First, the historical tradition of military feudal imperialism is the historical root of Hitler's coming to power.
Although Germany, Britain, France and other countries are typical capitalist countries, we know that they all embarked on the capitalist road in different ways in history. Britain, France, etc. embarked on the capitalist road through thorough bourgeois revolution, so few feudal remnants remained and they had a good bourgeois democratic tradition. Therefore, although fascism was once raging in the face of economic crisis at that time, it failed to come to power.
However, after Germany achieved reunification through three dynastic wars, it embarked on the capitalist road, so it retained a large number of feudal remnants, and the influence of military feudalism was deeply rooted. Although the old feudal dynasty was overthrown by 1 1 June Revolution, the Weimar Republic established in June 19 19 did not completely destroy the foundation of the old system, and the old state machine was almost completely preserved. So old bureaucrats, old officers and so on continue to control power.
Due to the tradition of militarism, the army occupies a very important position in the country. Some militarists demanded the establishment of a strong government. Due to the influence of long-term authoritarian rule and authoritarian culture, in many people's minds, they despise democracy and freedom, but yearn for autocracy and blindly worship authority. It is easy to accept Hitler's propaganda against * * * and the system.
Second, the economic crisis is the objective condition for Hitler to come to power.
In the world economic crisis of 1929- 1933, Germany was the hardest hit. Because its economy has no buffer space, it has lost all its overseas colonies, spheres of influence and overseas investment; In addition to the huge foreign debt, it also paid a lot of war reparations. At this time, the German people are in hunger and cold. Many people are desperate for the world. In Berlin alone, more than 60 people commit suicide every day, not including those who freeze to death and starve to death.
What measures has the German government taken? Announced the cessation of compensation, raised taxes by billions of marks at home, and drastically cut wages, benefits and pensions. In this case, people's dissatisfaction with the government gradually broke out. Stormy strikes and demonstrations of the unemployed broke out all over Germany, and class contradictions in the country were unprecedentedly high. The people, especially the petty bourgeoisie, have been completely disappointed with the Weimar Republic, and they urgently need to find a new way out; The German ruling class is increasingly dissatisfied with the government that is powerless in the face of the crisis, and they hope to establish a strong government.
This economic crisis provided a golden opportunity for Hitler and his Nazi party. Hitler seized this opportunity and set off the second climax of the Nazi movement, and the influence of the Nazi party expanded rapidly. From 1929, the Nazi Party went through a slow development stage and entered a stage of rapid development and seizure of political power. The rise and development of the Nazi movement mainly took advantage of the social unrest brought about by the economic crisis and people's dissatisfaction with the government. It is the economic crisis that provides a good opportunity for the rise of fascist forces.
Third, Hitler catered to the socialist and nationalist sentiments of the German people, carried out demagogic propaganda and defrauded the people's support. This is an important reason why Hitler came to power.
At the beginning of the 20th century, nationalism and socialism prevailed in Germany. The Treaty of Versailles imposed on Germany after World War I made Germany lose 1/8 of its land,110 of its population, 3/4 of its iron ore and 1/3 of its coal, all its overseas investments and colonies, and huge war reparations. Lenin called it plunder and shocking. At that time, the German Foreign Minister resigned because he was afraid to sign. The peace treaty not only brought great disasters to the German people, but also greatly damaged national self-esteem, which made Germany have a strong nationalist sentiment from top to bottom. Due to the influence of the October Revolution and the German 165438+ October Revolution, the lower class people have a strong desire for socialism.
Hitler took advantage of the people's emotions and made a big fuss about nationalism and socialism. In the name of the Nazi party, the party's program also contains nationalism and socialism, and so does propaganda. In the propaganda, he appeared as a representative of the interests of the whole nation, preaching the supremacy of Aryan nation and calling for the revival of Germany; Promise workers to implement national socialism and eliminate unemployment; Promise farmers land and militarists to build a strong army.
