Thedrivingforceofthemostimportantchangesinthisworldhavebeenfoundlessinscientific

knowledgeanimatingthemassesbutratherinafanaticismdominatingthemandinahysteriawhich
drivesthemforward.
AdolphHitler
Introduction

Themostominousdevelopment
afterWorldWarI
andoneoftheprimarycausesofWorldWarIIwas
theriseofAdolphHitlerinGermany.TheTreatyofVersailleshelpedleadtothisinfiveways.First,
therewasthecommonbeliefthat
Germanyhadbeenbetrayed
,sincetheArmisticehadbeensigned
beforealliedtroopshadreachedGermansoil.Germans,lookingforscapegoats,blamedbankers,
Catholics,andespeciallytheJews.Second,
theTreatyofVersaillesangeredtheGermanpeopleand
destabilizedGermanybotheconomicallyandpolitically
.Third,theWeimarRepublic,which
succeededtheKaisersmonarchy,
wasmoderate,butweak
,andthusletmattersgetoutofhand.
Fourth,theGermaneconomy'soverdependenceonAmericanloans
causedittocollapse
withthe
StockMarketCrashin1929.Finally,
theDepression,
especiallywiththe
renewedraisingoftariffs,
createdtenseinternationalrelations
.AlltheseprovidedtheconditionsforHitlertoseizepower.

AdolphHitlerwasbornin1889inBraunau,Austria.Hisearlyambitionwastobeanartist,buthe
failedtogainentranceintoVienna'smainartacademy.DrawinguponstrongantiSemiticsentiments
alreadyinVienna,HitlerblamedtheJewsforconspiringtokeephimout.Hegotbyasanartistfor
soapanddeodorantads,havingfewexpenses,sincehewasneithermarried,drankalcohol,or
smoked.In1913,havingfailedtogetintotheAustrianarmy,hecrossedintoGermany.Thencame
WorldWarI.

HitlerservedintheGermanarmywithdistinction,waswoundedtwice(oncebypoisongas)and
decoratedforbravery.Beingaloner,heactuallyenjoyedthewarandthecomradeshipofthearmy,
sinceitgavehimasenseofbelonging.Therefore,
hefeltespeciallydisappointedandbetrayedwhen
GermanysurrenderedinNovember1918.
TheTreatyofVersaillesthenextyearmerelyaddedtothis
bitterness.Notsurprisingly,heconvenientlyblamedtheJewsforGermany'splight.

Afterthewar,
Hitlerservedasareservist,spyingonpoliticalparties
tomakesurethey
didnotaddto
thechaosthenbesettingGermany.
OnesuchpartywastheNationalSocialist,or
Nazi,Party
.This
rightwinggroupattractedHitlerwith
itsracistideasaboutamasterAryanraceandthesocalled
"inferior"races,
suchastheSlavsandespeciallytheJewswhomustbedestroyed.Hitlerbecamethe

Nazis'seventhmemberandsoonafterwardsitsleader.Healsofoundanewtalent,speechmaking,
whichattractedlargeaudiencesandfundsto
thenewparty'streasury
.

AsdisturbingastheNaziideaswere,theywerenothingnewororiginaltoEuropeanculture.
PersecutionandhatredoftheJewswentbacktotheMiddleAgeswheretheywereoftenresentedas
moneylenders,accusedofsuchthingsastheexecutionofChristandconspiringwiththeDevilto
causetheBlackDeath,andsubjectedtoexpulsionfromtheirhomelandsandattimesevenmassacres.
EvensuchareveredfigureasMartinLuthersaidtheJewsshouldbedeprivedoftheirpropertyand
that:

...theirsynagoguesorschoolsbesetonfire,thattheirhousesbebrokenupanddestroyed...andthey
beputunderarooforstable,liketheGypsies...inmiseryandcaptivityastheyincessantlylamentand
complaintoGodaboutus.

