnitude that devastated millions and still compels historians today to question its complex causes. At the heart of it all lay Germany which seemed to be at the height of its development.  It was the economic and industrial leader of Europe as well as the unparalleled producer of great literature, music, and educational opportunities. Unfortunately, this rose-colored lens was not shared by German leadership who believed that the country was declining militarily. This growing insecurity is the key to understanding Germany 's actions and motives for entering WWI. This essay will discuss the overarching theme of insecurity through realism theory used to examine the international system during this Westphalian era, and how inept governmental policies supplemented by specific human decisions, societal factors, and public opinion contributed to Germany 's  entry into WWI.

Germany’s place in the European Union is often seen as one of power and Germany gaining many benefits from being part of the interconnected Europe. Even though Germany has some gains from being in the EU, it also has had some restraints placed on its sovereignty and ability to truly rise as a power in the region. The historical toll that the two world wars had on Europe has left a distinct mark on foreign policy, domestic policy, and national identity for many European nations. Germany, in particular, struggles with the implications of its dark past of imperialism and nationalism, and continues to face challenges as it moves forward into its modern era. It must reassure European nations that it is not a threat to the interconnected Europe and constantly prove its commitment to peace. Germany’s historical precedent continue to shape policy decisions regarding the economy, hegemony within the EU, and the refugee crisis.