The Nazi party did its best in propaganda. 1929 After the economic crisis broke out, Hitler organized thousands of propagandists and a large number of students to go deep into cities and rural areas to publicize at the grassroots level. In the election of 1932, Nacai's publicity activities also reached a climax. They posted/kloc-0.00 million color posters, distributed 8 million brochures and/kloc-0.20 million special issues of party newspapers in large and small cities, and held 3,000 meetings in various places in one day. Moreover, the advanced technology at that time was fully used in the election, such as movies, records, loudspeakers, propaganda cars and so on. Hitler also rented a plane to give lectures all over the country, sometimes as many as 49 times a day. The whole of Germany was stirred up by the Nazi Party. The lower classes, driven to the wall by the crisis, felt that they finally saw hope and flocked to the Nazi Party.
Fourth, the failure to establish a broad anti-fascist United front with the working class as the main body in Germany is another important reason why Hitler came to power.
In Germany at that time, the only social force that could stop Hitler from coming to power was the revolutionary masses with the working class as the main body. As the vanguard of the German working class, the German Productive Party has waged unremitting anti-fascist struggle and made active efforts to establish an anti-fascist United front. The main target of the German Union is the Social Democratic Party. Germany's Social Democratic Party is a very influential big party, and a large part of the German working class is influenced by it. If the socialists unite, they will surpass fascism.
1In the presidential election in March-April, 932, Germany * * * proposed a candidate with the Social Democratic Party * * to prevent fascism from coming to power, but it was rejected, and the Social Democratic Party itself did not mention it. At this time, there were four candidates: Hindenburg (current president, militarist), Hitler, Tallman (* * * Production Party) and Dasburg (National Party). * * * The party's election slogan is: "The election of Hindenburg is the election of Hitler, and the election of Hitler is the election war". The slogan of the Social Democratic Party is: "Choosing Hindenburg is attacking Hitler", which is based on the lesser of two evils. As a result, Hindenburg was elected, and the consequences were unfortunately pointed out by the producers.
193365438+1On October 30th, Hitler was appointed as German Chancellor by German President Hindenburg. On the second day of Hitler's coming to power, Germany appealed to the Social Democratic Party for an immediate national general strike to overthrow Hitler (there is a precedent, 1920 Karp riots, and the workers' strike saved the country), but the Social Democratic Party considered Hitler's coming to power unconstitutional. As a result, because they repeatedly refused Germany's request for the establishment of an anti-fascist United front, the working class was divided and had no power to repel the reactionaries' attacks. In the end, the German working class failed to unite and could only watch Hitler come to power.
Fifth, the strong support of the monopoly bourgeoisie is the fundamental reason why Hitler came to power.
While winning the support of the lower class, the Nazi Party paid great attention to collusion with the ruling class. Due to the socialist propaganda of the Nazi Party, the monopoly bourgeoisie was wary of it at first. But Hitler worked hard and talked with important people in the economic circles many times. He promised never to infringe on their interests and will open up overseas markets for them. The monopoly bourgeoisie began to give him strong political and economic support.
In the parliamentary election of 1932, the steel magnate Thyssen paid 3 million marks for the campaign in three days. He not only gave the Nazi party a lot of money, but also made suggestions and carried out behind-the-scenes activities. 1932165438+1October, some famous German monopoly capitalists schacht, Siemens, Krupp and others jointly wrote to Hindenburg, demanding the appointment of Hitler as Prime Minister. Even the former German emperor William II gave Hitler 2 million marks until 1930, when the deposed Crown Prince wrote to Hindenburg twice, urging him to let Hitler form a cabinet. The Nazi Party was also supported by foreign capitalists, such as British oil giant Detel Ding and American automobile giant Ford, all of whom supported the Nazi Party.
We can see that the monopoly bourgeoisie is the backstage of the Nazi Party. Without their direct and active support, it is a question whether the Nazi party can exist even if it comes to power.