100 years ago today, in a Munich hotel- Anton Drexler, Dietrich Eckart, Gottfried Feder, and Karl Harrer, first formed the German Worker's Party (DAP). Little did they know that the small party they had formed to discuss their antisemitic and nationalist ideals, would evolve into the National Socialist German Worker's Party (NSDAP) and go on to forever change Germany and the course of world history; leaving behind a legacy that remains an inspiration to some, or a cautionary tale wrought with tragedy and sorrow to this day. None of the founders would live to see the party and movement to its very end in 1945.
This is the story of National Socialism- its past, present, and potential future in whatever form it may take. A discussion or debate thread over its legacy and ramifications, good or bad. It is said to be the single greatest political movement of the 20th century besides Communism in terms of impacting our world. Given that the National Socialist movement in Germany spanned 26 years and quite a lot happened within this relatively short time frame, the full story of the NSDAP is too long and complex to post here: Its rise, its fall, its attempted revivals, and final evolution into the neo-Nazism of today.
It took 14 years for Adolf Hitler to rise to power and he had intended for his Third Reich to last for 1,000 years but it only lasted for 12, because his invasion of the Soviet Union had failed and he had aligned too many other industrialized nations against Germany.
I theorize that Nazism is seen as an inspiration for many if not most neo-Fascists because Nazi Germany for better or worse, was the most powerful and successful Fascist totalitarian state in human history in terms of sheer military power and accomplishments- even if Nazi Germany got itself vanquished in the end. Franco's Spain lasted for far longer, but Spain doesn't have the claim to fame of having conquered nearly an entire continent and more. Whilst Italy was a known weak power for the duration of its time as a Fascist state under Mussolini. It is tempting for a lot of people to think that Hitler's dreams of a German empire could've come true if World War II had gone in a different direction from different decisions being made.
People who lean towards Fascism are often impressed with the iconic SA or SS uniforms and are in awe with the classic and legendary anthem that was the Horst Wessel Lied that had fine enough lyrics and an appealing enough instrumental to influence the music for other Fascist movements the world over and the creation of variants from different countries beyond Germany.
With my thoughts out of the way, what do you think went wrong with National Socialism? Was the NSDAP evil from the beginning or was it primarily Adolf Hitler and his cohorts who hijacked the party from the founders of the ideology? Is it still even National Socialism if antisemitism is divorced from the platform but most of the other Fascist or social Darwinist elements are kept intact? Is Nazism something that can be modernized or salvaged in any way? What are your opinions on the Communist or Capitalist variations of neo-Nazism- the rumored NazBol (National Bolshevism) and NazCap (National Capitalist) movements on the internet?
Nazism is often discarded as the very worst the world of politics has to offer, but the way I see it- it wasn't the first nor will it be the last political force that did atrocities or caused a lot of damage in its wake, just look at ISIS.
In your view, is Nazism only a unique phenomenon confined to one place and era in world history or does it have potential for an indirect successor movement via the alt-right or a political party like France's Front National or Greece's Golden Dawn party?
In the best interests of complying with the rules of this website, please do not post neo-Nazi responses or glorify Adolf Hitler or the Holocaust. Thank you.
