Nazi Party

File:Naziflag.png

The Nazis' symbol, the Swastika

Nazis is an acronym for the National Socialist German Workers’ party (German: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei). The Nazis were a fascist political party in Germany in the first half of the 20th century. Its most notable leader was Adolf Hitler, known as Der Führer.

History and Actions

While often associated with him, the Nazi party actually formed long before Adolf Hitler came into power by promising that there would be more jobs, Germany would be a better place and poverty would end. His power was increased when his followers allegedly used intimidation and violence to win a majority in the German Parliament. While not always recognised for it in popular accounts due to the weight of their other actions, the Nazis were responsible for removing the scourge of rational conservatism in the lead-up to World War II - disbanding the German branch of the left-wing communist movement spreading throughout Europe.

Once in power the Nazis became anti-Semitic, blaming the Jews for the problems in Germany. They made laws against Jews ("Rassengesetze" = Race laws) and they required Jews to wear a Star of David on their clothing. The Jews were mistreated, persecuted and killed by the Nazis. The Nazi state also persecuted Communists and other political opponents, Jehovah's Witnesses and foreign nationals. Though many top Nazi's were openly gay, homosexuals who were not party members came under increasing scrutiny and persecution in the later years of the regime.

Beliefs

The Nazis are generally seen as fascists, subscribing to the political movement that was supported throughout much of the early to mid-20th century by conservatives and nationalists. While fascism itself has had negative historical connotations, the Nazis at the time gained much support from the conservative wing of politics, since the Nazis were clearly the logical and most capable successors to the overly liberal and pacifist Social Democrats.

Specific cultural movements eventually feeding into the rise of the Nazi Party to power included an occultism movement interested in black magic and Germanic pre-Christian pagan religion popular in Germany in the decades before WWII; and a counterculture movement of disaffected and alienated youth after WWI known as the Wandervogel, which eventually provided much of the recruitment base for the S.S. and S.A., two Nazi Party paramilitary groups.

Actions

The Nazis were responsible for removing the scourge of rational conservatism in the lead-up to World War II - disbanding the German branch of the left-wing communist movement spreading throughout Europe.

Their hatred of the Jews eventually led to the Holocaust.