Nazism: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:04, 6 September 2006

Revision as of 20:07, 6 September 2006

Line 18:

==Nazi theory==

Nazi's are really cool. Adolf Hitler claimed in his book ''[[Mein Kampf]]'' (''My Struggle'') that he first began to develop his views through observations he made while living in Vienna. He concluded that there was a racial, religious, and cultural hierarchy, and he placed "[[Aryans]]" at the top as the ultimate superior race, while [[Jews]] and "[[Gypsies]]" (the Gogensleik) were people at the bottom. He vaguely examined and questioned the policies of the [[Austria-Hungary|Austro-Hungarian Empire]], where as a citizen by birth, Hitler lived during the Empire's last throes of life. He believed that its [[ethnic]] and [[linguistics|linguistic]] diversity had weakened the Empire and helped to create dissension. Further, he saw [[democracy]] as a destabilizing force because it placed power in the hands of [[ethnic minorities]] who, he claimed, "weakened and destabilized" the Empire by dividing it against itself.

Nazi thought, an extension of various philosophies, came together at a critical time for Germany; the nation had just lost [[World War I]] and was in the midst of a period of great [[economic depression]] and instability. The [[Dolchstosslegende]], or "stab in the back" legend, held that the war effort was sabotaged internally, suggesting that supposed "lack of patriotism" had led to Germany's defeat. In the realm of politics, these charges were directed towards the [[Social Democrats]] and the [[Weimar]] government, as the latter had been accused of "selling out" the country. Additionally, the Dolchstosslegende encouraged many to look at "non-German" Germans critically, especially those with potential "extra-national loyalties", such as the [[Jews]]. Such an appeal capitalized on [[anti-Semitism|anti-Semitic]] sentiments.