The Nazis

1. Nazism's Rise: A Perfect Storm of Circumstances, Not Destiny

The reality is that Hitler and the Nazis were just as much trapped in the circumstances of their time as we all are.

Not a predetermined path. Hitler's rise to power was not inevitable, nor was it solely due to his charisma. The Nazi party's initial failure in the 1928 elections, where they garnered a mere 2.6% of the vote, underscores that their success was contingent on a confluence of factors, not a preordained destiny.

Post-WWI trauma. The humiliation of Germany's defeat in World War I, coupled with the harsh terms of the Versailles Treaty, created a fertile ground for extremist ideologies. The myth of the "stab in the back" and the fear of Communism fueled resentment and a desire for a strong leader.

• Hyperinflation and mass unemployment further destabilized the Weimar Republic.
• The Munich Räterepublik, a short-lived Communist government, reinforced anti-Semitic prejudices.

Collaboration and miscalculation. The Nazis' ascent was facilitated by the collaboration, weakness, miscalculation, and tolerance of others. Without the economic crisis of the 1930s, the Nazi party would have remained a fringe movement.

2. Nazi Rule: Chaos Beneath the Surface of Order

There was no order there – it was total chaos.

Myth of efficiency. Despite the propaganda portraying a well-oiled machine, the Nazi regime was characterized by internal chaos and jurisdictional battles. The lack of clear directives and the practice of "working towards the Führer" led to a system where individual initiative often resulted in radical and destructive policies.

Terror and conformity. The early years of Nazi rule were marked by arbitrary violence against political opponents, with concentration camps like Dachau becoming symbols of oppression. However, many Germans, like Manfred Freiherr von Schröder, initially welcomed the new regime, believing it brought order and stability.

• The Gestapo, far from being all-powerful, relied heavily on denunciations from ordinary citizens.
• The "Night of the Long Knives" demonstrated Hitler's willingness to use violence against his own supporters.

Popular support. Many Germans, like Erna Kranz, genuinely believed that life was better under Nazi rule, citing reduced unemployment and a sense of national purpose. This highlights the importance of understanding the historical context and the appeal of the regime to those who had experienced the chaos of the Weimar Republic.

3. The Wrong War: Hitler's Misguided Foreign Policy

What India was for England, the territories of Russia will be for us.

The English alliance. Hitler initially sought an alliance with England, viewing the English as fellow members of the "master race." This desire for an alliance was ultimately thwarted by British resistance and Ribbentrop's disastrous ambassadorship.

Rearmament and economic policy. Hitler's primary goal was rearmament, which was initially financed by Hjalmar Schacht's economic policies. However, Schacht's concerns about the long-term consequences of deficit financing were ignored by Hitler, who prioritized military expansion over economic stability.

• The "Mefo bills" allowed for secret rearmament.
• Schacht was eventually sidelined for his concerns.

Mein Kampf and Lebensraum. Hitler's vision of Lebensraum (living space) in the East, outlined in Mein Kampf, was a key driver of his foreign policy. This expansionist goal, coupled with his anti-Bolshevik ideology, ultimately led to the disastrous invasion of the Soviet Union.

4. The Wild East: A Laboratory of Nazi Brutality

The decisions Hitler took in this now-ruined concrete city touched all our lives and shaped the course of the second half of the twentieth century – all for the worse.

Poland as a testing ground. Poland became a laboratory for Nazi racial policies, with the population subjected to brutal ethnic rearrangements and mass killings. The Nazis' treatment of the Poles, particularly the intelligentsia, foreshadowed the horrors of the Holocaust.

• The "Night of the Long Knives" demonstrated Hitler's willingness to use violence against his own supporters.
• The Gestapo, far from being all-powerful, relied heavily on denunciations from ordinary citizens.

Arbitrary violence. The violence in Poland was often arbitrary and uncoordinated, with SS units engaging in casual brutality. The "Night of Broken Glass" (Kristallnacht) demonstrated the regime's willingness to unleash violence against Jews.

• The "Aryanization" program stripped Jews of their livelihoods.
• The Gestapo's reliance on denunciations from ordinary citizens highlights the complicity of many Germans.

"Working towards the Führer." The chaotic nature of Nazi administration allowed local officials like Arthur Greiser and Albert Forster to implement their own interpretations of Nazi ideology, often leading to contradictory and brutal policies. The lack of clear directives and the practice of "working towards the Führer" created a system where individual initiative often resulted in radical and destructive policies.

5. High Hopes: The Illusion of Victory in the East

The Führer began by stating that the subject of the present conference was of such importance that its discussion would, in other countries, be a matter for a full Cabinet meeting, but he, the Führer, had rejected the idea of making it a subject of discussion before the wider circle of the Reich Cabinet just because of the importance of the matter.

