Nazism

NSDAP-Logo

WWII, Europe, Germany, "Nazi Hierarchy, Hitler, Goering, Goebbels, Hess", The Desperate Years p143 - NARA - 196509

Bundesarchiv Bild 102-02134, Bad Harzburg, Gründung der Harzburger Front

Johann Gottlieb Fichte

VonSchoenerer

Arthur de Gobineau

Nazism, officially known as National Socialism (German: Nationalsozialismus), is an ideology and practices associated with the Nazi Party—officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, NSDAP)—in Nazi Germany, and by extension, other far-right groups with similar aims.

Origins and Ideology

Nazism emerged in the aftermath of World War I, a period marked by severe economic hardship, political instability, and widespread resentment in Germany due to the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles. The ideology was developed by Adolf Hitler and other prominent Nazis, combining elements of pan-Germanism, fierce antisemitism, anti-communism, and the rejection of democracy. At its core, Nazism promoted the belief in the superiority of the Aryan race and the need for living space (Lebensraum) for the German people, leading to the expansionist agenda that precipitated World War II.

Rise to Power

The Nazi Party's rise to power began with its increasing popularity in the early 1930s, culminating in Hitler's appointment as Chancellor of Germany in 1933. Once in power, the Nazis quickly established a totalitarian regime, suppressing opposition through a combination of propaganda, censorship, and state-sponsored violence. The Enabling Act of 1933 allowed Hitler to legislate without the Reichstag's consent, effectively dismantling the Weimar Republic and consolidating his control.

The Third Reich

Under Nazi rule, Germany was transformed into the Third Reich, a single-party dictatorship based on the totalitarian and autocratic ideology of National Socialism. The regime pursued aggressive expansionist policies, leading to the annexation of Austria (Anschluss) and the invasion of Poland in 1939, which triggered World War II. The Nazis implemented radical policies, including the Nuremberg Laws, which institutionalized racial discrimination against Jews, and the T4 Program, which aimed at euthanizing those deemed "life unworthy of life."

The Holocaust

One of the most heinous aspects of Nazism was the Holocaust, the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and genocide of six million Jews, along with millions of others, including Poles, Soviet prisoners of war, Romani people, disabled individuals, and political dissidents. The Nazis established concentration camps and extermination camps, such as Auschwitz, where mass murders were carried out as part of their "Final Solution to the Jewish Question" (Endlösung).

Downfall and Legacy

The Third Reich collapsed in May 1945 with the unconditional surrender of Germany, following a devastating war that had resulted in the deaths of millions and the widespread destruction of Europe. The Nuremberg Trials were held to bring Nazi war criminals to justice, marking a significant moment in the establishment of international law. The legacy of Nazism, characterized by its crimes against humanity, continues to be studied and remembered as a warning against hatred, intolerance, and tyranny.