TheideaofanAryansuperracewasalsorootedinGermanphilosophy,inparticularFreidrich
Neitzsche,whoseideaofanewsuperiortypeofhuman("ubermensch")waseasilytakenoutof
contextandnarrowlyappliedbytheNazistotheGermanpeople:

Adaringandrulerraceisbuildingitselfup...Theaimshouldbetoprepareatransvaluationofvalues
foraparticularlystrongkindofman,mosthighlygiftedinintellect&will.Thismanandtheelite
aroundhimwillbecomethe'lordsoftheearth'TheWilltoPower

Ordinarily,suchideaswouldhavelittleappealinnormalprosperoustimes.However,c
onditionsin
GermanyafterWorldWarIwereanythingbutnormalorprosperous.

Politicalstrife
rockedthe
countryasextremistsfromboththerightandleft.Notablythe
Communists,foughtforpower
.
Anotherproblemcameas
thegovernmentprintedvastamountsofmoneytosupportastrikeagainst
occupyingFrenchtroops
tryingto
forceGermanytopayitshugeindemnity
.However,Germany's
inabilitytobackupitscurrencyledtoawildly
uncontrolledcycleofinflation
.Asaresult,asingle
turnipwouldcost50millionmarksandpeopleliterallyburnedmoneyforfuel,carteditaroundin
wheelbarrows,andshoveleditoutofbankvaults.

Giventheseconditions,itishardlysurprisingthatmany
Germansweredrawntotheideaof
themselvesasasuperracethathadbeentreacherouslybetrayedby"inferior"enemies
fromwithin
andwithout.ThereforemembershipintheNazipartygrewrapidlyintheearly1920s,
prompting

Hitler
totrytooverthrowthegovernmentin1923.HisPutsch,asitwascalled,wasatotaldisaster,
buttheresultingtrialearnedHitleragooddealofpublicityasanationalherodefendingGerman
honoragainstdomesticviolenceandforeignhumiliation.Whileinprisonforninemonths,hewrote
MeinKampf("MyStruggle"),whichoutlinedhispoliticalbeliefsandstrategiesforseizingpower.

Whileitsracistideaswerejustrehashedversionsofolderideas,MeinKampfdidprovideablueprint
formodernpoliticsthroughtheuseofradio,posters,massrallies,lies,andcatchysloganswhich
appealedtotheemotionswithoutreallytellinganythingofsubstanceinorderto
manipulatethe
politicalprocess.
NazismwasanegativephilosophythatthrivedonGermany'smiseries.However,by
themid1920's,theillusionofprosperityandtheapparentlyfadinghostilitytowardGermanycaused
Nazimembershiptostagnate.

Allthatchangedinthe1930's,asothertwoeffectsofWorldWarIcreatedconditions
favoringthe
Nazis.
Foronething,
theDepressionwithitshighertariffsraisedinternationaltensions,
whichHitler
couldexploittogainpopularity.Also,thewarhadcreatedanunstableeconomythatwasoverly
dependentonfinancialsupportfromtheUnitedStates.Therefore,thestockmarketcrashin1929
draggedGermanydown
withtheAmericaneconomy.By1932,sixmillion
Germanswere
unemployed,
whichplayedrightintoHitler'shands.Thistimehewouldusethedemocraticprocessto
gainpowerandthenusethatverydemocraticprocesstodestroyitself.

TheNazisreactedtotheseconditionsintwoways.First,Nazithugs,knownasBrownshirtsin
imitationofMussolini'sBlackshirts,
startedriots
withopposinggroups,especiallyCommunists,while
blamingthemforthedisorder,
embarrassingthegovernmentforfailingtokeeporderandportraying
themselvesasthedefendersofthepeace
.Second,
theybolsteredtheirpopularity
withfreefoodand
festivals,makingthemlooklikeniceconcernedGermans,andby
staginghugemassralliestodisplay
theirpopularsupport.

