Nazi Ideology: Beliefs of the Nazi Party - Research Paper Example

Nazi- the National Socialist party that came to power towards the Second World War was a result of multiple factors. It was not just a single event or struggle of few months that enabled them reaching the echelon of decision making and power; rather it was an organized program. This organized program was based on elements such as power curtailing, rivals’ elimination, propaganda as a tool and use of force. Thesis Statement: The root causes of World War Two can be traced back to the days when the Nazi party formally came into power in 1933. They used various tools such as propaganda and media. Since then they never looked back and it continued till the initiation of the war, leading to the end of war in 1945. Keywords: Propaganda, one party state, purges, totalitarian state. Dr. Joseph Goebbels. Background: The end of First World War saw a state of complete humiliation being brought upon the German nation. They were left high and dry. Their dream of a German Empire based on glorious history of past was left unfulfilled. The Weimar Assembly was introduced. It was democratic in nature, a totally new concept to the German nation. This was done so through the auspices of the international forces who had come together in the form of League of Nations. The Nazi party could not bear with the fact that Weimar Assembly was gaining momentum and coming to terms with the sanctions, and other obstructions that were laid in front of them in earlier days. Nazi party Manifesto: Nazi party therefore adopted a certain method and procedure for the purpose of enacting, establishing themselves and out maneuvering their rivals who stood in the form of members of the Weimar assembly. They used large number of tools and techniques to reach out to the masses and convey their message. Nazi Party choice of tools: This far stretched policy was based on the concept of using electronic means such as radio, the newspaper, the writers and journalists, the pseudo intellectuals in the country by earning their soft corner or forcing them to write in the manner that was desired by the Nazi party and manifesto. When they came into power and consolidated their control they took control of the press formally. The education sector was the first area of target and attention for the Nazi party. The educational curriculum in all over the country was synchronized and Nazi’s goal and objectives were made integral part of the course outline. The enacted institutions such as art, cinema, and newspaper all were being taken care of. Different films and other promotional campaigns were being initiated for this purpose. Individuals who specialized in the aforementioned items and fields were hired. The early days: In the post World War scenario, a general feeling of ill will, resentment and animosity prevailed against the world powers that had inflicted humiliating defeat about the Germans. The case was further deteriorated when concepts and phenomenon such as war clause guilt was being imposed. A party and movement called Germany Workers Party came forth in the early days after the end of First World War. This movement and party soon gained impetus and was transformed into National Socialist Program. The objectives set forth were based on reviving the lost glory and respect that had been lost in the First World War. Media: This entailed the censorship being implemented upon the content being published and telecasted on radio. Anything that fell in line against the manifesto and objectives of the party would be termed as anti patriotic and would be censored. This was done to ensure that no other party or other ideology may come into action and disturb the on going process of Nazis publicity. The core purpose was to reach out to the masses, win their trust and loyalties and earn their support towards the greater objectives that were to be undertaken in the course of next few years towards the Second World War. The event of 10th May 1933: This day marked significance with regard to the events undertaken towards censorship. On this particular day, large number of students and the party workers and volunteers screened out nearly all the libraries and places in towns and cities with the aims of eliminating any literature material that was contrary to the teachings and ideology of the Nazi party. It is being said that as many as nearly twenty five thousand books and other works of literature were being set ablaze on that single night in the raids being conducted in different parts of the country. Large amount of literature was being confiscated and set ablaze. It had its inner motives as well as exterior motives. The aim was to send a clear message to the rivals. The rivals in turn went into hiding or stopped writing anything that was against the Nazi manifesto. Major casualties: On that night the works of large number of world renowned writers were put to blaze. The works of Jew writers were set ablaze in first step. This also entailed the works of the world famous sociologist Karl Marx. Apart from him, the works of Jack London, and Ernest Hemingway was also torched. Political activists targeting: Apart from the literary works, political parties were being targeted and more predominantly their heads. The likes of Hermann Muller and Carl Severing were being put to sword with regard to the rivalry and difference of opinion they possessed against the entire concept and ideology of Adolf Hitler and His party. The works of Helen Keller: Apart from the persecution of the Jews, the Nazis did not have any space for homosexuals nor the physically disabled people. In the light of same mindset and concept, the works of Helen Keller were removed and torched on that very night. It was because she had advocated the rights, privileges and potential hope for the physically disabled and impaired people. The move on that night was reflective of the overall mindset that was prevailing in the Nazi ranks. All the actions that were to be taken would be taken in the light of doctrine