|
5.2 Nazism in Germany
After the First World War, the political situation in
Germany presented a confused look. The establishment of the Weimar Republic
followed the abdication of the Kaiser. His constitution was the most liberal
one made so far in the world. It existed at an inopportune time of poverty,
unrest, and national humiliation. Numerous parties also emerged during
this time. Moreover, the appearance of reactionary organizations such
as the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazis) worsened
the already existing confusion. As the political situation deteriorated,
the Nazis benefited the most. Adolf Hitler led this party.
Exhibit 5.3
Adolf Hitler
Hitler’s career began as an agitator in 1923 when he
tried to seize political power in Bavaria by force. As he failed in his
attempt, he was imprisoned. In prison he wrote his famous autobiography,
Mein Kampf (My Struggle). Hitler was released soon and leniency
was showed towards him. The strength of the Nazis, in Reichstag was as
high as 12 to 107 in the general elections of 1930 and it became the second
largest group in the German Parliament. Hitler lost the presidential election
by a narrow margin in 1932, and the Nazis won 196 out of 584 seats in
fresh elections. Even though the Nazi Party did not garner a clear majority
in the polls, theirs was the largest group. Hitler assumed the office
of the Chancellor and headed a coalition ministry. After the death of
the president in 1934, the office of the President and Chancellor were
combined and Hitler came to be popularly known by the title of ’Führer.’
The two important pillars on which the Nazi regime rested
were totalitarianism and racial exclusiveness. Also the state had
the power to pervade every area of its citizen’s life. This was
made clear when Hitler laid down in the first decree of his government
that there was only one party in Germany, namely, the National Socialist
Workers Party.
Other parties were dissolved. The government of the country
was now in the hands of a dictator. He possessed supreme legislative,
executive and judicial powers. He appointed all officers and controlled
home and foreign affairs. All organizations and activities of the state
and all aspects of human life were now ’Nazified’ and brought into close
relationship with the new regime.
The Nazi rule relates to the relentless persecution of
the Jews. Their philosophy exalted the purity of the Aryan race as the
sole criterion of nationality. They held that only Germans belonging to
the Aryan stock alone could form the German nation. As a corollary to
this idea of racial exclusiveness, Jews and non-Aryan Christians were
denied citizenship rights. This persecution of the Jews came to be regarded
everywhere else as an outrage upon civilized humanity.
The Nazis applied the same methods in their foreign affairs.
The reliance on force and the rejection of any sort of compromise was
dear to the Nazis. Hitler wanted to recapture all the territories which
were given to the allies according to the Treaty of Versailles. He completely
disregarded the Treaty of Versailles. He also made pacts with the other
European powers.
Nothing major was done to check the high ambitions of
Hitler in the early days of his success. Most of his actions were allowed
to pass without much protest by the world powers. Moreover, Britain considered
Germany to be 'Right' on moral grounds. The western powers started coming
closer only after the Nazi advances gained momentum and clashed with the
interests of the other states. According to Winston Churchill these powers
came closer "at the last possible moment on the worst possible ground."
Exhibit 5.4
Winston Churchill
[next page]
|
