|
NorthernGent -> RE: Holocaust denier goes to prison in Austria (12/22/2007 5:53:46 AM)
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Politesub53
NG as far as the history goes, i think losing WW1 was a big factor in Hitlers rise to power.
Losing a war was not in itself the "big factor"; the implications of losing that war were significant, though. Germany laid claims to ownership of the European continent, and defenders of European high culture; their belief in this natural progression were a consequence of a) the largest ethnic population in Western and Central Europe and b) the 19th century belonged to England in material and status terms, but to Germany in terms of high culture - art, music, philosophy, self-expression - Germans expected the 20th century to be their's, rather than the American century.
Hitler was supported by militarists, industrialists, land owners and assorted conservative intellectuals because they believed he could achieve their desires. The philosophical spokesman for the Nazi Party was the conservative intellectual, Martin Heidegger; he didn't share all of their beliefs, but they held common ground in the core areas.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Politesub53
Link that to the depression
Yes, in times of chaos, people turn to order.
Ultimately, an event can't be explained on the back of a war and economic depression - history and culture drive war aims, dreams and aspirations.
Have a think about England, 'suffered acute economic depression in the 1930s, but the Fascists made absolutely no in-roads, here.
Edited to add: the German Middle Classes didn't hold anything like the policital power of the English Commerical Classes in the 19th century, and therein lies the differing attitudes to politics and culture.
|
|
|
|