and principles of Nazi party manifesto. Dr. Joseph Goebbels: Dr. Goebbels comes into the history as the front runner of Nazi party movement. His actions were based on that of censorship and propaganda. It can be safely said that the entire movement and objectives of Nazi party would not have achieved what it achieved through his contributions. What the generals achieved in the battle fields, Dr. Goebbels achieved that in the social and commercial sector. He was quite close to Adolf Hitler and he was assigned the task of taking care of the propaganda sector and censorship. All major decisions subject to the publication of press material and other academic content would seek his approval prior to publication. He was of the same ideas and ideology of the Jews being an inferior tribe and that they must be exterminated. He was formally assigned the rank of Minister of Propaganda (Welch 2003, p 78). The night of broken glass was one of the major events that mark his contributions as a minister during his days. Works such as the Second revolution and Lenin or Hitler were few of the hallmarks of his ability and contributions that he made towards the entire movement. The famous newspaper Der Angriff (The Attack) was being published under his auspices. His literary style was influencing and at the same time provocative inciting hatred and reaction from the rivals. Other leads: Other leads who led the process of propaganda were Rudolf Hess, Robert Ley, Gertrud Scholtz- Klink, Julius Streicher. Major Publications: The oath to Hitler To the Front Fighters of the World To the Old Guards in Munich The Referendum on Hitler Launching the training Ship Horst Wessel. Why the Aryan Law( 1934) Advice for Nazi Speakers(1935) Hitler Youth material.(1937) Protocol of the Elders of Zion The Guilty(1933) The End( 1935) The way to slavery (1939) When will the Jewish Danger be Over ( 1942) The Jewish World Plague( 1939) People and Race The Jewish World Parasite( 1943) Anti Semitism for Girls(1944) A Police state: Under the principles of territorial aggrandizement and aims towards reversing the defeat and course of First World War, the German state depicted a state run by principles of hatred and police was the major force. It was a military and police force where the welfare of the people was not the priority nor was it the sole aim of the governmental institutions. It is for this reason that the Third Reich is being termed as the police state. Cinema: Cinema was used as a tool as well to reach out to the masses and spread the message. The movies would be rated and would get a award at the end of the year. The entire industry of film making was driven on the genre of nationalistic mindset and patriotic ingredients. The movies received full support and funding from the Nazi party. The following were few of the major movies that rose to rank and earned awards. Hitler youth Quex- 1933 Maturing Youth 1933 Refugees-1933 1934: The Rider on the White Horse The Prodigal Son The Old and Young King Higher Order 1936: The Kaiser of California If all men were angels The Sovereign Patriots Revolution- marriage Towards the war days: 1939: Opera Bella Motherly Love Fighting Death Comedians Coming home. The last few were from the days when the Second World War had formally started. One of the most talked about and controversial films of those times that held the attention of the Nazis and its propaganda agency was “All Quiet on Western Front”. All Quiet on Western Front: This was a move that Nazi party could not bear with. As a result of this, they decided to take action against it. The party assigned this task to its most trusted and tested member. Joseph Goebbels. The Nazi party differed with this movie with regard to the content and theme of it, and they believed that the subject was not reflective of the actual events and the actual mindset being carried by the ordinary German citizens; as a result it fell in the line of fire of Nazi censorship. The S.S Force: An elite force that was enacted during the days of Nazis rule. It was acronym for Schutzstaffel. Its aim was to safeguard the ideology set forth and the people who were the main leads in this concept. They enjoyed discretionary powers and authority and they could use force against anyone who fell under the radar of suspicion. Comics: In the entire game of propaganda, comics also found space and place for publication. It was to attract the attention in a softer way. It was to make sure that the overall message does not become too rude and rough and with sense of humor and taste being added to it, the purpose was performed in a lighter yet very effective way. Major comic characters came forth in those days. The stereotype characters such as Captain America was used for the purpose of political objectives. In many comic series it was shown as fighting the Nazi and German mighty characters designed against it. Thor Comic was another similar item being introduced and used for political message conveying. Captain Marvel vs. Monster Society Evil : Mephisto Captain Nazi, Herr Phoul, Hideki Tojo and Adolf Hitler himself found space and position amongst the major comic magazines of the German press in those days. Other comic characters and companies that were involved in those days were as following: Baron Zemo Green Skull Z-34, a weapon, a submarine originally Red Skull Herr Oto Flick Iron Sky The Major from Hellsing Major companies that came forth in this process were Big Band Comics, The All star Squardon, Silver age of Comics Their actions fell directly in line with the violations of human rights. It was a as a result of these activities that this organization along with various other central entities of Nazi government were termed as banned outfit towards the end of Second World War. Major Newspapers: Newspapers were the front runners with regard to the spreading of message and word of Nazi party. The newspapers made sure there was no article and editorial that may act as counterproductive towards the entire purpose of Nazi philosophy. Over four and