Inlate1932,richGermanindustrialists,promptedbyfearofaCommunisttakeover,
pressuredthe
governmenttomakeHitlerchancellor(primeminister)
,hopingtheycouldcontrolhimwhilehe
containedtheCommunists.LittledidtheysuspectthatthiswasjustthebeginningforHitler.

Fromchancellortodictator(193338)

Onceinpower,HitlerworkedtoincreasehisownpowerandGermannationalprideinthreeways:
destroyanypossiblerivalstohisposition,rearmGermany,andlaunchacampaignofviolenceagainst
theJews.Inthemonthsfollowinghisbecomingchancellor,heskillfullyusedhisgovernmentpowers,
propaganda,lies,andbruteforcetodividehisenemiesandthendestroythemonebyone.Needinga
majorityintheReichstag(Germanparliament),Hitlerimmediatelycalledfornewelections,hopinghis
newpositionaschancellorwouldwintheNazismoreseats.Inordertoscarepeopleintosupporting
them,theNazisburnedtheReichstagbuildingandblamedtheCommunists.Theresultinghysteria
allowedHitlertosuspendcivilrightsandarresttheCommunistleaders,thusgainingtheNazismore
seatsintheReichstag.

NowitwastimetoeliminatetheReichstagandthedemocraticprocessalongwithit.Hitlerplanned
todothisbypassingtheEnablingAct,whichwouldgivehimlegislativeandexecutivepowerforfour
years,plentyoftimetogetastrangleholdonpowerinGermany.WiththeBrownshirtsoutside
threateningviolence,thelaweasilypassed,givingHitlerthelegalframeworkinwhichtoestablisha
dictatorship.

Inthefollowingmonths,Hitlerusedacombinationofthreatstoopposingleaders,alluringpromises
totheirfollowers,andbruteforcetoeliminatehisenemies.Onebyonetheyfell:theSocial
Democrats(withastronglaborbacking),theCatholicCenterParty,andtheGermanNationalists
(ultraconservativeswhowereforcedtomergewiththeNaziParty).Nextcamethepressand
universities,institutionswithmanyeducatedpeoplewhosawthroughHitler'sliesandmightbeable
tomobilizepublicopinionagainsthim.Ineachcase,Hitlerformedacomprehensivenational
associationthatallmembersofthatprofessionwererequiredtojoiniftheyweretokeepworking.Of
course,Naziofficialsheadedtheseneworganizations,whichgraduallystrangledfreedomofspeech
andthoughtinGermany.

WithGermanyfirmlyunderhisheel,Hitlermovedtogainfirmcontrolofhisownparty.Hismainrival,
ErnstRohm,wastheheadofthepowerfulBrownshirts,theparamilitarygangofthugstheNazisused
forviolenceandintimidation.ManyarmyofficersandindustrialistsfearedHitlerwouldreplacethe
armywiththeBrownshirts,whileHitlerhimselffearedRohm'spower.Therefore,hewonthesupport
ofthearmyandindustrialistswhileservinghisowninterestsbyhavingRohmandhisassociates
murderedinthesocalled"NightoftheLongKnives."(ItiswidelybelievedthatHitlerhimselfpulled
thetriggerinRohm'smurder.)TheBrownshirtsweredissolvedandreplacedbythemuchmore
efficientanddeadlyblackshirtedStormTroopers,commonlyknownastheSchutzstaffelorSS.From
nowontheywouldbethemainagentsoftheNaziTerror.

InAugust,1934,PresidentHindenburg,symboloftheoldPrussianorderwithwhichHitlerhadbeen
carefultoassociatehimself,died.Tosymbolizethedawnofarevolutionaryneworderandthe
1000yearreignoftheThirdReich,Hitlerdemandedaloyaltyoathfromthearmy,nottoGermany,
buttohimself.FromnowonGermanywastobeHitler,andHitlerwastobeGermany.