The Hossbach Memorandum. The Hossbach Memorandum, while not a concrete plan for war, reveals Hitler's expansionist intentions and his belief that Germany needed Lebensraum in the East. It also marked the end of Hitler's pursuit of an alliance with Britain.

Miscalculations and overconfidence. The German military leadership, emboldened by their victories in Western Europe, underestimated the strength and resilience of the Red Army. They also believed that the Soviet Union was a weak and disorganized state due to Stalin's purges.

• The Winter War with Finland exposed the Red Army's weaknesses.
• The Non-Aggression Pact with the Soviet Union was a temporary alliance of convenience.

The lure of Lebensraum. Hitler's desire for Lebensraum in the East was a key driver of the invasion of the Soviet Union. He saw the territories of Russia as a vast space for German expansion and colonization.

6. A Different Kind of War: The Descent into Barbarism

This is not a happy story and it offers little comfort. But it should be taught in our schools and remembered. For this is what human beings were capable of in the twentieth century.

Racial ideology. The war in the East was not just a military conflict but a racial war of annihilation. The Nazis viewed the Slavs as an inferior race and treated them with extreme brutality.

• The Commissar Order authorized the killing of Soviet political officers.
• The Einsatzgruppen were tasked with the systematic murder of Jews and other "undesirables."

Brutality and dehumanization. The war in the East was characterized by extreme violence and dehumanization on both sides. The German Army, influenced by Nazi ideology, engaged in widespread atrocities against civilians.

• The Red Army, under Stalin's brutal leadership, also committed atrocities.
• The concept of "working towards the Führer" led to a system where individual initiative often resulted in radical and destructive policies.

The "scorched earth" policy. As the Germans retreated, they implemented a scorched earth policy, destroying villages and infrastructure. This policy, coupled with the brutal treatment of civilians, fueled resistance and further escalated the violence.

7. The Tide Turns: Stalingrad and the Inevitable Fall

The standard of living and the extent of armament production are in inverse ratio.

Stalingrad as a turning point. The Battle of Stalingrad marked a turning point in the war, demonstrating the Red Army's ability to fight a modern, mechanized war. The German 6th Army was encircled and destroyed, shattering the myth of German invincibility.

Soviet resilience and adaptation. The Red Army learned from its mistakes and adopted new tactics, including the use of deception and the development of effective counter-attacks. The Soviet war machine, fueled by the efforts of its people, outproduced the Germans in military hardware.

• The Red Army's use of "maskirovka" (deception) was crucial to their success.
• The Soviet people's willingness to endure hardship and sacrifice was a key factor in their victory.

Hitler's inflexibility. Hitler's refusal to allow a strategic retreat at Stalingrad, coupled with his increasingly erratic decision-making, contributed to the German defeat. His belief in his own infallibility and his contempt for his generals led to disastrous consequences.

8. The Road to Treblinka: The Mechanization of Genocide

It is absolutely necessary to kill the Jews.

The evolution of the "Final Solution." The decision to exterminate the Jews was not a single event but a process that evolved over time. The initial policy of expulsion gave way to the systematic murder of Jews in death camps like Treblinka.

• The Wannsee Conference formalized the plan for the "Final Solution."
• The Einsatzgruppen played a key role in the early stages of the Holocaust.

The death camps. Treblinka, Bełżec, Sobibór, and Auschwitz-Birkenau became killing factories, designed to efficiently murder millions of Jews. The camps were characterized by deception, brutality, and the dehumanization of the victims.

• The gas chambers were a key component of the Nazi extermination process.
• The Nazis used forced labor and other forms of exploitation to further their goals.

The role of ordinary Germans. The Holocaust was not solely the work of a few fanatical Nazis but involved the complicity of many ordinary Germans. The Gestapo relied on denunciations from ordinary citizens, and many Germans benefited from the dispossession of Jewish property.

9. Reaping the Whirlwind: The Final Destruction of Nazism

If the German people lose the war, then they will have proved themselves unworthy of me.

Hitler's nihilism. As the war turned against Germany, Hitler became increasingly nihilistic, viewing the German people as unworthy of his leadership. He ordered the destruction of German infrastructure and resources, demonstrating his willingness to sacrifice his own people.

The failure of resistance. Despite the growing desperation, there was little organized resistance within Germany. The oath of allegiance to Hitler, coupled with the fear of retribution, kept many Germans in line.

• The 20 July bomb plot, while a heroic act, was ultimately unsuccessful.
• The German people's fear of Bolshevism also contributed to their continued support for the regime.

The legacy of brutality. The war in the East was characterized by extreme violence and dehumanization on both sides. The German Army, influenced by Nazi ideology, engaged in widespread atrocities against civilians.

• The Red Army, under Stalin's brutal leadership, also committed atrocities.
• The concept of "working towards the Führer" led to a system where individual initiative often resulted in radical and destructive policies.

Last updated: January 25, 2025