NAZISM: Reflection and Questions

"They were also against both communism and capitalism, blaming them both on Jews, even though that seems like a contradiction. They promised to resolve the struggles between business and labor, and originally tried to portray themselves as a non-communist alternative for the working classes. In a sense they were not lying since their strategy was to substitute racial struggle for class struggle."

I would say from the end of the 19th century the changes of the German people have been a prominent theme. This I would say is one of the major topics we are learning in this class. The idea of nihilism destroying the traditional views and ways of the system that seems to be unfulfilled to the people. Here comes Adolf Hitler as an exemplary of Max Weber "politician" character. He promised the solution for all those who wants to see change in German government and society. Can he really deliver? I say no. His party called the Nazi are a group of extremist who believes that communism, capitalism and the Jews are the problem and they take inhumane bitter-sweet measures to execute a difference, at least they think its going to bring difference.

I chose this quote because it was the lie that the Germans bought, that would cause a undo able change in the history of the nation. Lets start with communism, the Nazi were supposedly against Communism and  promise to eradicate it. Did they? No the continued it in another way because as the quote says they substitute the racial struggle for the class struggle, so no really solution was met by that. Two, Capitalism Nazi German played a big part in capitalism because manufacturing monopolies were build around war supplies and the motor industries did not always hire paid labors because they had aid from slave laborers and corporations and monopolies such as the banks and motor companies made German a capitalistic society. And three the genocide among the Jews was nothing common, natural or humane. It did not purge the race as Hitler anticipated to accomplish, and was not beneficial to Germany in no way.

1. What were some of the major reasons that led to the rise of Nazi Germany?
The people wanted a direction and a hope due to the great depression and the war. Also they identified with the lower classes of people, the promises to eradicate communism and capitalism and the breed of a true German race.

2. How did Nazis resolve conflicts between workers and owners and why was this an attractive model for business executives?
Well with the war there was a rise in war production and even motor production and with the rise of the Nazi rule there was a decrease in unemployment. So laborers were getting jobs due to industrialization and owners paid the workers less. Other employers used this same strategy and though it to be genius.

3. What is the significance of the phrase "Arbeit Macht Frei?"
"Work bring freedom" is a significant phrase to meaningful in that the initial phase of anti-Semitism was more about confiscating Jewish property and forcing them out of high positions in banks, government, universities, etc.

4. What is state capitalism and how does it relate to Nazi Germany?
State capitalism is the idea that power motive is more important than profit motive. It relates to Nazi Germany because it alludes that though the companies profiting in the production of war materials that is controlled by the interest of the state in hopes of expanding national power.

5. How would you evaluate the psychological causes of anti-semitism in the context of German society?
Totally Irrational and paranoid. Damaging and tainting to the families and survivors of the Holocaust their history will never be the same.