Thegrowingdarkness

Hitler'ssecondgoalwastherearmamentofGermany.Hedidthisthroughamassivearmsbuildup(in
directdefianceoftheTreatyofVersailles)andpublicworksprojects(suchashighwaysformoving
armiesfromfronttofront).Atleastintheshortrunthisdidprovidejobsandprosperityandrestore
prideinGermany.However,inordertofundallthis,theGovernmentbudgetgrewseventimesfrom
1932to1938,with74%ofthatbudgetforthemilitary.ThisputagrowingstrainontheGerman
economy,whichhelpedleadtoGermanaggressionandWorldWarII.

Finally,HitlerattackedtheJews,whomheimaginedhadkepthimoutofartschoolandbetrayed
Germanyinthewar.HisNurembergLawsin1935subjectedJewstoanevergrowingnumberof
restrictionsandactsofviolence.TheclimaxofthisstageofpersecutionwastheKristallnacht,or
CrystalNight(11/910/38),namedaftertheshatteredwindowsofJewishmerchants'shopsthatwere
lootedthatnight.UsinganincidentinParisbetweenaJewandGermandiplomat,theNazis
instigatedthiswaveofviolenceagainstJewsacrossGermany.NaziledgangslootedJewishowned
shops,brutallybeattheirowners,andthenroundedthemupforthegrowingnumberof
concentrationcampsspringingupinGermany.

ManyJews,includingAlbertEinstein,leftGermany,costingitmanyofitsbrightestminds.Thehorror
storiestheytookwiththemledtogrowingfearsofNaziaggressionandeventuallyWorldWarII.They
alsotookwiththemtalentsthattheNaziscouldhaveusedbutclaimedwerepartofaworldwideplot
topollutescienceanddestroycivilization.Einstein'stheoryofRelativitywasespeciallysingledoutby
oneNaziwriterasbeing:

directedfrombeginningtoendtowardthegoaloftransformingthelivingthatisthenonJewish
worldoflivingessence,bornfrommotherearthandboundupwithblood,andbewitchingitinto
spectralabstractioninwhichallindividualdifferencesofpeoplesandnations,andallinnerlimitsof
theraces,arelostinunreality,andinwhichonlyanunsubstantialdiversityofgeometricdimensions
survivewhichproducesalleventsoutofthecompulsionofitsgodlesssubjectiontolaws."


WilhelmMueller,inhisbook,JewryandScience,claimedtheworldwideacclaimgiventoEinsteinfor
histheorieswasreallyonlyrejoicingover"theapproachofJewishworldrulewhichwastoforcedown
Germanmanhoodirrevocablyandeternallytothelevelofthelifelessslave."

...theJewconspicuouslylacksunderstandingforthetruth...beinginthisrespectincontrasttothe
Aryanresearchscientistwithhiscarefulandseriouswilltotruth...Jewishphysicsisthusaphantom
andaphenomenonofdegenerationoffundamentalGermanphysics.Nazi,Prof.PhilippLenard

From1905to1931,tenGermanJewswonNobelPrizesinscience.Hitlerwouldkillsixmillionmore.

Conclusion

WhydidGermanygoalongwiththismadness?Acombinationoffactorsgivesatleastapartial
answer.First,
Hitler
wasamasterofdividingandattackinghisenemiesonebyone.Hewould
win
overpeople
withtemptingpromiseswhileeliminatingtheir,leavingthemhelplessbeforehim.Healso
effectivelyusedliesandpropagandatodeceivethepublicandturnthemagainsthelplessscapegoats,
suchastheJews,makingpeoplerelievedtheywerenotunderattackatthattimeandnotseeingwhat
washappeninguntilitwastoolatetosavethemselves.Finally,
Hitler'sprograms
didrestorenational
prideandrelievesomeoftheDepression'smisery.Littledidtheyrealizethepricetheyandtheworld
wouldhavetopayforthistemporarybitofcomfort.