Nazi Ideology in 1933 What did Nazism stand for?

Learning Objectives By the end of this lesson you should: Be able to explain the difference between ideology, policy and propaganda Understand what Hitler’s ideas were and where they came from Have decided if you think Hitler had a coherent ideology or not

‘Ideology’ What is an ‘ideology’? A doctrine. An ambition. An optimum goal. Idealistic. A unifying system of beliefs belonging to an individual group. An organised and coherent collection of ideas.

Policy and propaganda 1) How would you define ‘policy’ and ‘propaganda’? 2) How are ‘ideology’, ‘policy’ and ‘propaganda’ linked? Policy – implementation, realistic, road map. Propaganda – distortion of facts to suit a certain purpose. Differences and links?

Nazi Ideology How as historians can we find out what Nazi ideology was? Mein Kampf (My Struggle) – Hitler’s autobiography, dictated to Rudolf Hess while in Landsberg prison Published over two volumes and released in 1925 and 1926 (in all good book shops and a few rubbish ones too) Considered a vital source for understanding Hitler’s mind and beliefs (Nazi Ideology or ‘Weltanschauung’ world view) However, others feel the 750 pages of confused, inaccurate and repetitive highlight that Nazi ideology was not a system of well defined principles but rather a glorification of prejudice and myth

Mein Kampf P (McDonough) 1) Race 2) Volksgemeinschaft 3) Nazi state – Authoritarianism and Social Darwinism 4) Socialism 5) Anti-Semitism 6) Foreign Policy In groups of 6, write notes on one of these areas – you will feedback to each other to complete a full set of notes

Where did these ideas come from? Race Hitler’s racial ideas were not new and drew upon C19th race theories. The existence of an Aryan race was a myth and only existed in the writings of theorists who described the Scandinavian and Northern people Nordic. The writings of Gobineau – French racial theorist saw humankind in a process of decline. Racial mixture would lead to the ruin of the Aryan race (finest branch). Houston Stewart Chamberlain – British born writer who saw race at the centre of historical development and the Jews as an alien people.

Where did these ideas come from? Anti-Semitism Hitler certainly was not the first person to be openly hostile to the Jewish community. Hatred, discrimination and violence can be dated back many centuries and in a large number of countries (German Crusade 1069, Expulsion of Jews from England by Edward 1 in 1290). In 1879, German journalist Wilhelm Marr originated the term antisemitism, denoting the hatred of Jews. The nineteenth century ‘voelkisch movement’ made up of German philosophers, scholars, and artists who viewed the Jewish spirit as alien to Germandom -- shaped a notion of the Jew as "non- German”. Karl Haushofer who was among a group of academics at Munich University would be one such example.

Where did these ideas come from? Authoritarian, aggressive and crude Social Darwinist philosophy Formed from German philosophers such as Hegel, Treitschke and Nietzsche who stressed the importance of force, state supremacy and the necessity of war. Idea of Germany as militarist, anti-liberal and anti- democratic was a longing to the days of Prussian dominance and the unification of Germany in 1871.

To describe Hitler’s thinking as an ideology is to flatter it. Discuss The schools of thought: William Shirer – ‘a grotesque hodgepodge concocted by a half baked, uneducated neurotic’. Vague and mystical. It was not a system of well defined principles rather a glorification of prejudice and myth. Or Alan Bullock – consistent in adhering to ideas and conceptions. Coherent and well defined framework of ambitions.