a half thousand newspapers were functional in those days. In the initial days after empowerment in 1933, not all newspapers were under the control, but soon through the strong and effective agency of propaganda and press control, all the newspapers were brought under control. The first two to fall to Nazi authorities were Ullstein and Mosse. Both had Jewish roots and traces to it and to ensure that the message and grievances of the Jewish community are not expressed both domestically and internationally, these newspapers were overtaken and were subjected to strong censorship. Other major newspapers and publishing companies: Vossische Zeitung was the pioneers of press agency working in Germany since long. The Nazi government realized that controlling this would enable enforcing its impression and control upon other agencies as well as this was quite an influential one. The original owners of this company were forcefully withdrawn from this business and they later on had to surrender against the force and will of the government and sell it out to the state agencies and state sponsored organizations. Tageblatt suffered the same fate and was subjected to the state regulations and restrictions that made it difficult for them to survive and they ultimately gave in to the force of the secret police and other agencies who had time and again forced them to change the content and agree to the censorship policies set forth by the government and the Nazi party in broad terms. Other main newspapers from those days were as following: Der Angriff Arbeitertum Fronten Fritt Folk Nasisten Het Nieuwe Volk Das Reich Dr. Joseph Goebbels was given the charge and authority to monitor all the actions and all the publications of the different press agencies and he were to report to the higher authorities in case of the violation and disapproved material that may came to forth. Radio networks: Dr. Joseph Goebbels stressing upon the importance of the radio as a tool of effective governance said that the radio would replace the newspaper and would be as effective as was the press in 19th century. He termed it the main stay of government’s reach to masses. Reich Broadcasting Corporation, Volkische and Volksempfanger were few of the sources and radio instruments and agencies being used for the purpose of promoting the policies and agenda of Nazi government in those days. Opposition: Nazis faced opposition from the socialists and democrats. The liberals were in power during the Weimar Assembly. The burning of the Reichtag building was the final nail in the coffin and it was around the era when it was officially declared that only Nazi party would be the representative party of the governmental matters. Other parties that had existed previously were the Catholic Central Party. Social Democrats were another party that suffered hard beating at the hands of Adolf Hitler and his like minded generals and followers. While in power: 1933- 1939: While in power, the main agenda was to crush the rivals. The central legislative entity was reduced to Nazi party only. The country was turned into a virtual single party state where there was no place and space for the rivals. Adolf Hitler from time to time consolidated his power and authority. In 1934 he declared himself the furor. All major decisions were subject to his approval. Several purges were being controlled and rooted out. Number of military generals and other top rank officers were being executed on the charges of alleged purges being performed or intended. Adolf Hitler: Adolf Hitler was the individual who single handedly turned the world upside down. It was through his auspices that the world was dragged into Second World War. The Third Reich, the establishment of Nazi as a party and the entire concept of Holocaust were the brain child of Adolf Hitler. He had taken the humiliation of First World War to heart and in turn had resorted to avenging the high handedness. Adolf Hitler considered Austrians as the sole responsible towards the defeat of Germany in World War One. He termed the Germans as the superior tribe hailing from the background of Aryans. He termed the Austrians as the parasites who had inflicted the defeat upon Germans. In the process and terminology of Holocaust, the direct victims of his aggression were Jews, followed by the homosexuals and the physically disabled ones. Adolf Hitler rose to power step wise. The Beers Hall firing incident was a major turning point in his life where he was sentenced to long term initially and later on was reduced. On release he initiated the movement towards building of Nazi party and by 1933 it was in power. His ideals were Adolf Stock. Conclusion: Overall, the outcome of the Second World War was a result of activities that had been undertaken by the Nazis for nearly two decades. The last few years between 1933 and 1939, saw the consolidation of power when they formally came into power. Prior to that, they took their time strengthening their agendas and internal circles. Through this period numbers of international accords were being signed. This came about in the form of alliances with Italy, Japan and other countries that together made up for the Central powers in the Second World War who officially initiated war against the Allies and gifted the world with a deadly war in the form of Second World War. The outcome of his activities was quite an horrid one, both on individual level and on collective level. On individual level the entire Nazi party disintegrated. Adolf Hitler went into oblivion with speculations about his causes of death. With Japan being bombed with an atomic bomb, Germany was in line provided they had no surrendered and they had not sued for peace. Overall, it can be said that propaganda and totalitarian approach enabled Hitler and his contemporaries achieving what they did in these years. This through the aid of the sources and tools used that are mentioned in the entire paper. References: Welch, David. Modern European History 1871-2000: A Documentary Reader. Routledge, 2003. Read More